Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
In 2019, Star Wars fans of all tastes and ages are getting something they can hardly wait for. Here at Dark Side of the Force, we’re excited about all of it – each of us for different reasons.
This might be the biggest and busiest year Star Wars has ever had in its four-decade flight. From Disney parks to TV shows, new stories and familiar characters, we’re getting a little bit of everything. And we at Dork Side of the Force can hardly wait.
While I’m looking forward to Celebration and all the books and comics that will expand this universe, honestly, the conclusion to the Skywalker saga is what excites me the most about Star Wars 2019.
There’s still so much we don’t know about Episode IX, and I’m doing my very best to avoid possible spoilers/rumors. The sequel trilogy has received a lot of criticism, and I agree what we’ve seen so far isn’t perfect, but it holds a very special place in my heart.
The Last Jedi was the first Star Wars movie I ever saw in a theater opening weekend. I’ve seen that unforgettable blue text – “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away …” what, a thousand times? But something about seeing that on the big screen before most other people in the world have seen it chokes me up.
These movies – all 10 of them now, unless you include The Clone Wars movie aren’t just stories. They’re experiences.
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I was a prequel kid, and grew up thinking Jar Jar Binks was alright and Attack of the Clones was a decent movie (it’s definitely at the bottom of my favorites now, for obvious reasons). To me, it isn’t the movies themselves that matter most. It’s who you watch them with, the parts you laugh at together, the parts you dissect together on the way home from the theater.
I might be more excited for the first full trailer than anything else, though. My brother and I have spent hours pouring over the last two trying to figure out what might be going on. I love that. Star Wars movies are amazing to me because they exist outside of a screen as soon as you start talking with people about them. They live on long after the credits roll.
So no matter how all this ends, I’m counting down the days. No, really – I have a countdown going on my phone. 353 days to go!
Now, let’s here from some other Dork Siders and what they’re looking forward to most in 2019.
Photo credit: Lucasfilm/The Clone Wars
As much as there is quite a lot to be excited about for Star Wars in 2019, I am really keeping my eyes on the television in the coming year. Filling in gaps between the saga films is some rich territory and it looks like 2019 will prove to be a gold mine for that material.
First, we get The Clone Wars final arc explaining just how Ahsoka and Rex got away from the Empire and Order 66 during the siege of Mandalore. I’ve been looking forward to learning that since we discovered who Fulcrum was on Star Wars: Rebels.
And speaking of Rebels, how can I not be excited that Cassian Andor, the Rebel spy from my favorite Star Wars movie Rogue One will have his own series? The potential to tie together some great characters like Bail Organa, Saw Gerrera, and (fingers crossed) even Enfys Nest could make this a dynamic and bold series. Maybe this is a prime opportunity for Millie Bobbie Brown of Stranger Things to wear the hairbuns of a certain Alderaanian Princess learning to be a Rebel?
Finally, looking forward to what happens post-Return of the Jedi in the new The Mandalorian. As excited as I am for Pablo Pascal in the lead role, bringing Gina Carano into the Star Wars universe is a great move (check out her film Haywire to see her as a natural action lead). I can’t imagine how Werner Herzog will play into all of this, but so excited to find out.
So yes, 2019 should be a great year for backstories in the Star Wars universe, even before we cap off the Skywalker Saga. Can’t wait to see it all!
(Photo by Disney Parks Via Getty Images)
The two things I am looking forward to the most in 2019 are Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Star Wars: Episode IX.
I’ve had only the best memories while vacationing in Walt Disney World. I remember being amazed by Star Tours back when it was the Disney MGM Studios Theme Park (currently Disney’s Hollywood Studios). The little but small details were unbelievable! I never believed something so incredible was possible to replicate. I was ecstatic to hear that Galaxy’s Edge will be opening in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
To be able to walk inside the Millennium Falcon, see firsthand the characters and creatures from Star Wars films is such a amazing feat for Disney and Lucasfilm. I’ve been anxiously waiting for updates and photos, eager to see the final product. I look forward to being able to go and experience it for myself.
