The first trailer for Ahsoka season 2 introduces a mysterious Jedi fought by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano – and one theory links him to a mystical Clone Wars character.

In the trailer, Anakin and Ahsoka fight a man who appears to be a Jedi, in a flashback to the Clone Wars-era on the Star Wars timeline. The man has a triple bladed green lightsaber, as well as some enigmatic makeup on his face.

As Star Wars Holocron points out, the markings look very similar to those of the Son, one of the Force gods introduced in The Clone Wars's Mortis arc.

Now, if you're unfamiliar with that particular storyline, we'll give you a brief overview – though it's a fairly lore-heavy arc. In the episodes, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan Kenobi end up on a strange planet populated by three Force gods. These are the Daughter, who represents the light side, the Son, who represents the dark side, and the Father, who represents the balance.

Throughout the twists and turns of the storyline, Ahsoka ends up being killed by the Son, then resurrected by the Daughter, who in turn kills the Daughter. The Father – who wants Anakin, as the Chosen One, to take his place (he says no) – kills himself, which makes the Son vulnerable enough to then be killed by Anakin.

The Mortis gods have a heavy presence in Ahsoka: they're linked to the mystical World Between Worlds, and the convor Morai, a representation of the Daughter, can be seen watching over Ahsoka Tano herself (a possible dark side counterpart can be spotted, too). A D23 display even confirmed that Morai will return.

Plus, Baylan Skoll is last seen standing on a statue of the Father, which is pointing into the distance – meaning the power he seeks seems linked to Mortis (read more of our theories in our Ahsoka season 2 trailer breakdown).

So, who is this mysterious Jedi Anakin and Ahsoka are duelling? It's unclear for now, but if the makeup on his face really does link to the Son, then Snips and Skyguy could be brushing up against more Mortis lore. Could this character be a disciple of the Son's? It remains to be seen, though other fans speculate this figure could be a young Baylan, Inquisitor Marrok, or just a rogue Jedi.

"There's going to be more lightsabers. A lot more lightsaber action. There's going to be some space battles, some space action, and there's going to be witches, and swords, and explosions galore," Ezra Bridger actor Eman Esfandi shared at a D23 talk attended by GamesRadar+. "It's going to be really fun, really fast-paced, and we may or may not hear something about that a little later today. So, stay tuned here at D23 for Ahsoka season 2."

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on January 20, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else that's on the way.

Anakin Skywalker star Hayden Christensen has said Dave Filoni understands his Star Wars character better than him – but will still take his ideas on board.

Christensen first played Anakin way back in 2002's Attack of the Clones, and, following 2005's Revenge of the Sith, he returned to his role in Disney Plus shows Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka (he'll also soon be back in Ahsoka season 2).

When asked by IMDb at this year's D23 if he's able to give feedback on his character to the writers, Christensen responded: "I don't need to. Dave Filoni I think understands this character in some ways even better than I do. And so when I read the scripts, I'm just elated with what I get to do and say. That said, he's still very collaborative, and if I have an idea, I'll share it, and if it works, then we'll do it. And so, we're not too precious about things and we get to explore a little bit. But I try to honor the words that he's written and I don't need to deviate much."

Christensen will return as both Force ghost Anakin and the Clone Wars version of the character in Ahsoka season 2, as revealed by the first trailer (check out our full trailer breakdown here for our theories).

"There's going to be more lightsabers. A lot more lightsaber action. There's going to be some space battles, some space action, and there's going to be witches, and swords, and explosions galore," Ezra Bridger actor Eman Esfandi shared at D23, in a talk attended by GamesRadar+. "It's going to be really fun, really fast-paced, and we may or may not hear something about that a little later today. So, stay tuned here at D23 for Ahsoka season 2."

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on Disney Plus on January 20, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else that's coming soon.

Hayden Christensen says he wants to make a live-action Clone Wars series with the OG cast of the prequel series... and that everyone would be down to come back.

"I know that Ewan McGregor would love to do more with it," Christensen said on the Hey Jonas podcast, when asked by Kevin Jonas if there would ever be a live-action Anakin series. "I've heard Natalie [Portman] would love to come back. Sam Jackson. So you could get the band back together."

As a defender of the prequels, this makes me irrationally happy. Until Obi-Wan Kenobi, Christensen had not revisited Anakin since 2005 (though his vocal 'cameo' in The Rise of Skywalker does technically count). In The Clone Wars TV show, we learn that Ahsoka and Anakin have some serious history together (I also find it endearing that he calls her 'Snips' and she calls him 'Skyguy'). It only made sense that this would carry over into the live-action Ahsoka series.

"I'm ready whenever they are. They just seem to not be ready, but I'm up for it," McGregor previously stated regarding returning as Obi-Wan. It's been four years since his standalone limited Disney Plus series. The actor reportedly followed Dave Filoni around on set of Ahsoka season 2 (in which his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Hera) in order to pitch his character's comeback.

Ahsoka season 2 hits Disney Plus on January 20, 2027. The trailer for the new season was released at D23 and you can check out our Ahsoka season 2 trailer breakdown for all the major moments.

Ewan McGregor has made no secret about how much he wants to return as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars universe. However, apparently he's so keen, he's even been pitching to Lucasfilm boss Dave Filoni and considering time traveling love stories.

"It was very casual, but I said there's got to be something," McGregor told Variety about his pitch to Filoni on the set of Ahsoka, which his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars in. "Yoda's somewhere else. After the end of Episode III', when we all go to the four or five corners of the galaxy – or however many corners it's got – I won't have been in touch with him. But he's out there. So I think there could be a story there where I'm trying to reach out to him."

He's not just considered a Yoda-centric story either, but also once harbored hopes he could star opposite Winstead's New Republic general Hera Syndulla as well. "I got very excited when Mary started working on Ahsoka," he added to Variety. "I thought, maybe this is the big love story – Obi-Wan and Hera." However, he has come to acknowledge the characters are in different timeframes with Ahsoka set years after Obi-Wan's death.

McGregor's comments come shortly after his last plea to Disney to revive his character once again. Speaking at the recent premiere of The End of Oak Street, he said: "I'm ready whenever they are. They just seem to not be ready, but I'm up for it."

While Obi-Wan's Star Wars future is still unclear, Winstead will be returning soon in Ahsoka season 2. The trailer for the new season was released at D23 and you can check out our Ahsoka season 2 trailer breakdown for all the major moments.

The Ahsoka season 2 trailer finally arrived at D23, and, not only was GamesRadar+ in the room to watch all the action unfold, we also have lots to talk about from the new footage.

Below, we've listed the 16 most interesting Star Wars details in the new trailer, as well as our thoughts on what might be going on. It's been three long years since season 1, but it's finally time to start getting excited about the return of Ahsoka Tano.

So, head on down for our full Ahsoka season 2 trailer breakdown. For more, check out our D23 live-blog for all the other major announcements.

The Clone Wars

After the Star Wars show's D23 display teased flashbacks to The Clone Wars era, the trailer confirmed we are indeed returning to this point on the Star Wars timeline. We see Anakin and Ahsoka in a snowy forest, fighting someone with a triple-bladed green lightsaber. Now, what this might mean isn't clear just yet. Naturally, there are theories aplenty to be found on Reddit, with fans speculating this mysterious enemy could be a younger Baylan Skoll, Marrok or the Crow, or just a renegade Jedi.

Force ghost Anakin

Anakin Skywalker's return was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration 2025. The trailer shows Anakin both in the past in a Clone Wars-era moment and as a Force ghost on Peridea. Clearly, Anakin is still watching over Snips: in fact, he says he's always walking by her side. Aww.

Thrawn declares war

Grand Admiral Thrawn returned to the main galaxy at the end of Ahsoka season 1. In the trailer, he declares war against the Rebel Alliance, which includes his old foe Hera Syndulla. This looks to be building to an Heir to the Empire-style confrontation, which could culminate in the Dave Filoni movie announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

Xiono returns

Senator Xiono is back in season 2. In the first season, Xiono refused to believe Thrawn could return, so it seems likely he'll continue to be a thorn in Hera's side.

Another hallway fight

One thing Star Wars absolutely loves is a good hallway fight: Darth Vader in Rogue One, Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian season 2, Maul in The Clone Wars, and, now, the Nightsisters of Dathomir in Ahsoka season 2.

Nightsisters of Dathomir

Concept art at D23 teased the Nightsisters wielding energy bows of some kind, and, in the trailer, we see them in action. They seem to be attacking the Rebel Alliance, so we'd wager this is a skirmish organized by Thrawn.

Dathomir

A red planet can briefly be seen in the trailer. Could this be Dathomir? It certainly looks like it. Dathomir, of course, is home world to both the Nightsisters and one Darth Maul.

Sabine's new hair

Sabine Wren is never one to keep the same look for long, and, in Ahsoka season 2, she's growing out her hair again – and it seems to have been dyed a very pale shade of lilac. Sabine cut her hair in season 1 to symbolise her return to facing her destiny, and, in season 2, the pale hair could tie into Ahsoka's Gandalf the White-style appearance. This could mean Sabine is embracing Ahsoka's teachings (but with her own edge, hence the hint of lilac), or that she has a fresh perspective like Snips after meeting Anakin in the World Between Worlds. Now, where Sabine is finding a hair salon on Peridea remains a mystery...

Space battles

Ezra Bridger actor Eman Esfandi has teased space battles are coming, and we get a glimpse at them in the trailer. Thanks to Celebration 2025, we know that Admiral Ackbar is returning to face off against Thrawn, too. Expect a galactic showdown for the ages.

Strange rocks

Ahsoka and Sabine can be seen approaching a carving on a rock on Peridea. Considering the first piece of concept art for season 2 teased the Mortis gods, we'd guess this has something to do with those Force beings or the World Between Worlds. After all, it seems this is what Baylan is trying to access.

Anakin knows Baylan

"Baylan claims to have knowledge of a power. One that could end wars," says Anakin in the trailer. This is not only confirmation that the two did indeed know each other, as Baylan suggested in season 1, but also sets up Baylan's mysterious quest for the World Between Worlds.

Zeb Orrelios

After making his live-action debut in The Mandalorian season 3 and earning a starring role in The Mandalorian and Grogu, Zeb Orrelios is appearing in Ahsoka season 2. That means a full Ghost crew reunion could be on the cards, if Sabine makes it home.

Ezra Bridger vs Enoch

Ezra can be seen in lightsaber combat with Enoch, the mysterious gold-masked stormtrooper from season 1. Some people theorized that Enoch was actually Ezra himself, which turned out not to be true. Who the masked figure is remains to be seen. Enoch also has a flaming green lightsaber, which could suggest Nightsister magic (and looks pretty cool).

Huyang faces Shin Hati

Huyang goes full General Grievous and wields multiple lightsabers in a face-off with Shin Hati. This means Shin finds Ahsoka's ship, though we still suspect the Padawan might be on the path to redemption. She approaches Baylan in the trailer too, but Baylan abandoned her in season 1, so a happy reunion seems unlikely.

Ahsoka and Sabine fight together

Both Ahsoka and Sabine wield their lightsabers in a battle with white droids across a symbol that has circles and lines similar to the World Between Worlds. Are they closing in on this mystical realm, too? Ahsoka does have experience with it, after all, and concept art displayed at D23 reveals Morai, the convor bird associated with the Daughter, is still watching over Ahsoka.

Ahsoka might become a Jedi again

Anakin's voiceover in the trailer questions, "Are you a Jedi or not?" Ahsoka walked away from the Jedi Order during The Clone Wars after she was falsely accused of a crime she did not commit and put on trial. Could Ahsoka find her way back? We're willing to guess yes, since Ahsoka embodies all the qualities of a Jedi and even has her own Padawan.

Ahsoka season 2 arrives January 20, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

At D23, Lucasfilm has finally dropped the first trailer for Ahsoka season 2, and Grand Admiral Thrawn has declared war on the Rebel Alliance.

In the trailer, which you can watch above, Hayden Christensen's Anakin returns as both Force ghost and for a snowy Clone Wars-era flashbacks. In the present, Grand Admiral Thrawn is back in a galaxy far, far away and declares war on the Rebel Alliance – expect plenty of space battles, then. Quick flashes of action also reveal Huyang wielding multiple lightsabers like General Grievous for a fight with Shin Hati. The question of Ahsoka Tano's Jedi status will also be addressed, by the sound of things.

Season 2 will pick up with Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren stranded on Peridea after the Ahsoka season 1 ending, while Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn escaped back to the main galaxy. Also remaining on Peridea are Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati – following the tragic loss of Ray Stevenson, Rory McCann will take over as Baylan in season 2.

At Star Wars Celebration 2025, we learned that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker and Admiral Ackbar will face off against Thrawn. There was also a first look of sorts shown behind closed doors, which teased battles across two galaxies and giant, evil droids.

"Anybody who saw the sequels knows that there's a First Order coming in, like, 20 years from where we are now in the storyline," The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has shared. "And then Ahsoka season 2 is coming out – which I've seen all of – and that's definitely more dealing with the larger [picture], a higher level. That's about the officers and we're the enlisted men – this is more of a ground-level experience of what's going on. You're seeing the backdrop – which, by the way, is what the first Star Wars started off as."

