The Star Wars timeline spans hundreds of years, with a number of eras of storytelling. Nonetheless, not each period has confronted the identical stage of narrative exploration.
New motion pictures, reveals, video games, books, comics, and extra are continually increasing the Star Wars timeline. Nonetheless, that does not imply each interval within the established canon has been lined equally. Maintaining that in thoughts, here is our rating of all 9 Star Wars eras by their present stage of storytelling potential (with area for brand new tales to be instructed).
9
Age of Rebel
Naturally, it follows that the first-ever Star Wars period we noticed would have an extra of tales. The Age of Rebel supplied iconic tales, predominantly the unique trilogy of movies from 1977 and 1983.
Nonetheless, it is also been vastly mapped out with tales which were instructed between episodes, in addition to tales set simply earlier than, after, and even throughout. Whereas tales like comics have added depth to parts like Luke Skywalker’s full Jedi path and the Rebel’s efforts between Dying Stars, the period stays fairly boxed in creatively at this level.
8
The Fall of the Jedi
The Fall of the Jedi is one other one among Star Wars’ most developed eras. That includes the prequels in addition to the Clone Wars animated sequence, so many epic tales have been instructed throughout this era.
Whereas new tales may be instructed (and a few at the moment are), for essentially the most half, there may be little or no thriller left concerning the Clone Wars’ trajectory and the way it led to the Jedi Order’s downfall, as we see in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith. Whereas there’s supposedly room for extra character-focused tales, it would not appear to be this period’s general narrative has very many large-scale surprises left.
7
Rise of the First Order
The Rise of the First Order covers the years seen in Disney’s sequel trilogy between 2015-2019. Whereas the period has primarily been explored on display screen, there have additionally been a number of tie-in supplies with books, comics, and reveals like Star Wars: Resistance.
In their very own manner, every of those linked tales has helped fill within the gaps with narratives like how the First Order got here to energy, Palpatine’s hidden resurrection on Exegol, in addition to Ben Solo’s fall to the darkish facet and transformation into Kylo Ren.
That mentioned, there may be nonetheless a level of room for brand new tales, similar to we’re seeing with the present comedian sequence Legacy of Vader, detailing Ben Solo’s journey between The Final Jedi and Rise of Skywalker.
6
The Excessive Republic
A more moderen Star Wars period that first debuted as a significant publishing initiative, The Excessive Republic supplied huge new territory with brand-new Jedi Knights, all-new threats just like the Nihil, and interesting galactic politics in an earlier period initially outlined as a golden age of prosperity and peace, tons of of years earlier than the prequel movies.
Past the a number of phases of novels and comics revealed since 2021, The Excessive Republic Period is finest identified for The Acolyte sequence, Disney Junior’s animated sequence Younger Jedi Adventures, in addition to the upcoming recreation Star Wars: Eclipse (which has been in growth since 2021 as nicely).
Though the books and comics have considerably petered out with their just lately concluded third and seemingly ultimate part that was initially deliberate (and The Acolyte’s cancellation), there appears to be extra room on this period in comparison with the earlier three intervals.
5
Reign of the Empire
The Reign of the Empire is the 19-year period sitting between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It is some of the fascinating and richest eras of Star Wars storytelling, that includes tasks like Star Wars Rebels, Kenobi, The Unhealthy Batch, Rogue One, and the critically acclaimed sequence Andor.
This period permits for actually compelling tales about oppression, resistance, and the evolving construction of the Empire at its peak amid the ever-growing sparks of Rebel as Palpatine’s regime continues to tighten its grip.
Mixed with a number of the finest books and novels masking the earliest days of Darth Vader’s darkish facet growth, uniting Insurgent cells, Jedi survivors, and corrupt politics all provide sturdy narrative alternatives.
This period thrives because it turns into a dynamic bridge between the primary two Star Wars trilogies. Whereas it could appear fuller on account of all of the latest tales which were instructed over the previous couple of years, there’s nonetheless a good quantity of narrative potential right here.
4
The New Republic
The New Republic period has been explored in reveals like The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The E-book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew.
As we’re actively seeing, this era between the unique trilogy and the sequels holds huge potential, a key time of transition and rebuilding for the galaxy after the defeat of the Empire. Whereas there’s a mapped endpoint with The Pressure Awakens, there’s nonetheless 30 years between that film and the previous 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
With new motion pictures and reveals on the way in which like The Mandalorian and Grogu, Ahsoka season 2, an untitled film from Dave Filoni, and extra, the New Republic is certainly was of essentially the most thrilling eras proper now with a variety of clear potential within the eyes of Lucasfilm.
3
The New Jedi Order
The New Jedi Order period marks the way forward for Star Wars after the sequel trilogy. This is without doubt one of the most fun eras as a result of nearly nothing has been established to date, and it is also the furthest alongside the identified timeline.
All we actually know proper now could be that Rey Skywalker shall be trying to rebuild the Jedi Order in an in-development film from director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. This could present thrilling alternatives to redefine the Jedi for a brand new age, increasing what the Jedi may be for a brand new Star Wars galaxy.
We even have one other post-sequel trilogy film at the moment in manufacturing and set to launch in 2027. Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, and Mia Goth, Star Wars: Starfighter can be set to provide us our first have a look at the galaxy following Palpatine’s true demise and the tip of the First Order.
As such, The New Jedi Order is kind of the clean slate (which is tremendous thrilling).
2
Daybreak of the Jedi
Moving into the wrong way with Star Wars’ earliest interval (25,000 years earlier than the prequels), the Daybreak of the Jedi will discover the earliest origins of the Pressure and the First Jedi.
Virtually no canonical materials at the moment exists, permitting creatives like director James Mangold appreciable freedom to outline early cultures and conflicts in his Daybreak of the Jedi film (at the moment in growth), with out worrying about operating up towards established canon points.
The foundations and origins of each the darkish facet and the sunshine can provide limitless narrative depth, making the Daybreak of the Jedi period as an entire some of the thrilling intervals to be explored within the close to way forward for the franchise.
1
The Outdated Republic
The Outdated Republic stands because the period with the best story potential in the whole Star Wars timeline. With millennia of historical past, hundreds of Jedi and Sith, huge wars, and legendary figures, it incorporates an unmatched narrative area within the canon, with so many epic occasions and characters that may be pulled from non-canon pre-Disney tales now referred to as Legends.
Whether or not it is Lucasfilm adapting Legends materials or forging new paths, it is actually outstanding how a lot The Outdated Republic Period stays untouched since Disney bought the franchise in 2012, particularly contemplating how fashionable it nonetheless is immediately (regardless of 99% of it being non-canonical).
The Jedi Order is at its top, the Sith stay quite a few pre-Rule of Two, and the galaxy is stuffed with unexplored worlds and rising tensions. Star Wars followers have lengthy waited for an official return to the Outdated Republic period, and its huge storytelling canvas virtually ensures it will possibly stay one among Star Wars’ most fertile narrative grounds for years.
- Solid
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Pal, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Present(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The E-book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Unhealthy Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Younger Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Film(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Assault of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Again, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Pressure Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Final Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Daybreak of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren