Disney Just Made a Bunch of HUGE Announcements — See Them All Here

It’s TIME.

Star Wars Celebration 2023 (Europe) is taking place right now and they’re dropping some HUGE announcements. A new trailer for Ahsoka, a new trailer for the upcoming Indiana Jones movie, the announcement of 3 NEW Star Wars films, and MORE — this is Disney news you cannot afford to miss. So let’s get down to the details.

Here is a roundup of the BIGGEST news from Star Wars Celebration 2023 (Europe).

The Acolyte

Disney/Lucasfilm have announced that The Acolyte — a brand new Star Wars series — will be coming to Disney+ in 2024!

Just announced at #StarWarsCelebration:

The Acolyte, an upcoming Original Star Wars series from Lucasfilm coming to @DisneyPlus in 2024. pic.twitter.com/13NHX7A5Jh

— Disney (@Disney) April 7, 2023

According to IGN, the series is set between the Old Republic and the prequels. It has been pitched as “Frozen meets Kill Bill.”

The cast of The Acolyte has arrived. #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/RnW1EPsIk8

— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) April 7, 2023

Various stars from The Acolyte later made their way to the Star Wars Celebration LIVE! stage to discuss the show.

According to one Cast Member, the show is set about 100 years out from the High Republic books, which gives them the ability to be a little more “free.”

Joonas Suotamo also hit the stage to discuss what it’s like to play a wookiee Jedi!

According to Disney, “The Acolyte will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes but discovers the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.”

Andor

Andor Season 2 is on its way to Disney+ and is expected to hit the service in August 2024. According to Variety, a first look at Season 2 was revealed during Star Wars Celebration 2023.

Season 2 started filming in November and is expected to finish this August. Variety shares, “Season 2 footage revealed at the event showed Mon Mothma trying to rally a rebellion. Villain Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) also seems to have a bigger role in the show. Meanwhile, Luna’s Cassian Andor was shown with a new hairdo. Season 2 introduces a number of new characters.”

The next season will feature the return of Diego Luna as well as Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Faye Marsay, and Varada Sethu. Season 2 will have 12 episodes and will take place over the 4 years that lead up to Rogue One.

Diego Luna, Adria Ajorna, Kyle Soller, Genevieve O’Reilly, Denise Gough, Andy Serkis and Tony Gilroy of #Andor join together at #StarWarsCelebration. pic.twitter.com/i6xZYiiy5f

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 7, 2023

There will be 3-episode “pods” “written and directed by the same team. Each of those pods will encapsulate a successive number of days within one of those years.” According to one member of the team, the final scene of Season 2 will feature Andor walking onto the ship that takes him to the Rings of Kafrene and basically sets up Rogue One.

Let’s just say, fans of Andor were excited!

One. Way. Out. #Andor #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/b0420gOX3n

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 7, 2023

Skeleton Crew

We also got some updates on Skeleton Crew! Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, and Robert Timothy Smith are joining Jude Law in this series. The original series will debut on Disney+ in 2023.

Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, and Robert Timothy Smith join Jude Law as the cast of #SkeletonCrew. Original series coming to @DisneyPlus in 2023. pic.twitter.com/X5lGI1sqa6

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 7, 2023

IGN has also shared a look at the directors for the episodes of the show.

Here are your directors for Star Wars Skeleton Crew episodes! #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/3iAgXsAnuo

— IGN (@IGN) April 7, 2023

And here’s another look at the cast.

The cast of #SkeletonCrew took the stage together for the first time at #StarWarsCelebration. pic.twitter.com/370sha2Zc6

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 7, 2023

According to Disney, “Skeleton Crew follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined.”

The Mandalorian

During the event, a clip from The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 7 was also shared that teased the return of a beloved Star Wars character. SPOILER ALERT for SPOILERS AHEAD.

A clip from The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 7 shared at Star Wars Celebration 2023 hints at the live-action return of a beloved Star Wars character. https://t.co/xBxHk624H5 pic.twitter.com/XHnn53Fkh9

— IGN (@IGN) April 7, 2023

According to IGN, the clip showed Moff Gideon asking “about the whereabouts of none other than Grand Admiral Thrawn.” His appearance was also potentially teased in the new trailer for the Ahsoka series — which we’ll talk about in a second!

Here’s more of a summary of the clip from IGN:

“The clip opens with a futuristic city, showing Elia Kane speaking to Moff Gideon through a hologram. Discussing the Mandalorians, Moff asks which ones are causing problems and, of course, it’s Bo-Katan and Din Djarin.

