Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the company has added plenty of projects to the Star Wars franchise, including a sequel trilogy set 30 years after the fall of the original trilogy, two “Anthology” movies set before the 1977 original movie, and a streaming series set a couple of years after Return of the Jedi. With the Mouse House jumping all over the timeline, it can be difficult to keep track of when each movie and TV show takes place.
Each new Star Wars project builds on what came before, sometimes in unexpected ways. Characters who first debuted in a kids' show before the Disney acquisition are now major players in mainstream Star Wars shows. At the same time, brand new characters have worked their way into fans' hearts thanks to what they bring to the almost 50-year-old franchise.
Updated on January 11th, 2024 by Jennifer Roy: This article has been updated to reflect recent announcements in the Star Wars franchise, including both canon and non-canon projects affiliated with Disney and Lucasfilm.
The Complete History of the Skywalker Lightsaber in Star Wars
Of all the lightsabers in Star Wars, the Skywalker saber is by far the most iconic, having been wielded by Anakin Skywalker, his son Luke, and Rey.Star Wars Movies In Release Order
Star Wars Movies In Chronological Order
Star Wars Movies & Shows In Chronological Order
Star Wars: Visions (2021-)
Non-canonical, numerous dates
Star Wars: Visions
Star Wars anthology series that will see some of the world's best anime creators bring their talent to this beloved universe.
- Release Date
- September 22, 2021
- Cast
- Michael Sinterniklaas , Neil Kaplan , Adam Sietz , JP Karliak
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 2
REVIEW: Marvel's Star Wars: Visions - Peach Momoko #1
Peach Momoko traps any unsuspecting reader brave enough to enter the dark world of a Sith cult with hauntingly beautiful art. Here's CBR's review.Released on Disney+, Star Wars Visions is an anthology series from several visionary anime creators. It gave them a chance to play around in the Star Wars universe without any rules or restrictions from established continuity.
Star Wars: Visions explored a different and unique vision of the Star Wars universe. Each episode featured new takes on Jedi and Sith relationships as well as the lightsabers they wielded in battle. Each story takes place at a different point in the timeline of the Star Wars universe, but they all exist outside of canon.
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (2023-)
~200 Years Before The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures tells the story of Younglings as they go on adventures and start their journeys to become Jedi Knights.
- Release Date
- May 4, 2023
- Cast
- Dee Bradley Baker , Juliet Donenfeld , Emma Berman , Jonathan Lipow
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 1
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is an animated series following a group of Jedi Younglings about two hundred years prior to the events of The Phantom Menace. In the age of the High Republic, the younglings learn what it means to be a Jedi while embarking on a series of fun and whacky adventures.
While the series may be aimed primarily at children, Young Jedi Adventures fleshes out the High Republic era of Star Wars quite nicely. This proves especially important as the franchise aims to delve deeper into this era through upcoming projects like The Acolyte. With cameos from Bell Zettifar, Ember, Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm, and Jedi Mast Maru, the series is firmly rooted in the time period just before the multimedia initiative Star Wars: The High Republic subseries' Phase I begins.
The Acolyte (Upcoming, 2024)
~100 years before The Phantom Menace
The Acolyte
A Star Wars series that takes viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.
- Release Date
- 2024-00-00
- Creator
- Leslye Headland
- Cast
- Lee Jung-jae , Jodie Turner-Smith , Amandla Stenberg , Rebecca Henderson
- Main Genre
- Science Fiction
- Seasons
- 1
- Franchise
- Star Wars
- Number of Episodes
- 8
While Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures focuses on the High Republic era at its high point, The Acolyte instead focuses on the end of the era and a growing Sith threat. Amandla Stenberg will star in the series as a former Padawan investigating crimes against the Republic with her former Jedi Master. Showrunner Leslye Headland has explained that the series will focus on the Jedi Order and investigate the Order's faults, providing more context for the Jedi's fall in the prequel era.
At Star Wars Celebration 2023, Rebecca Henderson was confirmed to be playing Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh in The Acolyte. Vernestra is a pivotal figure in the Star Wars: The High Republic subseries' publishing initiative at the beginning of her career as a Jedi Knight. Her inclusion provides more connective tissue between The Acolyte and other works in the High Republic era.
Tales Of The Jedi (2022)
~40 BBY - 19 BBY
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
Animated shorts that feature Jedi from the prequel era.