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on January 20, 2027 on Disney Plus. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

For even more, keep up with our D23 live blog.

An Ahsoka season 2 display at D23 has given away some fascinating hints about what might be to come in the second season of the Star Wars show.

GamesRadar+ is on the ground at this year's D23, which means we got to explore the Ahsoka display for ourselves. The main point of excitement is the costumes on display: as you can see in the post below, both Anakin Skywalker and a younger Ahsoka Tano have new outfits for season 2, suggesting we might see the return of Ariana Greenblatt as Padawan-era Snips.

They're both dressed in cold weather gear, intriguingly – though whether that means a flashback to the snowy events of season 1 episode 'Trespass' or a new scenario remains to be seen.

Some concept art is also on display, which reveals the return of Morai after the bird's appearance in season 1. Morai is a convor that watches over Ahsoka, associated with the Daughter Force god from the Mortis arc of Clone Wars. Put simply, the Daughter is a personification of the light side of the Force, and she sacrificed herself to resurrect Ahsoka during the events of that arc (read more in our World Between Worlds explainer). In one piece of art, the convor can be seen observing Ahsoka and Sabine Wren on Peridea.

Also seen in the artwork is Huyang wielding multiple lightsabers and going up against Shin Hati, as well as Grand Admiral Thrawn looking at a map on his ship, the Nightsisters of Dathomir using what look to be energy bows, and the return of Enoch the mysterious gold-masked stormtrooper wielding a green lightsaber.

At the convention, Ezra Bridger actor Eman Esfandi also shared more about the upcoming second season.

"There's going to be more lightsabers. A lot more lightsaber action. There's going to be some space battles, some space action, and there's going to be witches, and swords, and explosions galore," he teased. "It's going to be really fun, really fast-paced, and we may or may not hear something about that a little later today. So, stay tuned here at D23 for Ahsoka season 2."

Ahsoka season 2 is coming in 2027. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else that's on the way – and keep your eyes on GamesRadar+ for updates from D23's main studio panel for news on Ahsoka and more.

At D23, Ezra Bridger star Eman Esfandi has teased what's to come in Ahsoka season 2 – and it sounds pretty epic.

"There's going to be more lightsabers. A lot more lightsaber action. There's going to be some space battles, some space action, and there's going to be witches, and swords, and explosions galore," the actor shared during a talk attended by GamesRadar+ at the Disney convention. "It's going to be really fun, really fast-paced, and we may or may not hear something about that a little later today. So, stay tuned here at D23 for Ahsoka season 2."

Ahsoka season 2 is set to feature the return of Admiral Ackbar, who will face off against Grand Admiral Thrawn – which might be one of the space battles Esfandi is talking about. It also sounds like we can expect to see more of the fearsome Nightsisters of Dathomir.

The new season will also see the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, while Game of Thrones star Rory McCann takes over the role of Baylan Skoll from the late Ray Stevenson.

"A lot of action. Fights, battles, explosions, lightsabers, lasers," Esfandi has previously teased of season 2. "I'm having a flashback. So a lot of action, and I think everybody's gonna love it. Dave [Filoni] went nuts, and all of us were ready to follow suit of our fearless leader, and it's gonna be a lot of fun."

Ahsoka season 2 doesn't yet have a release date. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else that's on the way – and keep your eyes on GamesRadar+ for updates from D23's main studio panel for news on Ahsoka and more.

Ewan McGregor is waiting for Disney's call to bring him back as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Speaking ahead of the release of his new movie The End of Oak Street (which is getting rave reviews), the actor says there is plenty more to explore with his Star Wars character.

"I’m ready whenever they are," he told E! News. "They just seem to not be ready, but I'm up for it." He went on to share a few ideas about where we last saw Obi-Wan in the Star Wars universe at the end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series back in 2022.

"At the end of the Obi-Wan series, I’m walking off into the desert and I’ve decided to leave. I’ve realized I can’t keep the pressure on Luke," he explains. "I realized he has to have his own childhood, so I leave him with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. And I wander off… and Qui-Gon's back. And we go off… but where are we going? What happens between those two moments is what I want to do and spend the rest of my career doing these stories."

The actor ended with a plea for Disney, which echoes his previous calls for the return of the character. "We’ve got plenty of time; I’ve got 10 years before I am Alec Guinesses’ age. So come on, Disney!"

The Star Wars universe on screen is looking a bit sparse over the next few years. Despite a lot of announcements, the only projects that appear to be in active development are Star Wars: Starfighter, which is a standalone movie starring Ryan Gosling, and Ahsoka season 2, which has finished filming.

D23 is around the corner, so more Star Wars stories could be announced there, especially after the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu earlier this year. However, it seems like there will be no Kenobi announcement yet.

For more on the galaxy far, far away, check out our guide to the Star Wars timeline and our round-up of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

Ewan McGregor has revealed the "unfinished" part of Obi-Wan's story that could bridge the gap between Disney Plus miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi and A New Hope.

When responding to a quickfire question from The End of Oak Street co-star Anne Hathaway with Esquire about what he considers 'unfinished' in Obi-Wan's timeline, McGregor pointed to the decade pre-A New Hope that has largely been left untouched by wider Star Wars media.

"Everything that we did between the end of the TV series that we did and Alec Guinness [in A New Hope]. There's 10 years of something happening to Obi-Wan," McGregor said. "At the end of the series, I leave Luke on Tatooine, Princess Leia is safe, and I go off into the desert on my camel – a eopie, I think they're called."

McGregor returned to the role in 2022's Obi-Wan Kenobi, which also reunited him with Anakin actor Hayden Christensen. Despite that, there's probably plenty of narrative juice left to squeeze out of one of the few characters unexplored during the rise of the Empire.

Even if nothing comes to fruition on the screen with McGregor, Star Wars comics have filled in the blanks somewhat with Obi-Wan's time in exile.

Marvel's 2015 Star Wars series included a series of journal entries from an elderly Obi-Wan, charting his time on Tatooine watching over Luke Skywalker.

There's also 2022's Obi-Wan comic miniseries, a five-issue run that sees the Jedi recount stories from his past while in a hut on the desert planet.

Elsewhere in a galaxy far, far away, Ahsoka season 2 is just over the horizon – presumably in 2027.

Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, is set for release on May 28, 2027. The pair will team up again for Marvel's Ghost Rider movie, which was announced at last month's SDCC panel.

For more, check out the full Star Wars timeline and our guide on upcoming Star Wars movies.

Ahsoka season 2 is coming next year, and it sounds like we can expect big things from the second installment of the Star Wars show when it arrives.

"A lot of action. Fights, battles, explosions, lightsabers, lasers," Eman Esfandi, who plays the Jedi Ezra Bridger in the show, told Screen Rant of what he's excited about. "I'm having a flashback. So a lot of action, and I think everybody's gonna love it. Dave [Filoni] went nuts, and all of us were ready to follow suit of our fearless leader, and it's gonna be a lot of fun."

In a separate interview with the Thank the Maker podcast, Esfandi shared even more. "You guys will not believe how big it gets," he teased. "Dave just took the training wheels [off], it's like he took them all off for all of us and himself in some way. But obviously not himself, he's a legend. But, if you saw Rebels early, and you see Rebels towards the end, you see that he takes off training wheels. Clone Wars at the end. You're gutted. It's an adult drama… That similar transition where Dave started with kid shows, and then transitioned them into adults, as the kids do, not only who watch the show, but also the kids of the show.

"Ahsoka was a kid. Ezra was a kid. And they just have to grow up way too young," he continued. "But you watch that. And a lot of us who grew up, y'all's era, my era, the new era, we all had to grow up too young. There's war and everything going on all the time, trauma going all the time. We're all growing up too young, it feels like sometimes. It's impressive to see and I think Dave just does that really well. I think season 1 is almost like, 'Hey, Rebels season 5, here's some new characters, some set-up, some action, a lot of love, a lot of like, wow, oh my god.' And then season two is like guns blazing."

Not much is known about Ahsoka season 2 just yet, but, thanks to Star Wars Celebration 2025, we do know that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker, Grand Admiral Thrawn and Admiral Ackbar will go head to head, there will be battles across two galaxies, and Rory McCann is officially taking over the role of Baylan Skoll from the late Ray Stevenson.

Ahsoka season 2 arrives in 2027. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else that's in the works.

At this rate, there are enough canned Star Wars projects to fill an entire star system. Thankfully, though, news from SDCC reveals one forgotten show will be coming back from the brink and has been described by its creator as "Simpsons in the Star Wars universe."

During the "Inside the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art" panel, it was announced that a formerly shelved show, Star Wars: Detours, will be viewable at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which will be opening in September (via Entertainment Weekly).

The show was originally conceived by Seth Green, who is no stranger to the Star Wars universe after voicing a variety of characters in shows like The Bad Batch and Star Wars Rebels. He's also no stranger to getting laughs out of the galaxy far, far away by way of Robot Chicken and the Family Guy specials that saw his character Chris take up the mantle of Luke Skywalker.

Star Wars: Detours sounds like it's tickling a similar funny bone, with the show's original premise looking at the mundane daily goings on in the universe of Jedis and Jawas. "We made a show with George, an animated series," Green confessed to the audience. "He wanted to make Simpsons in the Star Wars universe. It's called Detours, and there's… going to be a curation of episodes from that show on display for the public."

The series, which was originally announced back in 2012, was set between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. 26 episodes were done and dusted when it was originally revealed, and even featured guest appearances from Anthony Edwards, Ahmed Best, Billy Dee Williams, Lucas himself, along with a lot of the Robot Chicken alumni. Search for the right thing on YouTube, and you might even be able to find some of them (just don't ask us to help you).

The last time Green spoke about the show was back in March, when he recalled that Detours got put on the back burner when attention shifted to the new trilogy of movies that were on the horizon. He also didn't anticipate them getting revived for streaming.

"Detours itself would have to be edited, upgraded – they'd have to do new work on it to make it possible to put it on streaming," he told ComicBook. "I just don't think they're willing to commit the spend to update and release this when they can't see a clear benefit."

Thankfully, the show will now see the light in what is practically a treasure trove of Star Wars goodness, and Green couldn't speak highly enough of his lost little show getting some new time to shine. "It was the greatest," he said. "It was literally one of the greatest experiences I think I've ever had."

You'll be able to see just what we've been missing when the Lucas Museum opens in Los Angeles on September 22. As for any other Star Wars announcements, look on our SDCC 2026 live blog and our SDCC 2026 schedule.

Despite not being able to see our favorite duo on the big screen anymore, Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and his little apprentice's beautiful father-son relationship lives on in a new Star Wars claymation.

The video, which was posted to Star Wars Kids on YouTube on July 15, shows little clay Mando and Grogu characters recreating some of the best moments travelling around the galaxy, including the duo taking a ride on the Razor Crest. Watch the clip below.

The claymation is, of course, inspired by The Mandalorian and Grogu, which recently finished its theatrical run. The movie debuted to mostly positive reviews, but only managed to earn just over $340 million worldwide. This is quite the dip, as the last Star Wars movie, The Rise of Skywalker, made over $1 billion at the box office in 2019. But with many Star Wars fans seemingly skipping The Mandalorian and Grogu in cinemas, they will soon be able to watch the new movie in the comfort of their own homes.

The newest Star Wars movie has finally locked down a digital release date and will be available to purchase on platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango from July 21. Fans will be able to add The Mandalorian and Grogu to their physical media collection from August 25, including the special SteelBook version.

But that's not the end of Mando and Grogu's story, as while we don't know if we will ever see The Mandalorian season 4, there is another adventure releasing soon. On July 14, Star Wars announced a new special episode, titled LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian, which will premiere on Disney Plus on September 2. As per StarWars.com, the animated special "celebrates your favorite stories and characters from all three seasons of The Mandalorian series," including when Mando met baby Grogu.

For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, as well as our roundup of how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

The first trailer for new Star Wars anime show The Ninth Jedi has arrived, and it teases an epic new series.

In the brief clip, which can be viewed above, young Kara goes on a colorful, action-packed, and dangerous adventure through the galaxy. She goes up against a mysterious masked foe... who, it's revealed by his blue lightsaber, might just be a former Jedi.

The limited series picks up after adventures in Star Wars Visions Volume 1 and Volume 3, and sees Kara continue on her quest to find her missing father and evade Jedi Hunters.

The original The Ninth Jedi short was released in 2021 as an episode of Star Wars Visions and is set a thousand years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. A sabersmith named Lah Zhima builds six lightsabers to bring back the mostly non-existent Jedi order before being captured by the Sith. His daughter Kara arms herself with a lightsaber and sets off on a journey to find other Jedi to help her rescue her father.

The second installment, The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope, was released in October 2025 and continues Kara's journey, this time after an unexpected attack.

"It was such a big endeavor – the first full-on anime Star Wars series, so we would support the team from early pitch stages through designs and production as the story was built out," Visions executive producer Josh Rimes previously told Polygon.

The Ninth Jedi releases on Disney Plus this August 5. For more, check out our list of the best Disney Plus shows, or look ahead with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

Before creator Tony Gilroy got involved and turned Andor into a thrillingly rich, thematically nuanced masterpiece, the Star Wars show was initially in the hands of Disney animation boss Jared Bush, and a new art book has revealed the Zootopia director's original take on the material.

