Star Wars fans are facing a tidal wave of new content in the next few years, from books to comics to streaming Disney+ shows. More than this, Disney has reshuffled the timelines twice in the last six months to better organize the layout of their imminent stories. The most recent demarcates the launch of the High Republic multimedia project. To better make sense of the new canopy, here is a guide to what happened in each era.
From the year 2000 to 2014, Star Wars used what is now considered the Legacy Timeline. It was divided into eight eras, spanning thousands of years before Episode IV to about forty years after Episode VI. Two years after the acquisition of Star Wars, Disney dissolved the Expanded Universe. Then, in the Summer of 2019, Disney launched their new timeline consisting of three eras: The Age of Republic, the Age of Rebellion, and the Age of Resistance. Earlier this month, with the release of a whole new Star Wars era, Disney once again launched a new official timeline. This has six divisions.
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The High Republic takes place two-hundred years before the Star Wars Prequels in a time when the Jedi are at the height of their power in the galaxy. Only a few things are known so far about this era. It revolves around an enemy known as the Nihil Gang and a catastrophe called the Great Disaster. The Disney+ show Star Wars: Acolyte is supposed to take place near its end. The High Republic is cutting edge for the new Star Wars galaxy so not much has been revealed. Only time will weave its yarn.
This era consists of the Prequels and the Clone Wars animated series. It spans roughly thirty years, beginning with a dispute between the Trade Federation and the Galactic Republic. The dispute escalated into a full-scale invasion of the planet Naboo by the droid army of the Trade Federation. The occupation was successfully overthrown by two Jedi, and a new Supreme Chancellor was elected in the Galactic Senate.
Ten years after the Battle of Naboo, several systems formed the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The Separatists were led by former Jedi Master Count Dooku who opposed the Galactic Republic under Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine. The cause for unrest included the same tax disputes argued by the Trade Federation in the earlier conflict, accusations of corruption in the Senate, and Core world favouritism over the Mid and Outer Rim worlds.
The Clone Wars began with the Battle of Geonosis and ended three years later after the elimination of their leaders on Mustafar, including the execution of Count Dooku by Anakin Skywalker. Right as the Clone Wars were ending, it was exposed that the Jedi were plotting to take over the Republic in a coup. The Jedi nearly succeeded but ultimately failed after an attempt to assassinate the Supreme Chancellor. Disfigured, and with great trepidation, Palpatine called for a Jedi purge in Order 66. To rebuild the galaxy after the devastation and hostility of the Clone Wars, the Supreme Chancellor reorganized the Republic into the First Galactic Empire.
So far, the only material in this period includes Solo: A Star Wars Story, where the Empire dominates planets, militarily expands into new worlds, and the galaxy is rife with pirates and gangsters. This is followed by the upcoming Disney+ animation The Bad Batch. The animated show seems to take place right after the Clone Wars with the cleanup of remaining droids and the transition of Clone Troopers to Stormtroopers. The Bad Batch is set to release sometime this year.
The Age of Rebellion is seen in Rebels, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and the Original Trilogy. It spans a ten-year period known as the Galactic Civil War, beginning with small successful rebellions against the Empire, like that of the Rebellion of Lothal. These rebels slowly joined together to form the Rebel Alliance, who then begin larger organized assaults against the Empire.
The Rebels win a chance victory in the Battle of Scarif, which quickly leads to the destruction of the first Death Star in the Battle of Yavin IV, a major shift in favor of the Rebels. Three years later, the Empire struck back with the devastating Battle of Hoth, which nearly wiped out the rebels and ended the Alliance. With the help of an emerging hero, Luke Skywalker, the Rebels were able to recuperate and take the fight right to the heart of the Emperor’s Throne room, leading to the destruction of the second Death Star in the Battle of Endor.
The Galactic Empire falls with the death of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader. This era also sees the resurgence of the Force in the galaxy as the young Jedi Knight Luke reclaims the ways of the Jedi Order. The new Disney+ show Star Wars: Andor will take place in this era.
Like the Reign of the Empire era, this one only has a few bits of lore to work with. It is the era where The Mandalorian takes place, along with the future Disney Plus shows Rangers of the New Republic, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett. Remnants of the Empire remain in power on various planets, occupying military installations, lost laboratories, and vital mines. The Jedi are emerging once again, and the galaxy is reformed in the New Republic.
The Rise of the First Order is the last in the canon (so far), and is composed of Star Wars: Resistance, and the Sequel Trilogy. It starts about thirty-five years after the end of the Galactic Civil War. It is bound by the rise of the First Order, their vengeance against the New Republic using the enormous weapon of Starkiller base, the near annihilation of the Resistance forces at the Battle of Crait, the resurfacing of Emperor Palpatine with the fleet of the Final Order, and then the fall of both Orders after the massive Battle of Exegol.
The Star Wars canon is ever-expanding with the announcements of Disney Investors Day back in 2020. Only they can fill in some of the blanks fans so desperately crave. Fans still do not have details for shows like Star Wars: Visions, A Droid Story, or Lando. There are also new movies being developed for as far a release schedule as 2025.
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