Where Is Star Wars’ Next Real Masterpiece?

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Star Wars has remained incredibly popular since it first appeared in the 1970s. What began as a surprising science fiction story from George Lucas – featuring Jedi, lightsabers, and a battle between good and evil in a distant galaxy – has grown into a hugely successful franchise worth billions of dollars. While Disney, which now owns Lucasfilm, continues to create new Star Wars movies and shows, it’s becoming less common for these new installments to reach the same level of quality as the original three films.

Lucasfilm delivered on high expectations with the release of Andor Season 2 in 2025. The entire Andor series is widely considered to be among the best Star Wars stories ever told, but Season 2, which detailed the rest of Cassian Andor’s story before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, was a particular standout. Both critics and fans praised it, and it currently has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than the original Star Wars films directed by George Lucas.

From the beginning, Andor was planned as a story spanning just two seasons. Now that it’s finished, everyone’s wondering what the next successful Star Wars show will be.

Lucasfilm has several sequels planned for 2026, including continuations of The Mandalorian & Grogu and Season 2 of Ahsoka. While these shows look good, audiences have already seen what they offer, so they likely won’t be as surprising or successful as Andor. Looking ahead, Star Wars has many projects in the works, but past experience suggests that not all of them will actually be made.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’ve been keeping up with all the announcements about what’s coming next, and I’ve got a feeling some of these projects really have the potential to be truly amazing – the next big thing in a galaxy far, far away, if you will.

What Could Be Star Wars’ Next Masterpiece?

Maul: Shadow Lord

Beyond the series Andor and the classic Star Wars movies, animated Star Wars shows have consistently earned some of the franchise’s highest praise. The Clone Wars Season 7 and Star Wars: Rebels were particularly popular with fans and are often considered among the very best Star Wars stories ever told.

I’m so excited for the new Star Wars series coming out in 2026! It’s an animated show called Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, and it’s going to connect stories from The Clone Wars, Rebels, and the prequel movies. Dave Filoni and Lucasfilm Animation are behind it, and everything I’ve seen so far makes it look absolutely amazing – it has so much potential to be something special.

With its unique and polished animation, Maul – Shadow Lord features beloved characters and voice actors from Star Wars, and introduces a compelling new story set within the galaxy’s criminal world. The show’s focus on Maul as the central figure—even a ‘hero’—suggests a deeper, more complex exploration of his character and themes that could expand on what we’ve seen in other Star Wars animated series.

If Maul – Shadow Lord successfully blends action and storytelling, it has the potential to become a standout animated series like Arcane or Blue Eye Samurai, and establish itself as a truly memorable addition to the Star Wars universe.

Star Wars: Starfighter

Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling’s Star Wars: Starfighter is a fresh and unique addition to the Star Wars universe. Because it isn’t connected to the Skywalker family story or other established Star Wars content, the film has the freedom to fully capture the spirit and feel of George Lucas’ original vision.

Star Wars might be on the verge of a new classic with its upcoming film, Starfighter. The project boasts a star-studded cast including Ryan Gosling, Amy Adams, Matt Smith, and Mia Goth, suggesting strong blockbuster potential. Director Shawn Levy, known for his work on fun, action-packed projects like Deadpool & Wolverine and as a producer on Stranger Things, seems poised to bring a fresh, adventurous tone to the Star Wars universe, potentially creating the next big hit for the franchise.

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic

Star Wars isn’t just known for its movies and TV shows—it also has a long and successful history with video games. Recent titles like Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor, developed by Respawn, are widely considered to be among the best Star Wars games ever made.

With so many Star Wars games currently in the works, one is particularly exciting. The newly announced Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic could recapture the compelling stories and engaging gameplay of the original Knights of the Old Republic games, which remain fan favorites and are considered among the greatest Star Wars titles ever made.

Many fans see Fate of the Old Republic as a follow-up to the beloved KOTOR games. It combines exciting action RPG gameplay with a strong story, engaging combat, and choices that truly matter. Importantly, the game brings back Casey Hudson, the original director, to the Star Wars gaming universe he helped shape.

Although still in the early stages, this project seems to be progressing well. If it can successfully capture the magic of the beloved KOTOR games, it has the potential to become the next big hit in the Star Wars universe.

James Mangold’s Star Wars Film

Lucasfilm has a lot of projects in development that are either paused, cancelled, or their status is unclear. While many of them show promise, it’s hard to predict which ones will become successful with so little known about the actors, filmmakers, and storylines.

However, one project is particularly promising: James Mangold’s upcoming Star Wars film. It’s set 25,000 years before The Phantom Menace and will explore the very beginnings of the Jedi and the Force. This concept is full of potential, offering a chance to expand the Star Wars story in exciting and fresh directions, provided it’s executed well.

Despite some initial concerns, the film appears to be in good hands. Director James Mangold has a strong track record with adapting popular stories, as demonstrated by the critically acclaimed Logan and Ford v Ferrari. He’s also known for A Complete Unknown and has received numerous awards for his work. The film’s writer, Beau Willimon, contributed to the successful series Andor, which suggests this movie could be just as compelling.

The biggest obstacle preventing the film from being truly great is simply whether it will ever be made. Kathleen Kennedy recently indicated in her exit interview that James Mangold’s project is currently paused.

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2026-02-06 18:06