As spotted by Cinelinx, new coffee table book The Art of Star Wars: Andor contains Bush's original pitch for the Star Wars show, taken from his 2018 series bible, and it reveals a radically different version of Andor that never was.

“The fledgling Rebellion experiences a crippling setback when an Imperial mole hidden within its ranks decimates a series of rebel bases. Cassian Andor, a young intelligence operative, is one of the few who survive, only to be falsely accused of being the mole himself. Out in the cold, Cassian discovers the only way to clear his name and find the mole is to infiltrate an Imperial planet which holds the key to uncovering the mole's identity.”

While this concept for the show retains the core idea of Andor being an espionage-powered story set in a galaxy far, far away, Bush's Andor would have been very different from the two-season show we got under Gilroy's stewardship. Instead of a simple mole hunt, Gilroy shaped Andor into a show about political oppression and resistance that mirrored real-world events to an almost eerie degree.

Andor was originally revealed in November 2018 after roughly a year of development. Initially, The Americans' executive producer Stephen Schiff was brought on board as showrunner, after Bush contributed a pilot script and series bible. Gilroy, who reportedly oversaw Rogue One's extensive reshoots, later shared his own vision for Andor with Kathleen Kennedy by penning a letter to the former head of Lucasfilm. Kennedy was evidently impressed, as Gilroy officially came on board in 2019.

The two-season show ran from 2022 to 2025 and is widely considered one of the high points of the Disney era of Star Wars. We even named Andor season 2 the best show of 2025. Gilroy provided some insights into the beloved show in our season 2 post-mortem, and even dispelled a fan theory around one of the finale's most ambiguous moments.

As for Bush, Andor may have slipped through his fingers, but the filmmaker had a pretty good 2025 too – he was the director of the highest-grossing Hollywood movie of the year, Zootopia 2, after becoming the chief creative officer of Disney Animation in late 2024.

Andor is streaming in full on Disney Plus. For more, check out our list of the best Disney Plus shows, or look ahead with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

Live-action Ezra Bridger actor Eman Esfandi has posted a cryptic tease for Ahsoka season 2.

Esfandi made his live-action debut in the first season of the show, and he'll soon be returning when the show airs on Disney Plus early next year.

"'The pain you're feeling cannot compare to the joy that is coming' I tell myself as I await season 2," Esfandi wrote on Twitter.

The tease is so mysterious that even the official Star Wars account doesn't seem to know what to make of it, simply replying: "Eman"

Esfandi had a response, however: "Should've left that in the drafts my b"

At the end of Ahsoka season 1, Ezra safely made it back to the main galaxy by stowing away on Grand Admiral Thrawn's ship. But, Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren were left behind, along with Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati.

So far, Ahsoka season 2 is shrouded in mystery. What we know for sure, though, is that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker, Admiral Ackbar will face off against Thrawn, Rory McCann is taking over as Baylan from the late Ray Stevenson, and there will be battles across two galaxies.

"Anybody who saw the sequels knows that there's a First Order coming in, like, 20 years from where we are now in the storyline," The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has teased of the second Ahsoka season. "And then Ahsoka season 2 is coming out – which I've seen all of – and that's definitely more dealing with the larger [picture], a higher level. That's about the officers and we're the enlisted men – this is more of a ground-level experience of what's going on. You're seeing the backdrop – which, by the way, is what the first Star Wars started off as."

Ahsoka season 2 doesn't have a firm release date yet beyond early 2027. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Back in 2020, The Mandalorian season 2 broke the internet when it brought back Luke Skywalker in the finale. The cameo was a total secret, even to the actors on set, bar Pedro Pascal.

But, Ming-Na Wen, who plays Fennec Shand in the Star Wars universe, has revealed she knew the truth the whole time.

"Oh, I knew it was Luke. How could you not? The glove, the lightsaber, the R2-D2 that they painted freaking green," Wen said in conversation with Katee Sackhoff, who plays Bo-Katan Kryze (and had no idea they were dealing with Luke Skywalker). "I just turned to Jon [Favreau] and Dave [Filoni], I'm like, 'Are you kidding me?'"

The cover story was this mysterious Jedi was none other than Plo Koon, who died during Order 66 – a story Sackhoff apparently believed.

"I'm like, 'Come on. It's R2-D2.' They're like, 'No it's not,'" Wen added, confirming no one would tell her the truth in the moment. Check out the conversation below.

In the finale, Luke Skywalker showed up to save Mando, Grogu, Cara Dune, Bo-Katan, Koska Reeves, and Fennec Shand from the Dark Troopers.

"But even when they didn't admit it, I didn't know how they were going to present it," Wen added. "So, I was very surprised, because I didn't see all those other stuff… It was amazing. I still cried and freaked out."

Luke Skywalker showed up again in The Book of Boba Fett, but hasn't been seen since – though a Star Wars fan spotted a background detail in The Mandalorian and Grogu that might have hinted at his presence on Adelphi Base.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is currently in theaters, and, right now, we don't know what's next for Din Djarin and Baby Yoda. The next Star Wars release is Ahsoka season 2, which is arriving in early 2027.

In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

After the success of Maul – Shadow Lord, Darth Maul voice actor Sam Witwer says he wants Star Wars to take more risks, because if not, the sci-fi franchise won't grow.

"You have to take creative risks. It’s like the Maul character – if you’re not going to take risks with the Maul character, do something really new with him, you should not be taking the character out," said Witwer on the Pause for Thought podcast. "I think it’s the same thing with Star Wars in general… Certain things are gonna hit with certain audiences – everyone has their favorite. But without that spirit of experimentation, you don’t get anywhere."

Maul – Shadow Lord is quite out of the ordinary for the franchise. Using noir-inspired animation style with real paint strokes mixed with computer-generated visuals, the series looks different from anything we have seen before in Star Wars and shines a more positive light on a once-hated villain. However, doing something different paid off. Shadow Lord sits at a near-perfect 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and we awarded it 4 out of 5 stars in our Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord season 1 review.

The same goes for Andor. Differing from traditional Star Wars movies and shows, which adopt typical space-fantasy themes, Andor gives fans an insight into the reality of living under oppressive Imperial rule. Andor has a 96% score on RT.

Witwer says Star Wars should be taking these risks more often. But fans are feeling it too. Just last month, Star Wars fans were complaining about the number of projects set between the prequels and original trilogy, wondering if now is the time to move on.

However, it seems as though the tide is turning. As well as Maul – Shadow Lord season 2, which is already in production, the franchise is ready to tell some fresh stories, starting with Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling. Levy has also shown interest in making a Star Wars horror movie, which we are well overdue for.

For more on the way, check out our list of upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, and keep up with the Galaxy Far Far Away with our guide on how to watch Star Wars movies in order.

Long before the current Disney Plus era of Star Wars, it turns out George Lucas wanted to make a TV show centered around Ian McDiarmid's Emperor Palpatine.

McDiarmid himself revealed the news at Spacecon San Antonio 2026, via The Popverse.

"[George Lucas] was talking about, I think I can tell you now, a television series," McDiarmid shared. "At the time we didn't think about Star Wars in terms of television series. Very speculative. We had lunch one day, and he said I've got this idea, and I hope you might want to be involved. We could sort of follow the Emperor's progress, like Hitler's, some of that. There might be an assassination attempt, and of course it wouldn't succeed. It sounded really exciting. And he also said that maybe you could direct one, and then I fainted. But sadly, that didn't come to pass."

While this does sound like a separate project, especially since McDiarmid says it was "speculative," it's possible this could have been part of the Underworld TV show, which would've been set between the prequel and original trilogies and focused largely on Coruscant's criminal underworld. However, it really does seem Lucas had an entirely separate, Palpatine-focused project in mind.

Of course, while Andor season 1 and 2 never actually featured the Emperor on screen, they did deal heavily with Imperial politics, which might be the closest we get to seeing a project like the one envisioned by Lucas. McDiarmid, meanwhile, returned as Palpatine for a cameo in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which has a confirmed release window of early 2027. The Mandalorian and Grogu, meanwhile, is in theaters now.

You can keep up to date on everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Over the past decade, Star Wars has focused heavily on the period of time between the prequels and original trilogy, so much so that fans are wondering if it is time to move on from releasing projects set in this era.

When the Star Wars prequels were released, there was no doubt that fans had a lot of questions about what had happened in the 19 years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. But thanks to the ever-growing franchise, many projects have filled in the blanks and introduced lots of new characters. But when is enough enough?

"Considering the sheer amount of media we've gotten that takes place between III-IV, is there STILL some plot holes that need to be addressed? Or is it finally time to move on?" asked one fan on Reddit. Many others agree, as one pointed out, "Personally, I’m over the timeline between Ep1-6... give us the Luke Han Leia story post-6. Take some heavy swings at the lore. Dig deep and do some mythological heavy lifting."

Many fans are seeing the funny side of Lucasfilm and Disney's overexploration of The Dark Times. "There's still a dude in the back of the Mos Eisley's cantina in ANH we don't have a full 3-season show about," joked one fan, and another added, "You joke, but the Tales From Mos Eisley Cantina literally gave us the backstory of Han Solo's vest."

There are now 10, yes ten, projects set between the prequels and the original trilogy, and that's not counting Tales of the Jedi, which has episodes set slightly before. On the Star Wars timeline, Tales of the Empire, Tales of the Underworld, The Bad Batch, Maul – Shadow Lord, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Star Wars Rebels, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story all take place during that 19-year gap.

It doesn't look like Lucasfilm is quite finished with the period known as the Reign of the Empire, as Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 is already in production, and a third Star Wars Jedi games is expected to continue the story of Cal Kestis in this period. However, the franchise is exploring pastures new in Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, which will take place approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker. Starfighter hits cinemas on May 28, 2027.

For even more, check out our guide on how to watch Star Wars movies in order, and keep up with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows heading your way.

Star Wars series The Book of Boba Fett was met with a mixed reaction when it hit Disney Plus back in 2021. Critics were more up on the show than audiences, based on its divisive Rotten Tomatoes score, and there was a general consensus that the best episodes were when the series diverted course to tell The Mandalorian's story.

However, despite not winning over viewers, it seems that Lucasfilm may have considered a second season of the show at some point. Speaking at Fan Expo Philadelphia, Jonny Coyne, who played Lord Janu Coin in The Mandalorian and Grogu and briefly in The Mandalorian season 3, shared the insight.

"They said they were going to put me into [The Mandalorian] season 4, and maybe a possible Boba Fett episode as well, and then it all went away," he told audiences. "It all went away, and then the movie happened."

Per Screen Rant, it seems that Coyne was referring to conversations that happened after he appeared in The Mandalorian season 3, meaning that he can't have been referring to The Book of Boba Fett season 1. If this is true, then it does suggest that Lucasfilm was actively considering a second outing of the Temuera Morrison-led spin-off.

It seems quite unlikely that would happen now, but you never know what the higher-ups at Lucasfilm are considering next for the galaxy far, far away. What has been confirmed is Ahsoka season 2, which will be arriving in 2027. You can also check out all of the other upcoming Star Wars movies and shows that have been confirmed.

Andor might be a direct prequel to Rogue One, but it does have one key difference with the movie – its tone.

While Andor is a gritty political thriller, Rogue One still has more of an edge to it, but is less intense than the show.

"I watched Rogue One right after the finale of Andor and they really are played completely differently," says one person on Reddit. "The characters are paper thin in the movie compared to the depth they all get in the show, the pacing is far quicker and there's never a moment to [ruminate] on things. Now some of these are expected because one is a blockbuster movie and the other is a methodical serial television show so the very medium they're both in pretty much means they will feel different."

"When I rewatched Rogue One right after I finished Andor, I was struck by how mystical the former seemed in comparison to the latter," says another fan. The Force does play a part in Andor season 2, but in only a few scenes.

"The tonal changes between R1 and Andor have quite a bit to do with format and genre. One was a single movie, and the other a 24 episode series; one was basically a war movie focused on a specific action and the circumstances that led up to it, and the other was a political/espionage thriller. Also, there were differences in writing and production style that impacted tone for each," argues someone else.

"I find R1 waaaay colder and emotionally distant than Andor," says another person, while another says: "I cared about the characters in Andor and... not in the other"

"Cassian in Andor doesn't perfectly line up with Cassian in Rogue One, but it's close enough," says someone else.

"My biggest gripe with the Andor/Rogue One 'Trilogy' is that Rogue One uses the classic, lighter music and emotional themes. It has those momentary flashes of whimsy that the OT/PT/ST have. Also, while I loved C3PO and R2 on first release, their very brief presence did disrupt the flow a bit on rewatches, and after Andor, I actively dislike them showing up," is another person's take. "I know Andor Cut fixes most continuity errors that were introduced from what I understand, but it's unfortunate that the official release is so tonally different from Andor from purely an entertainment standpoint."

Andor season 2 ends just moments before Rogue One begins, with Cassian Andor setting off on the mission that will eventually lead to him helping steal the Death Star plans on Scarif.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which has a release window of early 2027. The Mandalorian and Grogu is currently in theaters.