- Release Date
- October 26, 2022
- Cast
- Corey Burton , Dee Bradley Baker , Ashley Eckstein
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator
- Dave Filoni
The High Republic Has the Perfect Jedi For Tales of the Jedi Season 2
Tales of the Jedi's first season explored the prequel era further, but the second season can focus on a unique Jedi from the High Republic.One of the newest animated Star Wars projects, Tales of the Jedi, showcases the prequel era Jedi, including the events before The Phantom Menace. With an especially welcomed focus on Ahsoka's early days as a padawan, it perfectly tees up her own solo show soon to come.
The new format of shorter done-in-one tales has delivered excellent callbacks and added exposition to the often unexplored side of the Jedi's history. Thus far, one of the series' high points has been the showcase of a young Qui Gon Jinn and his Jedi master – Count Dooku. The great success of the series hints that Tales of the Jedi Season 2 is still in the cards for Lucasfilm.
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
32 BBY
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Two Jedi escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to claim their original glory.
- Release Date
- May 19, 1999
- Director
- George Lucas
- Cast
- Ewan McGregor , Liam Neeson , Natalie Portman , Jake Lloyd , Ian McDiarmid , Pernilla August , Oliver Ford Davies , Ahmed Best
- Runtime
- 136 minutes
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Jar Jar Binks may have disappointed some fans who’d waited for 16 years after Return of the Jedi to see another entry in the saga, but The Phantom Menace has plenty of merits. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s back-and-forth is a lot of fun, and the film gave fans a first peak into the workings of the Republic.
"Duel of the Fates" is mesmerizing and there are plenty of spectacular set-pieces from the pod race to the climactic lightsaber duel. Plus, Darth Maul is a terrifying villain. The Phantom Menace takes place during the era of the Galactic Republic as the Droid Separatist Army began to rise.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones (2002)
22 BBY
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Ten years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala, while Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers a secret clone army crafted for the Jedi.
- Release Date
- May 16, 2002
- Director
- George Lucas
- Cast
- Ewan McGregor , Natalie Portman , Hayden Christensen , Christopher Lee , Samuel L. Jackson , Frank Oz
- Runtime
- 2 hours 22 minutes
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Attack of the Clones was a popular choice for the worst entry in the saga before the sequel trilogy divided Star Wars fans further. During this film, the Republic and the Separatists go to war while Anakin secretly marries Padmé on Naboo.
Attack of the Clones set the stage nicely for the Clone Wars-related movie and TV shows that followed. The movie also featured the first appearance of Temuera Morrison as Jango Fett, which would lead to his later appearances as Boba Fett in the Disney+ series.
Star Wars Forces Of Destiny
22 BBY - 35 ABY
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny
Small moments and everyday decisions shape a larger heroic saga.
- Release Date
- July 3, 2007
- Cast
- Ashley Eckstein , Felicity Jones , Daisy Ridley , Vanessa Marshall , Kelly Marie Tran
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- Lucasfilms
- Franchise
- Star Wars
- Creator
- Dave Filoni, Carrie Beck, Jennifer Muro
While Forces of Destiny is not a traditional show set in the Star Wars universe, it is still a whole lot of fun. Technically, the series begins around 22 BBY until 19 BBY, since characters like Ahsoka Tano make appearances as they would have appeared during this time. However, Forces of Destiny also stretches all the way toward the end of the timeline, including characters who appear as late as Rey.
Forces of Destiny isn’t even strictly a TV show, as it wasn’t on television. This web series featured short episodes that highlighted mini-stories about important female Star Wars characters. Performers like Felicity Jones, Ashley Eckstein, Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, and more all reprise their roles, as well, making this show a solid contribution to the Star Wars timeline.
Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 - 2005)
Noncanonical, 22 BBY - 19 BBY
Star Wars: Clone Wars
Jedi Knights lead the Grand Army of the Republic against the droid army of the Separatists.
- Release Date
- November 7, 2003
- Cast
- James Arnold , Grey Griffin , Tom Kane , Nick Jameson , Corey Burton
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 3
- Creator
- George Lucas
The Clone Wars era is where things get complicated for the Star Wars chronology. The 2D animated series, which was developed and drawn by Samurai Jack’s Genndy Tartakovsky, takes place before the 3D animated movie and subsequent TV series. However, its final four episodes take place toward the end of the war.
