The Star Wars franchise’s lengthy climb again to film theaters is almost over. The previous six years since The Rise of Skywalker concluded the sequel trilogy have been an limitless cycle of bulletins, delays, cancellations, and quiet de-prioritizations, to the extent that the variety of filmmakers recognized for virtually directing a Star Wars film is as many or greater than those that even have. (Working example: that list now includes Steven Soderbergh.)
However the theatrical drought is coming to an finish: The Mandalorian & Grogu, dated for May 22, 2026, is so actual it has a trailer. It is occurring. Though, as a continuation of an already established Disney+ sequence, it is not precisely the full-fledged revival followers are on the lookout for.
That distinction will belong to Star Wars: Starfighter, the one unique undertaking to date to have made it by way of the wave of improvement bulletins to precise manufacturing, which started earlier this 12 months. Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling’s undertaking will carry a weight of expectation that The Mandalorian & Grogu merely would not, and it will likely be the one to find out the place issues now stand with normal audiences.
So, why is Disney upping the strain even increased?
A New Hope’s IMAX Re-Launch May Finish Up Hurting Star Wars’ Future
October 23’s IMAX investor presentation confirmed what followers already anticipated – Disney is placing two Star Wars films on the most important screens accessible in 2027. One is the aforementioned Starfighter, dated Could 28. The opposite is A New Hope, the film that began all of it, re-releasing on April 30 for its fiftieth anniversary.
The return of the unique Star Wars film is clearly thrilling, particularly within the IMAX format. With rumors swirling that Disney shall be displaying a brand new 4K restoration, perhaps of the original cut with out George Lucas’ years-later edits, it is probably this shall be one of many theatrical occasions of the 12 months. And the timing is smart from a basic advertising perspective; the re-release will construct anticipation and engagement forward of the brand new movie’s debut.
However it might additionally do the alternative. Relating to these ongoing or rebooted franchises, fashionable fan tradition devotes a substantial amount of vitality to evaluating how issues at the moment are to how they have been again then – usually unfavorably. The Disney Star Wars period has seen greater than its justifiable share of this discourse, in that it appears to be relitigated with each new undertaking. However these comparisons aren’t precisely unfair when the timing of those releases virtually invitations them.
When it initially got here out, A New Hope was a phenomenon the likes of which Hollywood had by no means seen. It is an ideal, time-tested film, and in 2027, audiences could possibly be experiencing it in the easiest way it is ever been proven. Then, only a month later, they will see what passes for a Star Wars movie these days, with the unique recent of their minds.
Even when it is not Episode 10, Starfighter is supposed to be the beginning of a brand new chapter for the theatrical franchise, and after the previous few years, I imagine a movie that recaptured a few of that Star Wars feeling individuals miss would’ve been sufficient. However now, if Levy & Co. do not ship one thing worthy of being juxtaposed with A New Hope, Disney won’t ever hear the tip of it. Something wanting greatness, and all of the methods it would not measure up shall be obvious.
Re-releasing A New Hope looks like a simple win, however it’s additionally extremely dangerous. Starfighter‘s franchise revival could possibly be over earlier than it even begins.
- Launch Date
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Could 28, 2027
- Director
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Shawn Levy
- Writers
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Jonathan Tropper