You can keep up to date with everything else on the way with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

The Acolyte season 2 would have connected to the sequels through Manny Jacinto's Qimir, showrunner Leslye Headland has said.

The Star Wars show was scrapped in 2024, reportedly for low viewership, though it was actually Disney Plus's second most-watched show of the year. This year, the show had a resurgence and returned to the streamer's top 10, apparently bolstered by Maul – Shadow Lord.

"I'm having a resurgence of The Acolyte in my real life," Headland told Empire magazine. "I speak with people who are really big fans, and were disappointed in the cancelation. I went to a play last night, and somebody was like, 'I just have to tell you that I loved it.'"

Headland also explained that she'd be happy to return to Star Wars. "I would still want to do it! Absolutely," she said. "As more people discover it, I think people may want to see some form of the story come back."

As for what that might look like, Headland revealed more. "We did have a lot of stuff that we wanted to explore – including tying in lore to the sequels," she shared. "Getting into who exactly Manny [Jacinto]'s character is, his connection with [Jedi Master] Vernestra, his connection with [Sith Lord] Plagueis, and then his connection with other sequel-established things."

Jacinto's Stranger, AKA Qimir, did appear to have some kind of relation to Kylo Ren, as hinted at by a musical cue in the show.

A new Star Wars book has also enhanced The Acolyte lore with a reference to Vernestra. "Some even say that it was during this brightest of times that the Sith began to crawl their way back out of the darkness," says Luke Skywalker of the High Republic in the updated version of Marc Sumerak's Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi, subtitled The Chronicles of Luke Skywalker. "There are even whispers that legendary Jedi like Vernestra Rwoh may have been complicit in their return. But we may never know for sure."

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which is arriving in early 2027. The Mandalorian and Grogu is currently in theaters.

You can see everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

Skeleton Crew season 2 might be possible, star Kerry Condon has revealed.

The Star Wars show debuted in December 2024 to a very positive Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%, but, since then, updates on its future have been scarce.

"I mean, I heard maybe possibly, but I don't know," Kerry Condon, who played Fara, mother of youngster Fern, told Screen Rant. "You never know in this business, but I really hope so because I thought the kids were great."

Skeleton Crew followed a bunch of kids who, after accidentally leaving their planet, have to try and find their way back home – only, nobody has heard of their planet, and it also turns out to be the rumored home of legendary treasure.

Jude Law starred as Jod Na Nawood, while Nick Frost voiced droid SM-33. The young cast was made up of Kyriana Kratter as KB, Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Wim, Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Fern, and Robert Timothy Smith as Neel.

While the show was well received, its debut didn't make it into the Nielsen top 10, with its first two episodes netting only 382 million minutes watched in their first week. That's the lowest of any live-action Star Wars show.

Still, a recent Production Weekly update said Skeleton Crew season 2 is "in development," so more could well be on the way.

Our own Skeleton Crew review awarded the show 4 stars, calling the show "a fun adventure story with lots of promise for Star Wars TV."

We'll just have to wait and see what happens next for Skeleton Crew, but in the meantime, Star Wars has returned to the big screen for the first time in seven years with The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is currently playing in theaters.

Up next is Ahsoka season 2, which has an early 2027 release window.

Until then, get up to speed on everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

The first Star Wars movie in seven years, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is now playing in theaters. But before Disney scooped up Lucasfilm for a cool $4.5bn, Star Wars was in a very precarious place, and Ahsoka voice actor Ashley Eckstein credits animated series The Clone Wars with turning that around.

Speaking at MCM Expo, where the cast of The Clone Wars were reunited on stage, Eckstein talked about being a Star Wars pioneer, as the voice of Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano on The Clone Wars.

“For us, it’s easy to forget, but when Clone Wars was on the air, there was no other Star Wars. We thought Star Wars was done," Eckestein said. "This was before Disney bought it and we were the only thing on the air… Without the success of Clone Wars we might not be seeing Mandalorian, Boba Fett, etcetera.”

It's a fair point, as much of Star Wars' recent output (Andor aside) has spun out from the world established by The Clone Wars. The Mandalorian season 3, in particular, featured numerous story threads that tied back to The Clone Wars, while Ahsoka, Maul – Shadow Lord, and The Bad Batch all pick up with characters and events depicted in The Clone Wars and Rebels.

Whether this is a good thing for Star Wars is debatable. The Mandalorian season 3 is widely considered the show's weakest season, in part because of its connections to Star Wars' animated output. The influence is plain as day, though: Rebels fan-favorite Zeb Orrelios plays a noteworthy supporting role in The Mandalorian and Grogu, while Ahsoka season 2 will further the story of The Clone Wars and Rebels in live action.

Originally, The Mandalorian season 4 would have set up the new season of Ahsoka in a major way, but Favreau started from scratch after pivoting to a feature instead of a new season. As it stands, The Mandalorian and Grogu continues the adventures of Din Djarin and his tiny green ward. But despite being a "standalone" story, the new movie does feature "subtle stuff that relates to Ahsoka season 2." We've got a wait to find out what, exactly, as Ahsoka season 2 won't hit Disney Plus until early 2027.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our list of upcoming Star Wars movies or here's how to watch The Clone Wars in order.

Looking for what to remember before The Mandalorian and Grogu? Then this is the Way. The first season of The Mandalorian dropped way back in 2019, so your memory of Din Djarin and Din Grogu's adventures might be a little fuzzy.

Below, we've rounded up everything you need to remember before The Mandalorian and Grogu in a Mandalorian recap, so you can get up to speed at a glance. There are six crucial Star Wars plot points that are essential to remember, and we've got them all detailed here.

So, for all you need to know, head on down to our recap. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

The Mandalorian recap

Mando originally finds Grogu as a bounty target

Din Djarin meets baby Grogu in quite an unconventional way: a mysterious Imperial by the name of the Client tasks Mando with tracking down a 50-year old bounty. When Mando arrives, the bounty is actually a tiny, green baby.

From the outset, Mando protects him, shooting the bounty hunting droid IG-11 to prevent him from hurting the baby. While Mando does initially hand over Grogu to the Empire, he soon has a change of heart and goes back to rescue him. The fearsome Imperial Moff Gideon, however, continues to attempt to track them down.

Grogu trains with Luke Skywalker

Mando and Grogu have plenty of adventures together and start to develop a father and son bond, but Din Djarin is on a quest to return the baby to his own kind: the Jedi. Ahsoka Tano refuses to train the youngling because of Grogu's strong attachment to Mando, but, after Din Djarin takes his charge to the planet Tython, Grogu calls out to a Jedi. But, the baby is kidnapped by Dark Troopers and the Razor Crest is destroyed in the process.

Later, when Mando and his pals go to save Grogu from Moff Gideon, none other than Luke Skywalker shows up to save the baby and take him away to be trained. Mando and Grogu share an emotional goodbye, and Grogu leaves with Luke.

Mando and Grogu reunite in The Book of Boba Fett

This part of the story is easily missed if you didn't realise The Book of Boba Fett was essential viewing. In the show, Din Djarin returns and goes to visit Grogu at Jedi school. Only, Luke and Ahsoka are reluctant to let Mando see the youngling, because of that pesky attachment rule. So, Mando leaves without seeing his former ward, but not before leaving behind a gift of Beskar chainmail.

Luke, sensing Grogu's heart might not be fully in his Padawan training, gives Grogu a choice between Yoda's lightsaber or the chainmail from Mando. Grogu makes his choice off-screen, but we learn the outcome when he returns to Tatooine in Luke's X-wing, rocking the Beskar vest. Peli Motto then takes Grogu back to Mando, and they reunite mid-battle as Din Djarin helps his old friend Boba Fett with his crime syndicate problems.

Mando will no longer remove his helmet

While Din Djarin had his helmet removed in season 1 by IG-11 in order to heal him, then took it off twice in season 2 for Grogu's sake, in season 3, he is dedicated to cleansing himself and keeping the helmet on. His Creed as a Child of the Watch means he is forbidden from letting others see his face. In season 3, he cleanses himself in the Living Waters of Mandalore, and so he earns forgiveness from removing his helmet.

"It's an interesting proposition," director Jon Favreau told us of whether Din Djarin's understanding of his Creed has changed. "Throughout the series, we had met different Mandalorians from different backgrounds, and each embraces a different part of the Mandalorian creed. Din Djarin comes from a tradition where the helmet stays on. Of course, Bo-Katan and others take the helmet off. And what's interesting now is we have a character that's going to be potentially both Jedi and Mandalorian in Grogu, and we'll see what his path is."

Imperial Remnants are a threat

While the Empire was destroyed in Return of the Jedi, Imperial Remnants – survivors of the old regime – still lurk in the galaxy. In The Mandalorian season 3, we see a gathering of them in the Shadow Council, plotting to restore the Empire (and hoping for Grand Admiral Thrawn's return). Moff Gideon is one such Remnant, though, at the end of season 3, he is killed in a fiery blaze.

In The Mandalorian and Grogu, the duo are tasked with tracking down an ex-Imperial warlord by the name of Commander Coin.

Mando adopts Grogu

At the end of The Mandalorian season 3, Din Djarin formally adopts Grogu, who becomes Din Grogu. That also means Grogu is now Mando's apprentice, and Mando is teaching him the Way of a Mandalorian.

"Grogu is now a Mandalorian apprentice," Favreau told us. "He's been tasked with that, for those people who had watched the show. If you hadn't watched the show, what you need to know is that he is now going to be a Mandalorian in training, and so his father and teacher is taking him along on the adventures. What we learn through this is that Grogu's quite capable, but also Din Djarin, the Mandalorian, is a very good protector, and so he's always going to look out. And I think it's the next stage of their relationship, both as a father and son, but also as a teacher and an apprentice."

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives this May 22. In the meantime, check out our guide to watching all the Star Wars movies in order, or read our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island is here, as promised, and the Stars Wars collaboration with Fortnite has shifted into an entirely new gear. I'd previously argued that I didn't think anyone was prepared for the amount of Star Wars that was about to hit Fortnite – and that very much applies here as the new island is more than just a bunch of set dressing around the edges of a screening experience.

But that screening experience is absolutely the initial draw, and everyone knows it. The Fortnite island has a message from Jon Favreau on top of a 10-minute sneak peek of the upcoming Star Wars film several days before it's actually in theaters on May 22. If you're the kind of Star Wars fan that just has to see the movie as early as possible and you're not a reviewer or critic, this is your shot. Additionally, Favreau will also have a Q&A airing in the Fortnite island's amphitheater on May 26.

When I say it's "more than just a bunch of set dressing," I'm speaking from experience. Ahead of the new Star Wars Fortnite island's launch, I was able to play around in and explore the world of Nevarro created by Fairview Portals and Beyond Creative. Collecting bounties, fighting off enemies at a moment's notice, playing the role of pit fighter, and even hopping on a speeder briefly at one point. And, of course, helping Grogu.

After spending some time on Nevarro, I was able to speak with some of the developers at Fairview Portals to better understand the work that went into the experience – and working with Epic, UEFN, Favreau, and more.

The following interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

GamesRadar+: How do you balance bringing people who maybe are not familiar with the show or the upcoming movie, while also people who are very intimately familiar?

Jeff Brown (games director at Fairview Portals): Huge consideration from us and the whole team, including Jon. First of all, we identified that the Watch Party was a great opportunity for us, and having that around the time of the film launch, but also we wanted to make sure that that was expanded. Epic's done other watch party islands, but they're just not as expansive; there's not as much going on. So we saw the opportunity to kind of really dig in. And Jon proposed Nevarro for many reasons, of course, in terms of us being able to build something that's that's authentic, but also it was important to have one of everything, something for everyone. So we can go on quests, you can just get right into the action, you can go watch the previews for the film. It was always important for us to be able to include lots of variety to help folks that aren't as tuned into Fortnite.

GR+: As you're building this, is there anything like, 'Oh, we've got to have this. This is a part of this that has to be present'?

Matt Burdette (lead artist at Fairview Portals): I mean, we're building this under Jon's roof. So we have complete unfettered access to everything we could have needed to do this, like build a pinpoint-accurate Nevarro – we had blueprints, we had set photos, we had concept art. Pretty much anything at all we needed, we had available to us, which basically left no excuse to not build a one-to-one of some of these environments. And we also were pretty clear up front to say, 'If it exists in the show, if there's a canonical version of this that's in the show, we're gonna do it.' And we pretty much did, so.

GR+: …How big is it? I played what I thought was a good chunk of it, but I could tell there was definitely even more than that. Like, there's a lot there on the island.

JB: It's a good, complete representation of the city of Nevarro, with some changes for gameplay. But it's about everything that you would expect to be in the city. And then we knew that we had to have the shipyard, and, of course, the homestead, so it just kind of expanded from there. It's a celebration of the show, so it was important to include the things that everyone knew of it.

GR+: When you were initially visualizing what this would be, was it always sort of this, or was there an earlier version of this that you iterated from?

JB: It definitely evolved a little bit over time. Nevarro was always the thing that we wanted to do; it just had to be scaled appropriately. So I think when we first went in, there were a lot of ideas for stuff that we could do, and that ultimately had to be pared down to something that fit within the timeframe. And that was a process, working with Epic, working with Andre [Balta, senior director at Epic Games] just to find the essence of what we should do.