Star Wars: Clone Wars, released before Revenge of the Sith, was the first appearance of General Grievous and fans' first real look at what the height of the famous Clone Wars was like. Star Wars: Clone Wars is no longer canon, but it still has a lot to offer dedicated fans.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
22 BBY
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
The animated film serves as an introduction to the "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" TV series, featuring familiar characters from the Star Wars saga. It follows Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as they lead the Galactic Republic’s army against the Separatist forces, with new allies and challenges emerging amidst the ongoing conflict.
- Release Date
- August 15, 2008
- Director
- Dave Filoni
- Cast
- Matt Lanter , Nika Futterman , Ashley Eckstein , Tom Kane , james arnold taylor , Dee Bradley Baker , Catherine Taber , ian abercrombie
- Runtime
- 98 minutes
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Studio
- Lucasfilm Ltd.
The theatrically released Clone Wars movie was created as a pilot episode for the computer-animated series, which turned out to be a lot more enjoyable than the movie. Fans were introduced to young Ahsoka Tano for the first time, although it wasn't the best start.
The plan to hook viewers with the movie backfired because The Clone Wars was panned by critics upon release. Star Wars fans had to be convinced to watch the series in spite of the movie, as opposed to watching it because they loved the movie.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 - 2020)
22 BBY - 19 BBY
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Jedi Knights lead the Grand Army of the Republic against the droid army of the Separatists.
- Release Date
- October 3, 2008
- Cast
- Tom Kane , Dee Bradley Baker , Matt Lanter , james arnold taylor , Ashley Eckstein , Matthew Wood
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 7
- Creator
- George Lucas
After a 2D animated series that failed to catch on and a backdoor pilot movie fans hated, the Star Wars team finally nailed Clone Wars-era stories. Star Wars: The Clone Wars began airing in 2008 and followed Anakin Skywalker as he trained young Ahsoka Tano as his padawan during the war.
Clone Wars was a computer-animated series that deepened the prequel trilogy’s conflicts and the characters’ development. The series introduced fan-favorite characters from the Expanded Universe to the current continuity and has served as important viewing for the current slate of live-action TV series. Filled with callbacks to the prequel series, The Clone Wars is one of the most beloved series in the Star Wars franchise.
The Yoda Chronicles (2013)
Non-canonical, ~ 20 BBY and ~ 1 ABY
LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles
Centered around Yoda's stories that take place before ''Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace''. Yoda begins by training Padawans at the Jedi Temple Academy, but then he feels a disturbance in the Force and rushes off to fight the Dark Side.
- Release Date
- May 29, 2014
- Cast
- Anthony Daniels , Tom Kane , Kelly Metzger , Brian Dobson , Trevor Devall , Kirby Morrow
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator
- Michael Price
The Yoda Chronicles served as an animated Lego series focused on the titular Jedi master and his adventures throughout the years. Beginning with Yoda's missions during the Clone Wars, the series sees the titular character leading a group of young padawans against the forces of Grievous.
As the series progresses, it introduces the character JEK, a Force-sensitive clone who aids Yoda in his battle against the Sith. The Yoda Chronicles tells Yoda's story across the years, from the era of the Republic to his training of Luke Skywalker in the waning days of the Empire.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
19 BBY
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Three years into the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan pursues a new threat, while Anakin is lured by Chancellor Palpatine into a sinister plot to rule the galaxy.
- Release Date
- May 19, 2005
- Cast
- Hayden Christensen , Natalie Portman , Ewan McGregor , Ian McDiarmid , Samuel L. Jackson , Christopher Lee , Frank Oz
- Director
- George Lucas
- Runtime
- 140 minutes
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Should I Watch Revenge of the Sith?
While Revenge of the Sith was decisive when it first hit theaters, a new generation of fans have proclaimed it to be one of the best Star Wars films.The final film of the prequel trilogy is widely regarded to be the best. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith closed off the various threads of the prequel trilogy while laying the groundwork for A New Hope's storyline. All the trilogy’s conflicts came to a head as Palpatine swayed Anakin to the dark side.
The Great Jedi Purge took place while Obi-Wan took Luke and Leia into hiding as babies. Fans remember the movie for its outstanding lightsaber battles and darker tone, separating it from the earlier movies in the prequel trilogy.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021- )
19 BBY
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
The 'Bad Batch' of elite and experimental clones make their way through an ever-changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars.
- Release Date
- May 4, 2021
- Cast
- Dee Bradley Baker , Michelle Ang , Noshir Dalal , Liam O'Brien , Rhea Perlman , Sam Riegel , Bob Bergen , Gwendoline Yeo
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 3
- Franchise
- Star Wars
- Number of Episodes
- 32
The squad of clone troopers known as The Bad Batch was first introduced in The Clone Wars animated series. The motley crew of specialized clones received their own spin-off series in 2021 that followed the elite Clone Force 99 in the aftermath of Palpatine's murderous Order 66.
Most of The Bad Batch was able to resist the order due to their specific mutations, which opened up a new chapter of stories for the fan-favorite characters. The Bad Batch continues the story from Clone Wars in an exciting new way without retreading ground even into its second season. With a third and final season on the way, The Bad Batch continues to bridge the gap between The Clone Wars and A New Hope.
Star Wars: Droids (1985 -1986)
Noncanonical, 15 BBY
Star Wars: Droids
The adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO years before serving the Rebel Alliance. The series features several story arcs and one hour-long special.
- Release Date
- September 7, 1985
- Cast
- Anthony Daniels
- Seasons
- 1
George Lucas decided to tell Star Wars from the perspective of the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO after seeing Akira Kurosawa telling the story of The Hidden Fortress through the eyes of peasants Matashichi and Tahei. However, it turned out that Artoo and Threepio couldn’t carry a story entirely on their own, as the short-lived animated series Star Wars: Droids can attest to.
Droids certainly doesn't hold up to all the same standards as current Star Wars projects, but it is the source of some now-classic Star Wars features. The Boonta Eve Classic pod race where Anakin wins his freedom gets its name from the Boonta Race in the episode "A Race to the Finish," and several other names and faces first cropped up in this oft-forgotten spin-off.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
10 BBY
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in an epic action-adventure that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga's most unlikely heroes.
- Release Date
- May 25, 2018
- Cast
- Alden Ehrenreich , Emilia Clarke , Donald Glover , Woody Harrelson , Thandiwe Newton
- Director
- Ron Howard
- Runtime
- 135 minutes
- Studio
- Lucasfilm Ltd.
Despite the clunky backstories for Han’s name, jacket, dice, ship, and friendship with Chewie, Solo: A Star Wars Story was a fun trip to everyone’s favorite galaxy far, far away. There’s no replacing Harrison Ford as Han Solo, but Alden Ehrenreich did a fine job with the role.
Some might say that a character like Han Solo doesn't really need a deep history, but the movie still impressed fans with an engaging story and a powerful score. Solo: A Star Wars Story is set prior to the events of A New Hope but after the Imperial Forces have assumed command of the galaxy.
LEGO Star Wars All-Stars (2018)
Non-canonical, 10 BBY and 34 ABY
Lego Star Wars: All-Stars
New faces team-up with iconic heroes Young Han Solo, Chewbacca, Young Lando Calrissian, BB-8, and General Leia for adventures that span all eras of the Star Wars universe.
- Release Date
- November 10, 2018
- Cast
- Matthew Wood , Joe DiMaggio , Dana Snyder
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator
- Carrie Black, Jake Blais, Leland Chee
LEGO Star Wars All-Stars focuses on Han, Chewie, Leia, and Lando in their journeys through the galaxy. From the life of a retired battle droid to the efforts of BB-8 alongside the Resistance, the show was LEGO Star Wars for the new generation.
All-Stars also tied in with the events from prior LEGO Star Wars projects, namely through the inclusion of the Freemaker family. The series is best enjoyed as a LEGO tie-in with the events of the sequel trilogy, as it focuses primarily on the Resistance.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
9 BBY
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has to save young Leia after she is kidnapped, all the while being pursued by Imperial Inquisitors and his former Padawan, now known as Darth Vader.
- Release Date
- May 27, 2022
- Cast
- Ewan McGregor , Moses Ingram , Hayden Christensen , Sung Kang
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Seasons
- 1
REVIEW: Obi-Wan Kenobi Gives Star Wars Fans Exactly What They Wanted
Obi-Wan Kenobi's first two episodes may not be surprising, but they are exactly what Star Wars fans wanted from the new Disney+ series.Set 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ is a limited series that brought back the stars of the prequel trilogy for an unexplored chapter in the Skywalker Saga. Ewan McGregor reprised his role as the Jedi Master Obi-Wan, who is forced into exile on the planet Tatooine in order to safeguard young Luke Skywalker.
McGregor was joined by the returning Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader as well. Obi-Wan Kenobi followed Rogue One's lead by exploring untapped points in the Star Wars timeline while also introducing characters from animation, like the Grand Inquisitors, into live-action for the first time. The series also includes the most screentime shared between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Leia Organa in the Star Wars franchise.