None of This Year’s Star Wars Films & TV Shows Would Exist Without The Clone Wars

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Eighteen years ago, George Lucas and Dave Filoni launched Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Initially, it was viewed as simply another addition to the Star Wars universe, a way for Lucas to expand the story. But the series quickly proved to be much more, particularly with the introduction of Ahsoka Tano as Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice. While some fans initially disliked Ahsoka and felt she didn’t fit with existing Star Wars lore, she has since become incredibly popular.

I’ve always been amazed by Dave Filoni’s journey. He started at Lucasfilm working directly with George Lucas on The Clone Wars, and it was clear even then he was a true protégé. Now, after 18 years, he’s taken over as president of Lucasfilm, which really highlights how incredibly important George’s decision to bring him on board was. What’s even more amazing is that 2026 marks a turning point – it’s the year that every Star Wars project, whether a film or a series, will have some connection back to the world and storytelling he first established in The Clone Wars. It’s a full-circle moment, and a testament to his vision.

We’re Officially Entering the Clone Wars Supremacy

Mandalorians first appeared in the Star Wars universe with Boba Fett in the original Star Wars Holiday Special. However, George Lucas didn’t develop their backstory much at first, and much of their early history came from the older Expanded Universe stories, particularly those written by Karen Traviss. Later, Lucas redefined the Mandalorians in The Clone Wars series, largely disregarding the previous Expanded Universe material. This version of the Mandalorians is the basis for the characters we see in The Mandalorian & Grogu, making that show a natural progression of their story.

The new trailer for Maul – Shadow Lord clearly builds on the world of The Clone Wars. It feels like another extension of that series, happening at the same time as Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and continues the story of Darth Maul, who was brought back to life at the insistence of Lucasfilm. Without The Clone Wars, Darth Maul would have remained dead after The Phantom Menace, and this continuing storyline wouldn’t exist.

Later this year, the second season of Ahsoka will bring back a live-action version of Anakin Skywalker’s former apprentice. This is a direct continuation of the story begun in The Clone Wars, as Ahsoka’s very existence is rooted in that series. Everything points to Season 2 exploring the Mortis Gods – powerful and complex beings created by George Lucas that present a unique challenge to how we understand the Force. In many ways, this season represents the culmination of the story Dave Filoni has been developing for nearly two decades.

Okay, Star Wars fans, get ready for another animated adventure! This year brings us Star Wars: The Ninth Jedi, a miniseries that actually builds off the fantastic Star Wars: Visions anthology. It’s coming from the same team at Lucasfilm Animation who brought us The Clone Wars, so the quality should be top-notch. Now, this story isn’t officially part of the main Star Wars timeline, but honestly, with this release alongside everything else, 2026 feels like a huge celebration of The Clone Wars and its lasting impact. It’s a good time to be a fan!

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2026-02-03 19:44