“I shall deal with our Mandalorian friends,” said Moff Gideon, before saying that “Grand Admiral Thrawn is missing. With respect, our one hope for success relies upon the secrecy of his return,” he continued. “I never hear a word of Thrawn. You’ve spoken of his imminent return. Perhaps it’s time that we look to new leadership.”

Ahsoka

Speaking of Ahsoka, let’s discuss the BIG news here! Disney released a brand NEW poster for the show that reveals it’ll be released in August 2023 on Disney+.

Just released at #StarWarsCelebration:

Here’s your first look at the new poster for #Ahsoka, coming August 2023 to @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/KWUrN59YyS

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 7, 2023

A new trailer for the show was also released — you can check it out below!

And check out the images below showing a first look at Mary Elizabeth as Hera Syndulla…

Our first look at Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla in #Ahsoka.#StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/UmjEQkzhqs

— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) April 7, 2023

…and Natasha Lou Bordizzo as Sabine.

Our first look at Natasha Lou Bordizzo as Sabine in #Ahsoka #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/koux2i5R8o

— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) April 7, 2023

According to Disney, “Set after the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka follows the former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.”

So what might that threat be? Well, it’s probably “the Heir to the Empire,” aka Grand Admiral Thrawn. He’s seen from the back in the trailer, but it was later announced that Lars Mikkelsen, who voiced the character in Star Wars: Rebels, will be also portraying the live-action version of Thrawn.

Just announced at #StarWarsCelebration:

Lars Mikkelsen joins the cast of @AhsokaOfficial as Grand Admiral Thrawn. #Ahsoka pic.twitter.com/XnpJzLzQVe

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 8, 2023

We’re certain that news made a lot of Star Wars: Rebels fans extremely happy.

NEW Star Wars Movies

Ready to see some brand NEW Star Wars movies? They’re COMING! There are 3 NEW live-action films in the works directed by James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

Here’s a breakdown of what each movie will be focused on as reported by StarWars.com:

“James Mangold’s movie will go back to the dawn of the Jedi” (Disney also shares this movie will tell ” the tale of the first Jedi to wield the Force and harness it as a liberating power in an era of chaos and oppression.”)
“Dave Filoni’s will focus on the New Republic, and close out the interconnected stories told in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and other Disney+ series” (Disney shares that Filoni’s film will “orchestrate the escalating war between the Imperial Remnant and the fledgling New Republic.”)
“Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film will be set after the events of Rise of Skywalker, and feature Daisy Ridley back as Rey as she builds a new Jedi Order.”

Daisy Ridley returns to the stage and surprises fans at #StarWarsCelebration along with director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy with exciting news about their upcoming Star Wars film. pic.twitter.com/lgafQmwyCs

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 7, 2023

According to IGN, Finoli’s film will take place after Return of the Jedi but before The Force Awakens. IGN also reports that the Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy film with Daisy Ridley will “take place 15 years after the events of Rise of Skywalker and star Ridley as the Jedi Master rebuilding the Jedi Order.”

Here’s a look at the Star Wars timeline.

Rogue Squadron

According to IGN, Kathleen Kennedy (Lucasfilm president) has also indicated that the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron film could still happen “despite its production fizzling away at Disney.”

Kennedy shared, “Rogue Squadron, that definitely is something that we still talk about.” But she teased that it may come in a different form — “Whether it’s a movie, or whether it ends up being in the series space, that’s definitely something.”

Lando Calrissian

We recently heard an update from Donald Glover about his thoughts on returning to the role of Lando Calrissian, but now we have an update from Kathleen Kennedy too.

According to IGN, Kennedy indicated that a Lando Calrissian project (which many expect could be a series) is still in the works. Kennedy shared, “I can just tell you it’s still happening, and he’s [meaning Glover] very excited about it.”

Return of the Jedi

Return of the Jedi will be heading back to theaters to celebrate its 40th anniversary. In honor of its theatrical re-release, a new poster for the movie was also unveiled.

Return of the Jedi will return to theaters on April 28th through May 4th in the U.S. and April 28th through May 1st in the U.K.

Tales of the Jedi

Disney also announced that the animated series Tales of the Jedi will be getting a second season on Disney+.

Just announced at #StarWarsCelebration:#TalesoftheJedi returns for Season 2, only on Disney+.

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 8, 2023

We don’t have any details on when that second season might air, but we’ll keep an eye out for dates.

Indiana Jones

A new trailer has also been released for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny — coming June 30th. Watch it below.

Livestream

We’ll be keeping an eye out for more news from Star Wars Celebration 2023. If you want to watch certain parts live, check out the livestream from the Celebration LIVE! stage.