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Star Wars [franchise]

Entry updated 16 June 2025. Tagged: Film, Theme.

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At the heart of this now very substantial enterprise is the Cinema sequence whose first instalment was Star Wars (1977). To the end of 2017, there have been nine Star Wars films. In 1997, before the release of the second, "prequel" trilogy, George Lucas re-released the original films into cinemas with updated special effects and minor story changes as "Special Editions". These changes were controversial among fans at the time, as they were perceived by some to soften the movies. Further changes were made for the release of the Star Wars DVDs in 2004, with the stated aim of improving continuity between the original three films and the prequels (such as Hayden Christensen's Anakin being digitally inserted as a ghost in Return of the Jedi). [JN/PN]

The Star Wars films

Star Wars on television

All shows are animated, unless stated otherwise. The first Star Wars Television show was the mainly live action Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), of which one segment, The Faithful Wookiee, was a cartoon. Next came the television film The Ewok Adventure (1984; vt Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure), followed by the sequel Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985) and the series Ewoks (1985-1986; vt Star Wars: Ewoks) in 26 episodes. Another series, Star Wars: Droids (1985-1986; vt Star Wars: Droids – The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO), comprising 13 episodes and a special, debuted on the same day as Ewoks. An extended lull followed, until Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005) with 25 episodes, followed by the popular Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020) with 133 episodes; then Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018) with 75 episodes; Star Wars Resistance (2018-2020) with 40 episodes; Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021-2024) with 47 episodes; Star Wars: Visions (2021), an anthology series of 10 episodes; Star Wars: Tales, another anthology series comprising Tales of the Jedi (2022), Tales of the Empire (2024) and Tales of the Underworld (2025), each of 6 episodes; and Young Jedi Adventures (2023-current) with 48 episodes to date, plus 12 shorts. «Maul – Shadow Lord» and «Star Wars: Visions Presents» are planned for 2026.

There have also been several micro-series and shorts since 2017: Blips, Forces of Destiny, Galaxy of Adventures, Roll Out, Galaxy of Creatures, Galactic Pals, Zen – Grogu and Dust Bunnies and Fun with Nubs, most first appearing on YouTube and/or StarWarsKids.com. With the success of the live action The Mandalorian (2019-2023) in 24 episodes, which won many awards including seven Emmys and an Annie, further live action series followed: The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022) with 7 episodes; Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) with 6 episodes; Andor (2022-2025) with 24 episodes; Ahsoka (2023-current) with 8 episodes; The Acolyte (2024) with 8 episodes and Skeleton Crew (2024-2025) with 8 episodes. [SP]

Star Wars ties

A huge amount of authorized spinoff fiction has been set in the Star Wars universe. The official novelizations of the films are Star Wars (1976) by Alan Dean Foster (though credited to George Lucas), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) by Donald F Glut, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) by James Kahn, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) by Terry Brooks, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) by R A Salvatore, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) by Matthew Stover and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) by Alan Dean Foster. J W Rinzler (whom see) wrote a number of nonfiction books about aspects of the sequence as a whole and the making of several individual films, and adapted George Lucas's original rough draft script for the first movie as the Graphic Novel The Star Wars (graph 2014) with Rain Beredo, Mike Mayhew and Nick Runge.

Further authors of Star Wars universe Ties who have entries in this encyclopedia include Roger McBride Allen, Aaron Allston, Kevin J Anderson, Mike Baron (with Graphic Novels), Steven Barnes, Greg Bear, Terry Bisson, Rae Carson, Daniel Abraham and Tyler Corey Franck writing together as James S A Corey, A C Crispin, Brian C Daley, Hollace Davids, Paul Davids, Troy Denning, William C Dietz, Shane Dix, Alexander Freed, Christie Golden, Barbara Hambly, Elizabeth Hand, K W Jeter, Drew Karpyshyn, J Gregory Keyes, Michael P Kube-McDowell, Tim Lebbon, James Luceno, John Jackson Miller, Vonda N McIntyre, Andy Mangels, Rebecca Moesta, Steve Perry, J Michael Reaves, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Joe Schreiber, David Sherman, L Neil Smith, Michael A Stackpole, Sean Stewart, Todd Strasser, Karen Traviss, Kathy Tyers, Joan D Vinge, Martha Wells, Chuck Wendig, Sean Williams, Walter Jon Williams, Dave Wolverton and Timothy Zahn.

Besides the authorized spinoff titles there are also unofficial Parodies by Steve Barlow, Adam Roberts and others; Ian Doescher has adapted the storylines of the first six films as cod Shakespeare plays. [DRL]

see also: Psi Powers; Star Wars Games.

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