There was so much that we could have done, but I feel like we've kind of clawed back a lot of things that were in the original spec. So there's a lot of things that – and little details, little Easter eggs – are in there too, that we managed to put in.

GR+: What's the most difficult thing about building a Fortnite creation like this?

JB: That first part's really easy for us. Matt and I have been working together for a long time in full-fat Unreal Engine, and this is our first project in UEFN, which there's a learning curve, as anyone that's worked in this flavor of Unreal would tell you. I think that we've dealt with everything in a good way.

There's a limiting factor there, but it's also sort of a creative box that you learn to stay within, and you end up having to come up with a lot of creative solutions, which we have, and honestly, teaming up with, Beyond Creative, they've been great, and we've learned a lot about how to how to develop for the engine.

GR+: And how does adding Star Wars to the mix complicate all that, if at all?

MB: Well, I mean, you just have to make sure that you're, again, sticking to the authenticism of it. You can't phone it in like. You really have to stick to what makes Star Wars Star Wars. You have to pay attention to the details. You kind of just have to treat it as gospel. That requires a pretty enormous amount of vigilance, but it's like the proof is in the pudding as you do that, you really can feel it come out as you continue to build it.

JB: Yeah, there's spaces that don't exist in Nevarro either. So that was kind of a big challenge. But luckily, we had Doug Chiang [SVP and executive design director at Lucasfilm] as a resource, who was incredible, and he would come in and give us a lot of advice for the areas that Matt was building that are specific to the island that you wouldn't see in the show or the film.

MB: Doug Chiang had some fantastic feedback for us. Every time we met with him, the needle moved forward significantly. So it was great having him with us.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island is now available in Fortnite. If you're interested in more about the movie, you can check out all of our previous coverage of The Mandalorian and Grogu.

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I'm sorry to say that the epidemic 'Baby Yoda' fever is back now that the movie is Force-jumping onto theater screens, and there's a lot of Mandalorian and Grogu merch floating around as a result. However, not all of it is created equal.

To help you sort the beskar from rubbish, I'm doing my best bounty hunter impression and bringing in the best Mandalorian and Grogu merch. I've trawled through almost all the collectibles out there, so am bringing you recommendations based on a mix of personal experience, user reviews, best-sellers, and the coolest-looking gear. As an example, I'd always suggest looking at Black Series action figures; they're always phenomenally detailed and surprisingly affordable, which puts them high on our list of the best toys. Similarly, Loungefly bags are never less than... so they've earned a place here too.

You'll find goodies across a range of prices, too. No matter your budget, you should be able to find something to delight you on this list of the best Mandalorian and Grogu merch. This is the way.

For more from a galaxy far, far away, don't miss the best Star Wars toys or the best Lego sets.

Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni has revealed he originally contemplated making the Disney Plus show Ahsoka as a movie.

"We'll see, I mean obviously we needed both," Filoni said at The Mandalorian and Grogu premiere, when asked by News18 Showsha whether the focus moving forwards was movies or shows, before going on to talk about the saga's cinematic legacy and upcoming 50th anniversary.

"I love what I've been able to do," he added. "I couldn't figure out how to make Ahsoka into a film, way back when, even before I started working with Jon [Favreau]. So after working with Jon, I'm like, 'Oh, I get it, it's a series.' And so some stories work better for that, and some stories are movies, and I think we need it all. I think it's all part of what drives the big eco-system that is Star Wars."

Ahsoka Tano was introduced as the young Padawan of Anakin Skywalker in the 2008 Clone Wars movie, which was directed by Filoni. She went on to appear in the Clone Wars TV show and Star Wars Rebels, before making the jump to live-action in The Mandalorian season 2, played by Rosario Dawson. She appeared again in The Book of Boba Fett, before leading her own show, aptly titled Ahsoka.

Ahsoka season 2 isn't coming until 2027, but we still know enough to start getting excited. At Star Wars Celebration 2025, it was revealed that the show will feature battles across two galaxies, Admiral Ackbar facing off against Grand Admiral Thrawn, and the return of Hayden Christensen. Rory McCann will take over the role of Baylan Skoll from the late Ray Stevenson.

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives this May 22. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

While Ahsoka season 2 might not be coming until 2027, there's still plenty to get excited about.

The show will pick up the story of Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan in the aftermath of season 1's cliffhanger, which saw Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren stranded on Peridea, while Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger escaped home.

The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has previously revealed he has seen all of Ahsoka season 2, after the original plan for The Mandalorian season 4 was to help set up Dave Filoni's show.

When we met with Favreau in London to talk about The Mandalorian and Grogu, we asked if there was anything he could reveal about what he saw.

"It's a culmination for him [Dave Filoni] of not just what he's done in live television, starting with the episodes that he directed of The Mandalorian, especially introducing Ahsoka in live-action, but this is a character that he created with George, and this has been the centerpiece of his work as a storyteller," Favreau says.

"And as he transitions to running Lucasfilm, I think he's putting a lot of effort into honoring and giving a sense of continuity, and, to some extent, completion to that arc, and he has tremendous care with it," he continues. "And he also understands the high level implications of what's going on throughout the galaxy, and in the World Between Worlds, and with all the characters that have been established in canon within live-action Star Wars, but also extended universe and novels.

"And he pulls the best from everywhere, and he weaves it all together very well, and much like he did that with what happened with the prequels and what happened with Clone Wars and with Rebels, all of it ties together and threads," Favreau adds. "He's giving a lot of thought to how Ahsoka fits into the overall, overarching continuity."

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters this May 22.

While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

A new Star Wars book has revealed some fascinating information about the return of the Sith in the High Republic era.

In the updated edition of Marc Sumerak's Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi, which now has the subtitle The Chronicles of Luke Skywalker, it turns out Vernestra Rwoh might have helped the Sith make a comeback.

The book is "written" by Luke Skywalker in 34 ABY (AKA 34 years after he blew up the Death Star on the Star Wars timeline) and features the legendary Jedi's reflections on major events in the galaxy. Writing about the High Republic, as shared by a fan on Twitter, Luke says: "Legends passed down across the years tell how the Jedi of the High Republic faced a number of grave threats, including a carnivorous species of plants known as the Drengir, ruthless marauders called the Nihil, and a mysterious group of nameless beings who were said to have fed on the Force itself.

"Some even say that it was during this brightest of times that the Sith began to crawl their way back out of the darkness. There are even whispers that legendary Jedi like Vernestra Rwoh may have been complicit in their return. But we may never know for sure."

Vernestra was seen in live-action in The Acolyte, and, based on what we saw of her in the canceled show, it certainly makes sense that she might have inadvertently helped the Sith return. After all, the Stranger was her Padawan before he fell to the dark side, and, at the end of the show, she makes the decision to blame the events of the series on Master Sol in a cover up, rather than share the truth.

In a cliffhanger that may never be resolved, Darth Plagueis also had a cameo in the show, apparently training Qimir. Plagueis is eventually Palpatine's Sith Master, and Palpatine, of course, causes the downfall of the Jedi and takes over the galaxy as the Emperor.

This isn't the only thing the new book has revealed, either: it turns out Luke Skywalker knows Cal Kestis survived Order 66.

Next up for Star Wars is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which arrives this May 22. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

In surprising news, Ahsoka season 2 won't arrive until early 2027.

The Star Wars show was previously expected to release in 2026, which Lucasfilm even seemed to recently confirm.

However, at Disney's Upfront showcase, Ahsoka Tano actor Rosario Dawson took to the stage to reveal that the Disney Plus show has a premiere window of early 2027.

"It's truly special seeing all the love from fans out there for Ahsoka and her crew," she said (via StarWars.com). "I can tell you this season, the battles are bigger and the stakes are higher. We cannot wait for you to see."

Those in attendance were also treated to a sizzle reel featuring space battles, lightsaber fights, and Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker.

Ahsoka's new release window means that 2026 will be the first year since 2019 without a live-action Star Wars show: 2019 had The Mandalorian season 1, 2020 had The Mandalorian season 2, 2021 had The Book of Boba Fett, 2022 had Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor, 2023 had The Mandalorian season 3 and Ahsoka, 2024 had The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew, and 2025 had Andor season 2.

But, this year has already seen the release of the animated Maul – Shadow Lord, while The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars movie in seven years, is hitting the big screen imminently. Next year, meanwhile, will also see the release of Star Wars: Starfighter.

At Star Wars Celebration 2025, Dave Filoni revealed that Ahsoka season 2 would feature a showdown between Admiral Ackbar and Grand Admiral Thrawn, and a behind-closed-doors first look (of sorts) teased battles across different galaxies and giant, evil droids. Plus, Christensen himself revealed he would be returning, while Rory McCann taking over as Baylan Skoll from the late Ray Stevenson was also confirmed.

While Ahsoka season 2 doesn't have a firm release date just yet, May 2027 will mark the 50th anniversary of the original Star Wars movie, and Star Wars Celebration returns to LA in April. So, it wouldn't be too surprising if Ahsoka season 2's release date was planned so that episodes are dropping through at least one of these events.

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives this May 22. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, or see our interview with director Jon Favreau on bringing Star Wars back to the big screen and Grogu's Jedi journey.

The Mandalorian and Grogu might be right around the corner, but there's another Star Wars release still to come this year: Ahsoka season 2.

The Disney Plus show will pick up after the cliffhanger ending of season 1, which saw Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren stranded on Peridea, while Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger escaped back to the main galaxy.

"Working on it, working on it, it's coming," creator Dave Filoni told Screen Rant. "It's come a long way, obviously. I'm editing it, all the episodes at once, right now, and deep in visual effects with the team but really proud of everyone, the work they've put in. Lots of things to resolve and figure out, but that's normal. And I'm excited for people to see it, you know we didn't really get to go out and premiere in a way last time so I think the team's really excited to be out with the fans with this one and see how it goes."

Filoni added he "might know" when it will release but wouldn't clarify when, then responded to a social media rumor that this would be the last season: "Really? Never know. Everything works as planned and I know where the story goes and where it should tie up, and so I'm not really worried about that. But, fan speculation is always fun. It's always fun to hear what people think. But we've got a lot going on right now in the present, see, like a Jedi, you must keep your mind in the here and now. We got Maul and we got Mando happening, so it's very exciting."

Maul – Shadow Lord recently wrapped up on Disney Plus with a cameo and showdown Star Wars fans have been waiting 27 years for, and Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 has already been confirmed.

The Mandalorian and Grogu, meanwhile, will pick up with Din Djarin and his tiny green charge on another adventure, this time involving Rotta the Hutt.

The film arrives this May 22. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Maul – Shadow Lord star Sam Witwer says those flashbacks in episode 8 were confusing to fans on purpose, but for a much deeper reason than you might think.

"Brad, very smartly, along with Dave (Filoni)’s help, and Matt (Michnovetz), he made sure that everything we saw in those 'flashbacks,'" Witwer explained on the My Mom's Basement Podcast. "Are they flashbacks? Seems like a vision? Is a vision a flashback? How does that work? Because nothing that we see in those visions matches up with The Clone Wars or The Phantom Menace. They're different. People saying things in a different order, you know, and the audience can take from that what they will. They can try to interpret why. We know why we did it that way. Brad knows why he did it that way."

In Maul - Shadow Lord episode 8, Maul is beside himself after losing a battle with Marrok and the Eleventh Brother. As he walks alone and reflects, he is suddenly plagued with a series of visions that are presented to the viewer as flashbacks. And here's where things get a little confusing: these flashbacks involve various events throughout Maul's life that made him what he is today... but they're different to the way they play out in canon.

Is the show retconning or changing Star Wars canon? Not quite. This is sort of how trauma works sometimes: the memories can change over time, therefore turning the survivor into an unreliable narrator. What Maul sees, and what the viewer sees, isn't necessarily what actually happened. As Witwer says, it's all in Maul's head.

Added Witwer: "But, going along with that, Brad said, ‘It needs to be your voice with all the characters. Young Savage, Sidious, Young Maul, because this is Maul's, while it's a vision, it's also his remembrance, so this is all in his head."

All 10 episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord are streaming now on Disney Plus. For more, check out our Maul – Shadow Lord review, or our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order.

The Maul – Shadow Lord finale finally brought us the Maul vs. Vader showdown we've been waiting 27 years for… and it also snuck in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to Luke Skywalker, too.

In the episode, Darth Vader also fought Jedi Padawan Devon Izara and her Master Eeko-Dio Daki. During his clash with Daki, Vader hits the Jedi Master with his lightsaber over and over again from above, in a move that you might recognize from Return of the Jedi. In the throne room scene of that Star Wars movie, Luke Skywalker used the same attack on Vader when he was in danger of slipping to the dark side. Check out a comparison below.

Vader eventually killed Daki after Maul betrayed the Jedi and Force pushed him closer to the Sith Lord. Only Brander Lawson saw what Maul did, though he stayed behind to sacrifice himself and allow the others to escape. In the aftermath, Devon finally agreed to be trained by Maul. You can read more in our Maul – Shadow Lord ending explained.

Luckily, Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 has already been confirmed, so we hopefully won't have long to wait to see what happens next. One thing that could be on the cards is Devon eventually becoming Talon, a character from George Lucas's scrapped plans for the sequel trilogy.