As for the present unnamed Star Wars: Episode IX, this will conclude the Skywalker storyline. Previous Episodes VII and VIII have expanded the story to impressive lengths. The characters are interesting, fun and some even threateningly scary. I love how Rey transformed herself to being more than even she believed she was. For Finn to become a force of good and fight back. Kylo Ren had proved himself to be more complicated than he appeared, the list goes on.
It’s amazing how unlimited Star Wars has become. It’s not just a served to one film but several movies, television shows, and books. It’s a universe of its own that will continue to bring in new fans for generations to come.
The Mandalorian. Photo credit: LucasFilm
2019 is about to be a thrill ride.
Personally, The Mandalorian is the thing that I’m most hyped for. That sounds pretty weird to say, especially since a saga film is coming out this year as well. But hey, that’s where we’re at now with the Star Wars universe – TV shows are to be expected.
Every time something new comes out about The Mandalorian, my smiles gets bigger and bigger. Jon Favreau is about to work wonders, giving us some familiar faces while introducing us to Pedro Pascal’s new bounty hunter. We know that guys like IG-88 and (possibly/probably) Bossk will show up, but what about the Fetts? Obviously not Jango – I think his head is still rolling – but Boba is a real possibility here. Favreau himself is a Mandalorian; remember, he’s Pre Vizsla. Maybe he’ll be sympathetic and bring back some of his own people?
The Mandalorian is gonna be great, but that’s not the only thing on my calendar. I’m really starting to pay attention to this Cassian Andor series. Rogue One was so good, right from the moment Krennic and the Death Troopers walked across that field to Vader’s savage rampage.
Cassian was a really cool character and Diego Luna made him very likable. Another reason to be amped for this show is the off-chance of Vader making an appearance. If the Chosen One is involved, I’m game–I don’t care what it is.
Regardless of your opinion on the Disney Star Wars era, 2019 will catch your attention and, with any luck, keep it.
Photo Credit: [Thrawn comics]Marvel, LucasfilmI love to read. It’s one of my favorite pastimes. I could have 5 minutes to spare and I will open my phone and read as much as I can of an ebook.
So for me, I’m excited for the new Star Wars novels coming out in 2019.
First up is Queen’s Shadow, a YA novel, featuring Padme Amidala, which is schedules to come out in March. Then, Master & Apprentice focusing on Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in April, Alphabet Squadron (June), which focuses on former rebel pilots, and – the one that makes me most excited – Thrawn: Treason (July).
What’s great about the books is how they focus on different eras too, so as a Star Wars fan, you’re not just focused on one particular time or even character.
Queen’s Shadow takes place after Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. This will be a story about Padme and how she has to navigate the senate after stepping down as queen. There’s less Anakin and love story here, giving Padme a story of her own.
She’s a dynamic character. Someone who was a queen and a senator. She also held disastrous secrets and gave everything she possibly could right down to her final breath. But most of what we know about her has been about her relationship with Anakin, so it will be good to see her as her own person outside of a romance storyline.
Master & Apprentice takes place earlier than Queen’s Shadow, and so many fans love the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. But here we get to see them before The Phantom Menace.
Alphabet Squadron takes place after the events of Return of the Jedi. We don’t know much about this book yet except that a group of five pilots go out to finish the war, taking out Imperial strongholds.
Thrawn: Treason is the one I most excited about. This is the third book in the trilogy by Timothy Zahn. The timeline for this book is before the finale of Star Wars Rebels. Thrawn is still fresh in my mind because of his two previous books (not counting the original EU books), the second of which came out just this year.
Thrawn runs across Director Krennic – so it’s before Rogue One – and Eli Vanto is back too. As an avid reader, I can’t wait to devour these books.
What Star Wars things are you looking forward to in 2019? Let us know!