From a big-screen return headlined by The Mandalorian & Grogu in May 2026 to animated swings like Maul: Shadow Lord and a Visions: The Ninth Jedi continuation, plus two major 2027 theatrical moments—a limited rerelease of the original Star Wars and Shawn Levy’s Starfighter—this guide rounds up what’s dated, what’s coming to Disney Plus, and which projects are still in the hyperspace lane of “in development.” Consider this your quick, hype-friendly roadmap for the next couple of years in a galaxy far, far away.
Why 2026–2027 is a big deal After years of standout series that kept Star Wars thriving on TV, the franchise is stepping back into theaters while keeping the small-screen momentum alive. For fans who game as hard as they binge, that means two things: cinematic scale is returning (hello, massive dogfights and subwoofer-rattling score), and the universe is widening with new corners to explore, especially in animation. Below, you’ll find the essentials, broken down by what’s dated, what’s TBA, and what’s hovering in the development hangar.
Confirmed dates and clear targets
The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22, 2026, theaters)
- What it is: Din Djarin and Grogu’s leap from prestige TV to a full-on theatrical adventure.
- The pitch: Expect Mando-versestyle stakes scaled up for the big screen—Imperial hardliners, New Republic headaches, and a rogues’ gallery of new allies and antagonists along the Outer Rim.
- Why gamers should care: Mando’s mix of bounty hunts, close-quarters scraps, and ship-to-ship skirmishes has always felt tailor-made for action game fans. On a theater screen, those N-1 thruster roars and Beskar clashes will hit like a perfectly timed parry.
Maul: Shadow Lord (2026 TBA, Disney Plus)
- What it is: An animated series centering on the galaxy’s most dangerous survivor and schemer, with Sam Witwer back as the voice of Maul.
- The pitch: Set after the Clone Wars and before Rebels, the series zeroes in on Maul rebuilding his criminal syndicate far from Imperial reach. Think underworld power vacuums, manipulation, and grudges with lightsabers.
- Why gamers should care: If you love character action games with layered villains (and a soft spot for the crime-empire meta), this looks like prime “build-your-faction” energy.
Star Wars: Visions — The Ninth Jedi spinoff (2026 TBA, Disney Plus)
- What it is: A continuation of one of Visions’ most beloved shorts, now expanding into its own animated project.
- The pitch: Visions thrives on style-forward, creator-driven storytelling. A Ninth Jedi follow-up means more elegant saber choreography and fresh lore without canon handcuffs.
- Why gamers should care: If you vibe with stylish indie games that experiment with mechanics and tone, Visions is the animation equivalent—bold, inventive, and unafraid to swing big.
Star Wars (1977) — Original cut rerelease (February 19, 2027, theaters)
- What it is: A limited-time theatrical return of the original 1977 experience.
- The pitch: This is the closest you’ll get to a time machine back to the film that started it all—before later edits. It’s more than nostalgia; it’s a clean read on why this universe got its hooks into pop culture.
- Why gamers should care: It’s like replaying a classic with no mods—pure design, pure impact. Perfect palate cleanser before the new wave hits.
Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28, 2027, theaters)
- What it is: A Shawn Levy–directed film set after the sequel trilogy, with a starry ensemble and a focus that hints at aerial combat and spectacle.
- The pitch: With Claudio Miranda (Top Gun: Maverick DP) shooting, expect pristine cockpit shots, kinetic battles, and the kind of visual fidelity that makes starfighter fans grin.
- Why gamers should care: Space dogfights. Enough said. If you love throttle management, drift turns, and target locks, this has “Rogue Squadron meets modern cinematography” written all over it.
Not dated, but actively in the mix
Ahsoka Season 2 (Disney Plus, timing currently unclear)
- Where it’s headed: Two parallel tracks—Ahsoka and Sabine navigating Peridea under pressure from Shin, and Thrawn bringing the pain to a vulnerable New Republic.
- Why it matters: It’s the backbone of the post-Imperial era on TV, setting tone and stakes for anything that connects to the Mando-verse.
Rey and the New Jedi Order (feature film, in development)
- The setup: About 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, Rey works to rebuild the Jedi. Creative chairs have shuffled, but the premise remains a tantalizing reset point for the Order.
- Status check: Still in flux, with development updates coming and going. Treat this as a watch-this-space situation.
Dave Filoni’s New Republic film (feature film, in development)
- The promise: A cinematic capstone to threads spun up across The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and related series—politics, cloning tech, and post-Imperial power plays.
- Why it matters: If you want connective tissue between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, this is the project most likely to stitch it together.
James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” (feature film, in development)
- The hook: Thousands of years before the Skywalker era—the discovery of the Force and the earliest steps toward what the Jedi become.
- Why it matters: It’s a clean slate with mythic scale. Think origin-story sandbox on a truly ancient timeline.
Simon Kinberg’s new trilogy (in development)
- The pitch: Positioned as a forward-looking trilogy to push the franchise into new territory, with reporting mixed on whether it touches the Skywalker Saga directly.
- Why it matters: If approved and scheduled, this becomes the long runway for the next era.
Taika Waititi’s Star Wars project (in development)
- The vibe: Original, off-center, and in no rush. It’s the wildcard—unexpected angles, humor with heart, and likely a corner of the galaxy we haven’t seen.
Projects in carbon-freeze (or close to it)
- A Droid Story (animated, Disney Plus): Once announced as a droid-guided adventure featuring R2-D2 and C-3PO, now quiet. Could re-emerge, but it’s very hush-hush.
- Lando (now planned as a film): The Donald and Stephen Glover pivot from series to feature gave the project fresh energy but also uncertainty. A script exists; beyond that, it’s patience time.
Your quick-look calendar
2026
- May 22: The Mandalorian & Grogu (theaters)
- TBA: Maul: Shadow Lord (Disney Plus)
- TBA: Visions — The Ninth Jedi spinoff (Disney Plus)
2027
- February 19: Star Wars (1977) original cut rerelease (theaters, limited)
- May 28: Star Wars: Starfighter (theaters)
- TBA: Ahsoka Season 2 (Disney Plus)
How to prep like a pro
- For The Mandalorian & Grogu: Rewatch The Mandalorian seasons 1–3 and relevant The Book of Boba Fett chapters to refresh on Din, Grogu, and post-Imperial politics.
- For Maul: Shadow Lord: Hit key Clone Wars arcs and Maul’s Rebels storyline to lock in timelines and rivalries.
- For The Ninth Jedi: Revisit Visions to dial into the tone—especially how it embraces bold, standalone ideas.
- For Ahsoka S2: Clone Wars and Rebels are your best primers—Ahsoka, Sabine, Ezra, and Thrawn all snap into focus with that context.
- For Starfighter: Queue up your favorite starfighter sequences across the saga. If you’re a sim or arcade-flight fan, this is your main event.
Final thoughts We’re staring down a two-year stretch that blends the comfort food of classic Star Wars with brand-new flavors: a big-screen Mando adventure, a stylish return to animation’s wild side, and a pair of theater events that celebrate both the beginning and the future of the franchise. Plans can shift—that’s the nature of hyperspace travel—but the slate as it stands offers something for every kind of fan, from lore-divers to dogfight diehards. Grab your calendar, charge your headset, and get ready: the next jump to lightspeed isn’t far off.