"We can't give away too much," supervising director Brad Rau told us of Talon speculation before the show aired. "We have heard a lot of the fan theories and speculations, and we are fascinated by them. We'll just put it at that, leave it at that."

Next up for Star Wars is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which lands in theaters this May 22. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Following the Maul – Shadow Lord season 1 finale, it sounds as though Star Wars fans have a newfound respect for Obi-Wan Kenobi and how powerful the Jedi master actually is.

Warning: the following contains major spoilers for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord season 1 episode 10, so turn back now if you haven't caught up.

The Shadow Lord season finale has finally given what we have all been waiting for, a showdown between Darth Vader and Maul. The two go head to head, but it seems as though Maul doesn't realise that it is actually Anakin under the mask. This aside, Maul knows he cannot defeat the Sith lord, so he brings the roof down on Vader, and he and Devon manage to escape. You can read more about the battle in our Maul – Shadow Lord ending explained.

However, Maul running away from Vader seems to have made a lot of Star Wars fans see Obi-Wan Kenobi in a new light, as after all, he is the only one who has been able to defeat Vader. Well, nearly. "After watching Episode 10 of Maul: Shadow Lord, it really hit me just how powerful this man truly is," said one fan on Reddit.

Many agreed, and one fan replied, "Obi-Wan was the second to last Jedi Master. His knight trial was literally facing a Sith Lord alone." Another added, "He's also the best defensive duelist in the order, possibly even of all time," pointing out his fight with General Grievous, "Obi-Wan had him figuratively and literally disarmed and on the run in mere minutes."

Obi-Wan taught Anakin Skywalker everything he needed to know about becoming a Jedi. However, after being manipulated by Palpatine, Anakin turned to the dark side and on Kenobi, which led to their fiery battle in Revenge of the Sith. Obi-Wan managed to overpower Anakin, severing his limbs. However, he survived his wounds and the lava and was turned into the metal-limbed leader, Darth Vader.

Other fans in the chain pointed out that Obi-Wan was able to beat Vader because he trained him. However, others say that just makes their battles more exciting. "They were so in sync with each other that a good chunk of their fights is them making moves the other knows and not knowing what move to make to throw them off guard," and another added, "I will also defend the fight in A New Hope when both of them have developed so far, and are barely moving, because both are reading each others slightest micro movements"

The two have had rematches in A New Hope and in episodes three and six of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, but the Sith Lord was finally killed in Return of the Jedi due to his suit malfunctioning after he threw Emperor Palpatine down the reactor shaft.

Maul – Shadow Lord season 1 is available to stream on Disney Plus. For more, check out our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order, and keep up with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows on the way.

The Maul – Shadow Lord finale gave Star Wars fans what we've been waiting almost 30 years for: a showdown between Maul and Darth Vader.

Vader appears at the very end of episode 9, and then he fights against Devon Izara, her Master Eeko-Dio Daki, and Maul throughout episode 10. They prove to be no match for this Sith Lord, however – and that's all without Vader speaking a single word.

At an event for the final two episodes, Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni expanded on his thoughts on Vader.

"The key to Vader for me is that he's not Anakin," Filoni explained (via io9). "He doesn't recognize that. He can't. Anything that reminds him of Anakin, he's going to destroy. So when he sees a Jedi, he's going to destroy the Jedi, because the Jedi would remind him unconsciously or consciously that he betrayed all of his friends and everything he knew and the life he grew up with. For what? For nothing. He lost everything. He made a bad trade. He was lied to. He was deceived. He can't accept that truth. So he’s even farther down the path than Maul."

Filoni's explanation is very bleak, but also fits Vader perfectly. "Maul is struggling to let go of hate, but Anakin got consumed by it," he added. "If he were to face what he did, it would destroy him more. I find a lot of pity for him because of what he did and the depth of his treachery. And that's Darth Vader. Anakin's trapped in there somewhere, and Darth Vader won't let him surface. And so to me, the key is not to actually give him a character. He's devoid of it because he doesn't care. Darth Vader does not care. He does not have compassion. He does not see you. He sees the thing he wants to destroy, and he will do that. It's like the same feeling you got in Rogue One when he comes down the hallway. He doesn't talk to those guys. He's going to destroy them. He has one mission, and all of his remorse and all of his anger and all of his hate is in every swing that he does. That's how it’s resolved."

Finally, Filoni referred to Vader's battle with Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars Rebels, as well as his eventual redemption. "And [when] he saw Ahsoka, he wants to destroy her," he said. "She, of all people, would remind him of who he was. He's like, 'I gotta destroy that. I can't face that.' Obi-Wan, he wants to destroy him. So he is a destroyer, Darth Vader. And critically, only his son, only his offspring, could make him spark, could make him see something. But at first, selfishly, [he said] 'You and I can rule the galaxy.' That's where he goes. He doesn't come all the way back. It's a long process."

All of this explains very well why Vader wouldn't speak: he's purely in destroyer mode, with no room for anything else.

The Maul – Shadow Lord ending saw Maul betray Daki and Force push him closer to Vader, essentially sacrificing the Jedi Master to ensure his own escape. Naturally, Vader killed Daki, which Devon witnessed – and which cleared the way for her to finally accept Maul's training. That leaves things open for Maul – Shadow Lord season 2, and it also might be pointing to Devon eventually becoming Talon from George Lucas's original sequel trilogy plans.

"We can't give away too much," supervising director Brad Rau told us of Talon speculation before the show aired. "We have heard a lot of the fan theories and speculations, and we are fascinated by them. We'll just put it at that, leave it at that."

You can stream all episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord on Disney Plus now. For more, check out our Maul – Shadow Lord review, or our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order.

The Maul – Shadow Lord season 1 finale was certainly huge, featuring an epic showdown with Darth Vader and the tragic death of Devon Izara's Master, Eeko-Dio Daki.

But, amid all the big moments, some answers to major questions about Maul raised by Star Wars Rebels can be found.

When we see Maul for the first time in Rebels, he walks with a cane, and his double-bladed red lightsaber appears to be a modified version of an Inquisitor blade.

In the Shadow Lord ending, Maul gives half of his lightsaber to Devon so she can fight the Eleventh Brother after losing her own, while Maul's mechanical legs – which had already sustained damage earlier in the season – are repeatedly attacked by Vader.

"Finally seeing why Maul walks with a cane, why one half of his lightsaber is taken from an Inquisitor's blade, and why he knew he couldn't take Vader on alone in Rebels is just so great! A really great way to fill in the blanks!" says one fan on Twitter.

While Maul's Rebels lightsaber does appear to be a full Inquisitor blade, and not half of one, Shadow Lord still makes a clear connection between Maul and the Inquisitorious by having the ex-Sith go up against Marrok and the Eleventh Brother. Establishing what is likely to be an ongoing rivalry might explain how Maul ends up with an Inquisitor's blade, even if it can't be Marrok's or the Eleventh Brother's (Marrok has his lightsaber in Ahsoka and the Eleventh Brother is later killed by Ahsoka Tano, as seen in Tales of the Jedi).

Maul also has the lightsaber in his brief cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is set around a decade after Shadow Lord and roughly six years before Maul's Rebels appearance on the Star Wars timeline. So, Maul will likely obtain his new lightsaber soon – perhaps in Shadow Lord season 2, and perhaps because he gives both halves of his other lightsaber (the original from The Phantom Menace) to Devon.

As for the cane, Maul does appear to be pretending to need it to gain Ezra Bridger's trust, but it also could be a legitimate need. While he would have plenty of time to get his legs fixed in the next decades, Vader might have caused lasting damage, or made them more prone to breaking again.

And, Maul's belief in Rebels that he can't take on Vader alone is likely based on his duel in Shadow Lord… though the duo could meet again in the years before Rebels takes place. It all remains to be seen.

You can stream all episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord on Disney Plus now. For more on the show, check out our Maul – Shadow Lord review, or our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order to catch up on Maul's story.

Star Wars fans feel like May 4th passed them by, as there was a surprising lack of news or announcements from the galaxy far, far away.

"Did star wars even do anything for may 4th. Any announcements? Or like did the maul finale drop and that was it," one fan wrote on Twitter.

"I was really expecting them to capitalize on the success of Hail Mary and promote Ryan Gosling in Starfighter leading up to Mando and Grogu but there was nothing once again Disney is fumbling the marketing," replied someone else. Star Wars: Starfighter is set to hit theaters in 2027.

"I really thought we were gonna have Ahsoka’s season two news but i was FOOLED," wrote another. Ahsoka season 2 has seemingly been confirmed for release this year, but very little has been revealed about the new installment yet.

"Was pretty much mainly the final two episodes of Maul: Shadow Lord. But honestly, with how incredible they were, that was more than enough for me," said another, more satisfied, fan.

Season 1 of animated series Maul – Shadow Lord came to an end this Star Wars Day, with a surprising cameo that gave fans a showdown almost 30 years in the making.

Next up from the galaxy far, far away is The Mandalorian and Grogu. Starring Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and Jeremy Allen White, the movie is set in the aftermath of the fall of the Empire as Din Djarin and his small green ward are recruited by the New Republic to help protect what the Rebellion fought for.

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters on May 22. In the meantime, catch up with our guide to the other upcoming Star Wars movies and shows on the way.

Star Wars Day (AKA May 4) brings us a Hutt-sized haul of merch each year, and 2026 is no different. Actually, it feels as though there's more on offer for the event this time around than before. I was lucky enough to go hands-on with almost all of it when I visited Disney's London HQ a couple of months ago, and was taken aback by how much there was to see.

Because the only way to sort the good from the dark side was to go hands-on with as much of it as I could, I did my due diligence and mucked about with all the Star Wars Day merch for 2026 I could find. While plenty of items stood out, a few rose above the rest like rocks being Force-lifted by Yoda. The wearable Boushh helmet from Return of the Jedi was an easy highlight, for example; it's made of incredibly convincing materials with top tier weathering that makes the replica seem as though it's come from the movie set, topped off with a voice changer. I also adored the Starbucks signature mug series, bringing beloved planets to life in a classy, more abstract style. My favorite collection might just be the Endor range, though, and you can find out why below.

Want the very best Star Wars Day merch this May 4? Here's what I would prioritize, based on personal experience.

Note: A lot of these items are selling out fast at both the US Disney Store and UK Disney Store, so be aware that particularly popular ones may be out of stock by the time you read this.

For more from a galaxy far, far away, don't miss my favorite Star Wars board games or these essential Star Wars Lego sets.

Maul – Shadow Lord has come to an end, and it's quite the explosive conclusion, featuring a major cameo and a lightsaber duel Star Wars fans have been waiting for ever since The Phantom Menace.

The show has followed Maul's attempts to rebuild the Shadow Collective and reassert control over his criminal empire, alongside trying to recruit Jedi Padawan Devon Izara as his apprentice. In the Maul – Shadow Lord ending, everything comes together… and, in the process, we get a Star Wars showdown almost three decades in the making.

Below, we've broken down exactly what that major cameo means for Maul, as well as the surprise twist that means this duo still have unfinished business. The following contains spoilers for Maul – Shadow Lord, so turn back now if you haven't finished the entire show. For more, you can check out our Maul – Shadow Lord review for our spoiler-free verdict on the show.

The Darth Vader Maul – Shadow Lord cameo explained

In episode 8 of Shadow Lord, as Maul and his unlikely allies attempt to flee Janix, Rook Kast is suddenly dragged into the mist by an unseen foe and killed. Soon after, we hear that distinctive mechanical breathing: it's none other than Darth Vader.

Maul, Eeko-Dio Daki, and Devon Izara battle the fearsome Sith Lord in the finale, and Daki is killed by him when Maul betrays the Jedi Master and Force pushes him closer to Vader. This devastates Devon, and it also makes her angry enough to eventually accept Maul's offer to train her, potentially setting her up to become Talon in Maul – Shadow Lord season 2.

While Maul does battle Vader and eventually collapses a building on him to escape, he never figures out Vader's true identity as Anakin Skywalker. Of course, hardly anyone in the galaxy knows the truth at this point on the Star Wars timeline, but Maul has a very good reason to connect the dots. In the Siege of Mandalore Clone Wars arc, he attempted to lure Anakin to Mandalore to kill him and prevent the Jedi from becoming Darth Sidious's apprentice, as Maul had foreseen the fall of the Republic. But, Ahsoka Tano arrived instead, which foiled Maul's plan.

In Shadow Lord, Maul and Vader finally come face to face. This is the first time in the Star Wars canon that these dark siders have met, apart from two brief moments in The Phantom Menace when they are in the same location (though, Anakin is 10 years old at the time). They have another near miss in Star Wars Rebels, which is set many years after Shadow Lord, when Maul is nearby as Vader duels his former apprentice, Ahsoka (AKA Snips).

The Shadow Lord battle, then, is a huge deal, since Maul was once Sidious's apprentice just like Vader, and Maul harbors a lot of resentment over being replaced after he was defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi. And, since Maul foresaw Anakin's fall to the dark side, this is vindication for the ex-Sith that he was right all along.

