We should be celebrating the unpredictable future of Star Wars

Every other Star Wars-related post you see online asks some variation of the same question: What’s next for Star Wars?

No one has the answer to this question beyond the vague film and television announcements that have been made this year. And maybe that’s a good thing.

Thanks to Lucasfilm’s major announcements at Star Wars Celebration earlier in 2023, we know there are at least three more Star Wars movies officially in development. We’re expecting at least two more Star Wars TV shows to drop by the end of the year (in fact, Ahsoka may be just a few months away from its expected Disney+ drop).

And when you enter the realm of Star Wars books and comics, there’s barely a break for the rest of the year — and that’s normal at this point. We don’t even know much about future books beyond The High Republic, but there’s likely plenty more on the way.

Everyone is always trying to predict what the Star Wars landscape will look like one, five, 10 years from now. How many Disney+ shows will we get every year? Which actors and directors are we going to see involved in these projects? Will Lucasfilm finally “revive” Legends?

No one seems interested in the possibility of finding comfort in not knowing anything.

Most Star Wars fans do not work in the film and television or publishing industries. They are not directly involved in major Star Wars-related projects nor do they know how such projects are developed behind-the-scenes. Most fans are addicted to the possibility of “more,” and can’t help but spend many of their waking hours lost in the art of speculation.

It is fun to speculate what might come next. It’s entertaining to make predictions and cling to what-ifs. Part of being a fan is imagining what could be on the horizon for your favorite celebrity or franchise. It is an integral part of building a sense of community between yourself and people who also like to talk about the thing you like to talk about.

But sometimes, being okay with not knowing what’s coming next is in itself a comfort. I can’t possibly be the only one who thinks about how clueless we all are when it comes to the future of a galaxy far, far away and finds an overwhelming sense of joy in that uncertainty.

I don’t want to know. I want to be surprised. In many cases, I want all my theories to be proven wrong. Because I am not the decision-maker. I am just a fan.

I am not supposed to know. And I like it that way.

Follow Dork Side of the Force for all your Star Wars news, reviews, and more!