But, in a surprise twist, Maul does not realize that Vader is Anakin Skywalker in the Shadow Lord finale. At first, Maul is baffled by the Sith Lord, musing that Vader is no Inquisitor. Once he figures out that Vader is indeed a Sith, he encourages Devon to use her anger as the only way to defeat this new threat, pointing out that he himself was trained by a Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, so he knows what he's talking about.

By the end of the episode, as Maul and Devon escape Vader, Maul still doesn't seem to have put two and two together and worked out that Anakin Skywalker lives and has become Darth Vader. It would seem this particular revelation is being saved for later, perhaps in Maul – Shadow Lord season 2. It's no surprise that Maul might not figure it out straight away, either, as, after the events of Revenge of the Sith, Anakin is thought dead: even Obi-Wan doesn't learn Anakin lives for a few more years, as seen in the Obi-Wan Kenobi show.

What the Shadow Lord duel does give us, however, is an answer to the question of who would win if Maul and Vader ever clashed blades. Unfortunately for Maul, the answer is extremely obvious: Vader easily handles him, Devon, and Daki with his brute strength, and it's all Maul and Devon can do to escape. In this way, the fight is very reminiscent of Cal Kestis's battle with Vader in Jedi Fallen Order.

We'll just have to wait and see to find out when Maul will realize he was right about Anakin Skywalker all along, but, for now, this clash is more than enough to tide us over.

You can catch up with Maul's story with our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order, or see our roundup of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

The Maul – Shadow Lord ending is especially dramatic, and it sets up an exciting future for the titular ex-Sith.

The show has chronicled Maul's attempts to rebuild his criminal empire after the events of The Clone Wars, as well as his pursuit of Jedi Padawan Devon Izara as his apprentice. Everything comes to a head in the final two episodes, and there's plenty to unpack.

Below, we've broken down everything you need to know about the Maul – Shadow Lord ending, which naturally means there are major spoilers ahead. Turn back now if you're not up to date! For more on the show, check out our Maul – Shadow Lord review for our spoiler-free verdict.

Maul – Shadow Lord ending explained

The final two episodes begin with Crimson Dawn's Dryden Vos offering Maul a deal: if the ex-Sith Lord will help install Vos as leader of the crime syndicate, he'll help Maul escape Janix. Maul agrees, and he implants an image of a meeting place in Devon Izara's mind. Devon and her Master Eeko-Dio Daki, Brander Lawson, Rylee Lawson, and Two-Boots head to the meeting point.

But, Inquisitor Marrok and the Eleventh Brother are in close pursuit. As the whole crew attempts to traverse a toxic waste site, the Inquisitors catch up and a battle begins. Some of Maul's crew die, but the main players make it across safely. Marrok then gives an ominous instruction: "Inform him they are headed his way."

On the way to meet Dryden Vos, Rook Kast is dragged away and killed by an unknown foe in an eerie, horror movie-style moment. It's not long before we hear that distinctive mechanical breathing, though, and it becomes clear who Maul and the others will have to battle to escape: Darth Vader. While Maul knew of Darth Sidious's plans to make Anakin Skywalker his apprentice, as shown in the Siege of Mandalore arc of The Clone Wars, he doesn't seem to put two and two together in Shadow Lord and realize Vader is Anakin. Instead, all he knows is Vader is a Sith Lord.

Maul encourages Devon to give in to her rage as the only way to beat Vader, but Daki resists this. Marrok and the Eleventh Brother show up, and another fight starts as Lawson, Rylee, Vario, and Two-Boots battle with stormtroopers. Devon ends up fighting the two Inquisitors alone as Daki and Maul clash with Vader. Marrok is Force pushed by Devon over the edge of the walkway they're fighting on and disappears into the mist.

Maul sees Devon fighting alone and Force pushes Daki into Vader, getting the Jedi Master killed by the Sith Lord. Devon is devastated and, when she loses her lightsaber, Maul throws her half of his red blade. She pursues the Eleventh Brother inside the ruins of a nearby building, but Vader takes her by surprise. Maul brings down the roof on Vader, which almost isn't enough to stop him, but he and Devon manage to escape. Meanwhile, Brander Lawson sacrifices himself to the stormtroopers so Rylee, Two-Boots, and Vario can escape.

Devon, Maul, Rylee, Two-Boots, and Vario make it onto Dryden Vos's ship, where Vos reminds Maul of their deal. Devon then finally agrees to Maul training her, setting up Maul – Shadow Lord season 2.

Who dies in Maul – Shadow Lord season 2?

There are a few casualties in the final two episodes. Rook Kast is killed by Darth Vader, as is Eeko-Dio Daki after Maul betrays him and Force pushes him closer to the Sith Lord. Brander Lawson also sacrifices himself so his son Rylee, Two-Boots, and Vario can escape the Empire.

Does Maul fight Darth Vader?

Yes, the Star Wars battle we've been waiting years for finally happens in Shadow Lord. This duo have had a few close calls before: they crossed paths in The Phantom Menace when Anakin Skywalker was still a child, then Maul hoped to lure Anakin to Mandalore during the Siege of Mandalore arc of The Clone Wars to kill him and prevent him become Darth Sidious's apprentice. In Star Wars Rebels, Maul is also nearby when Ahsoka Tano duels her old Master – and he believes he's not strong enough to fight Vader alone, suggesting familiarity with the Sith Lord.

In Shadow Lord, they clash along with Devon and Daki. Interestingly, Maul doesn't seem to have realized that Vader is Anakin Skywalker, either, meaning that realization is most likely still to come.

Who is Dryden Vos?

Dryden Vos is introduced in Solo: A Star Wars Story as the fearsome leader of Crimson Dawn. In Shadow Lord, he strikes a deal with Maul to become that leader, meaning the show has laid the groundwork for Maul's surprise cameo in Solo (which is set after Shadow Lord on the Star Wars timeline).

In Solo, Vos is played by Marvel's Paul Bettany, though, in Shadow Lord, he's voiced by Scott Whyte.

What happens to Inquisitor Marrok and the Eleventh Brother?

Marrok is Force pushed by Devon over the edge of a walkway, and he falls to places unknown. It's unclear whether he survives this or not, as, when he is struck down in Ahsoka, green Nightsister magic escapes from his armor. That suggests he might have been undead in that show… though, it seems unlikely he did die here, as Maul and co. leave without collecting his body, so there'd be no way for the Nightsisters to get hold of him. Instead, he'll most likely return some day, alive and well.

As for the Eleventh Brother, he runs into the same building as Vader, and Maul brings the roof down shortly afterwards. However, we know the Eleventh Brother, AKA Crow, survives, because he goes on to duel Ahsoka Tano in Tales of the Jedi.

Is Devon Darth Talon?

That remains to be seen, though it seems pretty likely judging by the final episode. In the last moments of the finale, Devon agrees to be trained by Maul, and she has already accepted half of his red lightsaber. It seems this Jedi Padawan is poised to slip to the dark side.

In George Lucas's original plans for the sequel trilogy, Maul was a crime lord with a Twi'lek apprentice named Talon. It would make a lot of sense if this is the trajectory Shadow Lord follows as it continues. "We can't give away too much," supervising director Brad Rau previously told us of Talon speculation. "We have heard a lot of the fan theories and speculations, and we are fascinated by them. We'll just put it at that, leave it at that."

Will Maul – Shadow Lord get a season 2?

Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 has already been confirmed. Though it doesn't have a release date yet, Maul actor Sam Witwer has hinted that we won't have to wait long to see it. "It's the usual development cycle... I know when it's coming out, but it's not a situation where the audiences will have to wait too, too long," he shared.

Does Maul – Shadow Lord have a post-credits scene?

No, Shadow Lord does not have a post-credits scene. Once the credits roll on episode 10, that's the end of the show so far.

You can catch up on Maul's story with our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order, or see our roundup of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 is on the way, which is very good news indeed. After all, Maul has proven himself to be one of Star Wars's most fascinating characters, and it's clear that his story is nowhere near finished.

With season 1 coming to its explosive conclusion, you might be wondering what's next for everyone's favorite former Sith. Below, we've rounded up everything there is to know so far about the continuation of Maul's story in Maul – Shadow Lord season 2, from when it might be released to what the plot might cover. This is one of the most exciting of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, so it's well worth getting up to date.

Before you go any further, though, a warning that the following contains spoilers for the final two episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord season 1. For even more on the show, you can check out our spoiler-free Maul – Shadow Lord season 1 review.

Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 release date speculation

So far, Shadow Lord season 2 does not have a release date. Season 1 was announced at Star Wars Celebration 2025 and premiered in 2026. The new season was announced shortly before season 1 arrived, so, if it follows the same schedule, we can expect new episodes in 2027.

"It's the usual development cycle... I know when it's coming out, but it's not a situation where the audiences will have to wait too, too long," Maul actor Sam Witwer shared in an interview with The Direct. "But I think I am forbidden from saying what I know, but we are working on it," he continued. "We've been working on it for a while, and it's interesting."

Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 cast

Nothing is confirmed about the Shadow Lord season 2 cast just yet. Still, we can assume the main players will return. That would look like this:

• Sam Witwer – Maul
• Gideon Adlon – Devon Izara

We would also expect the return of Charlie Bushnell as Rylee Lawson, and Richard Ayoade as Two-Boots, but that remains to be seen. Also likely to make a comeback is A.J. LoCascio as Inquisitor Marrok and Clancy Brown as the Eleventh Brother. We still need to find out why Marrok dissolved into Nightsister magic in Ahsoka, after all...

Plus, it seems probable we'll see more of Scott Whyte's Dryden Vos, considering season 1 ends with Maul poised to establish Vos as leader of Crimson Dawn.

And, we wouldn't be surprised at all if Darth Vader returns. Though, as he didn't speak in his Shadow Lord appearance, we don't know who'd play him yet.

Three people we won't be seeing return, however, are Vanessa Marshall's Rook Kast, Dennis Haysbert's Eeko-Dio Daki, and Wagner Moura's Brander Lawson. Kast and Daki were both killed by Darth Vader in the final two episodes, while Lawson sacrificed himself to stormtrooper fire to ensure the others could escape.

As for who else might appear, that's still a mystery. If the show continues to build to Solo, which revealed Maul as the leader of Crimson Dawn, then we could see Qi'ra – though, if she'll be voiced by Emilia Clarke is unknown for now. Likewise, if Vader and the Inquisitors return, don't be surprised to see Emperor Palpatine, either.

Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 plot

After the explosive events of the Maul – Shadow Lord season 1 ending, it looks like season 2 will focus on Maul helping Dryden Vos ascend to power in Crimson Dawn. That's because Vos rescued Maul and co. from Janix in exchange for the ex-Sith Lord's assistance.

Plus, in the final moments of the finale, Devon Izara finally accepts Maul as a teacher, suggesting we'll see this Padawan slip towards the dark side under his tutelage. Whether that mirrors George Lucas's original sequel trilogy plans, which featured Maul and a Twi'lek apprentice named Talon, remains to be seen.

And, while Maul, Devon, and the others escaped from the Inquisitors and Darth Vader, it seems very unlikely that the Empire would stop pursuing them. So, be prepared for more appearances from these formidable dark siders.

One thing that's for sure, though, is that it doesn't matter that we already know how Maul's story ends thanks to Star Wars Rebels. "I will say, when we approach these kinds of stories where you know a certain character's end, it's not necessarily a straight line," supervising director Brad Rau told us before season 1 premiered on Disney Plus. "So, we wanted to make sure that we are making surprising bobs and weaves in a storyline that the fans are not expecting. Ideally, that's what we're doing. Also, there's a lot of new characters you've never seen before, and you don't know their fates and their destiny, and that's a big part of the story as well."

Maul – Shadow Lord trailer: when might we get one?

The Maul – Shadow Lord trailer was released to the public (after screening behind closed doors at Star Wars Celebration) in January, ahead of an April premiere. So, we'd expect to see the season 2 trailer a few months ahead of its release, too. When that might be isn't clear at the moment, but we'll keep this page updated with everything we know.

That's a wrap on Maul – Shadow Lord season 2. For more Star Wars, check out our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order.

There's a lot of pressure to making toys, and a whole bunch more when those are Star Wars toys. As one of the most beloved franchises in the world, its action figures (not to mention collectibles) come under more scrutiny than Rebel scum being interrogated by Darth Vader. It's also the series that kickstarted merchandise as we know it today, so there are standards to uphold. This is something you must get right, or millions of fans will let you know about it. As an example, social media is awash with opinions on the new Grogu animatronic right now; fans are going nuts for its features, but less so the cost.

How do you make sure things are up to a standard the Empire would be proud of, then? And how are these collectibles made in the first place? That task falls to a crack team at Hasbro Pulse, so I tracked down their leader Chris Reiff (manager of product design for Star Wars action figures, replicas, and beyond) to pick his brain about everything that goes into making merch for a galaxy far, far away. As it turns out, forging some of the best toys in the Outer Rim is... well, it's a lot more complicated than you might think.

GamesRadar+: I'd love to hear about how the action figure development process works. Can you tell me what goes into making one from start to finish?

Chis Reiff: There is SOOOOO much that goes into it. I’ll give you a high level run through of the bigger steps in the process but if you want all the fun details we’ll have to sit down for a day to talk through it all. From a high level:

• Planning: First we have to decide on which figures to do. That involves a lot of decisions about themes, overall budgets, cost, fan desires and involves a full cross-functional team of engineers, designers, marketers, and conversations with our partners at Lucasfilm.
• Development: I’ll break this down a little more since it's where the heart of the fun happens.
  • Concept and Input: We’ll put together a plan for what we want the figure to be including articulation, plan accessories, and all the reference for the particular version we want to do.
  • Sculpting: Our sculpting team then takes that input and executes a fully realized 3D sculpt of the figure that we review and refine throughout the process to make sure it matches the reference and the plan as best as possible.
  • Production Engineering: That sculpt gets turned over to be taken from an articulated solid figure to something fully engineered internally for production. (Lots of back and forth and refinement all through this process).
  • Deco Planning: Our team will take a look at the reference and plan out in Photoshop and then in 3D painting software exactly how we want the figure to look (sometimes we’ll do physical models as well depending on the need).
  • Packaging: The packaging team creates the artwork for each package, usually creating custom art for each figure and making sure we get good renders or photos of the figures based off of our deco plans.
  • Production: I have massively simplified this list and this section is no exception… To make the figures we need to cut steel molds, fine tune them, create paint masks and silk screens and printer files for deco. We work day to day with amazing factories and production partners reviewing samples and tweaking things all the way up to sign-off for full production.

There are a LOT more steps and many other people involved all along the way. From the copywriters, quality assurance, sales teams, Logistic Partners, warehousing, Customer Care, etc. that all come into actually making and delivering an action figure. I can’t even list everyone but that gives an idea of the breadth of what is needed and we do that for each and every item we make.

Can you tell me about any design challenges of the Vintage Collection versus the Black Series figures, and vice versa?

Reiff: They’re both unique segments and do have some unique challenges but largely the process is the same for both scales. With the modern figures they’re essentially getting the same articulation and same deco. But, with The Vintage Collection being so much smaller, the minimum requirements for things like plastic thickness and just the ability for someone to physically put the parts together reliably becomes more difficult. For example, how small a wrist joint can be doesn’t change and what might be perfectly fine for a 6inch tall figure might make a figure at 3.75 inches look like they are wearing a coat where we want a bare arm. In cases like that we have to find different ways to handle those concerns to be sure we are still delivering a high quality item.

I've got to ask, because I adore them: how much fun is it to cut loose and make wild Halloween/Christmas figures? Seeing a Stormtrooper decked out in a reindeer costume is great.

Reiff: I’m glad you like them. I do as well. Those sorts of things are always a lot of fun for a designer since so much of what we do for the normal figures is focused on replicating and accuracy to what is in a show. On those Black Series figures you mentioned, Eric has done an amazing job pushing those designs. We’re all a little jealous of how much fun he gets to have creating those.

Is there something you're particularly looking forward to seeing fans get their hands on?

Reiff: There is but I can’t tell you about it yet. LOL. For what we can talk about…. I think I’m most looking forward to getting the HasLab Gunship into people’s hands [...] Seeing that through to a fully finished product that people unbox and set their own scenes around will be fantastic!

Let's switch gears to another Black Series product: roleplay items like lightsabers and helmets. We've come a long way from the early Black Series Lightsabers. What would you say has been the greatest leap?

Reiff: For me, that’s pretty straight forward. The transition to the FX Elite versions from the initial FX versions of the Black Series Premium Role Play Lightsabers kept all the amazing metal and fully detailed hilts but brought more LEDs and it brought addressable LEDs so we could add smooth effects and localized features in the removeable blades. We’re always looking for more ways to enhance those and I’m excited for where they might evolve in the future.

The weathering on your roleplay products is always spot on, but I have to say, the helmets really are very impressive. What goes into making sure the paintwork on these is just right?

Reiff: We usually go through a few iterations on each one making sure we get just the right amount to be subtle but not too over the top. That process starts with pouring over lots of great references then doing a digital paint-over of our 3D Sculpts to plan out where we are headed. From there we’ll make a physical painted sample that we’ll rework to be just right. Then that is photographed and sent off to the factory as final reference (a paint master) for them to follow for the production version.

To finish, are there any recent projects from the Star Wars line that you have a soft spot for? Personally speaking, I'm a huge fan of the new Clone Captain Rex.

Reiff: My soft spot is definitely the RETRO Collection. I really enjoy the expansion of classic characters that I’ve been able to do and how that extends the collection of figures Kenner originally did.

• See the latest Star Wars figures at Hasbro Pulse

For more cool collectibles, don't miss the best Lego sets or the best Nerf blasters.

We're just two episodes away from the end of Maul – Shadow Lord, but Darth Vader hasn't made an appearance in the Star Wars show.

Instead, Maul has been doing battle with Inquisitor Marrok and the Eleventh Brother (AKA Crow), but one Easter egg cleverly hidden in a battle sequence points towards Vader himself.

One eagle-eyed fan on Twitter has noticed that Marrok uses a move very similar to a classic Anakin Skywalker lightsaber manoeuvre. "You can tell Marrok was trained by Vader by the overhead rear block he does at the start of this duel. Both Anakin and Ahsoka use that move all the time. The attention to detail in this show is next level," they write, resharing a clip of the moment, which sees Marrok swing his lightsaber over his head and bring it down at Maul.

Anakin does indeed seem fond of this move: you might recognize it from his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith, or in his duel with a younger version of Ahsoka Tano in the World Between Worlds in Ahsoka.

Vader is the head of the Inquisitorius, and the Darth Vader comic series has established that he is personally involved in their training. So, it's not a stretch at all to assume Marrok learned this move directly from Vader.

"We talked a lot about [how] we wanted these Inquisitors to be as creepy as possible, creepier than we've ever seen them: horrifying, in fact," supervising director Brad Rau told us of Marrok. "And, A.J. certainly gives us a lot of that in his performance. And the way that we blocked Marrok in particular, if you notice, he moves really slowly, like a horror monster, and then he moves really fast, also like some kind of apparition. And so we just played with all of that fun stuff. It's just too much fun."

While Vader hasn't shown up in the show, it is possible he is the mysterious cloaked figure Marrok called for help earlier in the season. We'll just have to wait and see if the Sith Lord does end up arriving on Janix in the final two episodes…

You can keep up to date with our Maul – Shadow Lord release schedule, or, for more on the show, read our Maul – Shadow Lord review.

To catch up on Maul's story, see our guide on how to watch The Clone Wars in order.

It seems Star Wars has confirmed Ahsoka season 2 is coming this year, which is good news for those of us who've been missing Snips.

The news comes in the latest – and final – issue of Star Wars Insider, as shared on social media by user Morai the Messenger. The magazine says that "a second season of Ahsoka is due to drop on Disney Plus later this year."

While we've known Ahsoka season 2 is coming for some time, no release date has been confirmed, which led to some fears that the show might not be arriving until 2027. This latest update seems to confirm that Ahsoka Tano is indeed returning to our screens this year.

That's especially exciting, since The Mandalorian and Grogu director has teased Ahsoka is leading Star Wars forward.

"Anybody who saw the sequels knows that there's a First Order coming in, like, 20 years from where we are now in the storyline," Jon Favreau shared recently. "And then Ahsoka season 2 is coming out – which I've seen all of – and that's definitely more dealing with the larger [picture], a higher level. That's about the officers and we're the enlisted men – this is more of a ground-level experience of what's going on. You're seeing the backdrop – which, by the way, is what the first Star Wars started off as."

Excitingly, Star Wars Insider also said a teaser for Star Wars: Starfighter could be imminent: "And watch out for a teaser trailer for 2027's big release, Star Wars: Starfighter, sometime soon."

In the meantime, The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives this May 22, while Maul – Shadow Lord continues weekly on Disney Plus.

You can keep up to date with our Maul – Shadow Lord release schedule, or see our roundup of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Hasbro Pulse has unveiled what might be the most realistic Grogu collectible ahead of May 4 (AKA Star Wars Day) that you'll find beyond the Mandalorian and Grogu movie set.

Appropriately titled "Ultimate Grogu," this 1:1 scale animatronic version of Baby Yoda packs more than 250 lifelike animations, sound effects, and a premium design that includes wispy hairs on the top of his head… but also comes with a premium price tag to match many of the best toys combined. You can pre-order this Star Wars collectible for $599.99 at Hasbro Pulse, and it'll ship in early 2027.

From what I can see on social media, fans are reacting with a near-unanimous "oh my gosh, this is amazing" to how Ultimate Grogu looks, moves, and sounds. That's fair – this is easily one of the best Star Wars toys I've ever seen, with a deeply impressive range of movement, realistic sounds, and true-to-screen mannerisms (like that adorable toddle) that really sell the illusion.

However, they have slightly choicer words for its price. And honestly? I get it. While I totally appreciate why this thing costs $600 (the kit stuffed into it does not come cheap, and it's quite the accomplishment, technically speaking), it's still an eye-watering number to swallow. I don't mean to yuck on anyone's yum, of course, and value is subjective, but hoo boy.

Nevertheless, you aren't going to find a more realistic version of Grogu that comes with such a wide range of movement and effects. While the Hot Toys equivalent (which you can pre-order direct from Sideshow) is even more realistic in terms of looks and weighs in at a far more palatable $285, it doesn't have any of the mechanical doodads that bring Hasbro Pulse's version to life. As such, the one I'd recommend depends on what you want it for. If you'd like something to sit on your shelf and look cute as a button, the Hot Toys version is a great choice. You don't need much more. But if you want an addition to your Mando cosplay, or you want the ultimate conversation starter, it has to be the Hasbro model. I've not seen anything manage what it can do; this sure is a step up from the animatronic Chopper I fell in love with a few years ago.

What do you think of Ultimate Grogu? Let us know in the comments.

• See all Star Wars collectibles at Hasbro Pulse

For more cool gear, why not check out the best Lego sets or the best Nerf blasters?

New Star Wars series Maul – Shadow Lord hasn't even finished its first season yet, but Disney Plus has already renewed it for season 2. Better yet, fans might not have to wait too long to see the Sth's return, as star Sam Wittner knows when season 2 will hit screens.

"It's the usual development cycle... I know when it's coming out, but it's not a situation where the audiences will have to wait too, too long," said Witwer in an interview with The Direct. However, the Maul voice actor couldn't reveal the release date just yet. "I think I am forbidden from saying what I know, but we are working on it," admitted the star. "We've been working on it for a while, and it's interesting."

Since the team has been working on Maul's sophomore season for some time now, we could expect to see the dark lord return to the streamer in 2027, if the show does indeed follow the annual release strategy like its predecessors, The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.

Disney renewed Maul – Shadow Lord this April, which wasn't a huge surprise as the animated show has proven to be a big hit with fans. The series is set after The Clone Wars and follows Maul as he plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. Shadow Lord currently sits at an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the highest-rated Star Wars projects ever.

Witwer knew he had a winner on his hands from the beginning, but could never have predicted its overwhelmingly positive reception. The star said, "When you do a show, you're doing your best, and for my part, I'm just kind of hoping we survive... My prediction for 'Shadow Lord' was, 'Yeah, I think we have the goods. I think we're gonna deliver a season that the fans will accept.' I did not necessarily see all of the passion and how hardcore everyone is locked into this show..."

The success of season 1 has only spurred the Shadow Lord team on to reach greater heights with season 2. "I can tell you that the entire team, myself included, feels a tremendous responsibility to slam our foot into the gas and keep it moving... We have to keep discovering new things," added Witwer. "I'm a Star Wars fan, so I would like to see it continue. And so the pressure is on, I suppose. We want to tell good stories."

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord season 1 will come to an end on Star Wars Day, May 4, on Disney Plus. Check out our Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord release schedule for exact timings. For more, here's what to watch before Maul – Shadow Lord and a detailed breakdown of the Star Wars timeline.

The fan campaign for The Acolyte is reignited after the canceled Disney Plus briefly reemerged in the streaming platform's top 10 most viewed shows.

According to Comic Book, on April 22, it ranked in the number nine spot, according to Flix Patrol, which tracks streaming figures on all platforms. It joined another Star Wars show in the ranking too, Maul – Shadow Lord.

Set 100 years before The Phantom Menace, the eight-part series followed Jedi Master Sol (Squid Game's Lee Jung-jae) as he investigated a mysterious series of crimes. Amandla Stenberg starred as his former Padawan alongside Manny Jacinto as The Stranger. It had generally positive reviews when it was first released but Disney canceled the show based on viewership figures.

Ever since its cancelation, fans have been rallying for Disney to reverse its decision. The hashtag "RenewTheAcolyte" often trends on X, with increased calls over the past week following its resurgence. "Shouldn’t have been canceled, give me my show back," wrote one, as another added that it had "such a great story and memorable characters" and "deserves to be continued".

"The fact is that, revisiting The Acolyte after nearly 2 years, it became clear that the series features the best lightsaber battle ever made in live action," a third wrote. "It truly deserved a 2nd season."

However, there might be another reason for its renewed popularity on Disney Plus. New animated show Maul – Shadow Lord is currently airing and features an auto-play function after each new episode for The Acolyte. This could be why the show is getting attention once again, two years on.

For more on a galaxy far, far away, check out our guides to all the upcoming Star Wars shows and movies as well as our breakdown of the Star Wars timeline.