Star Wars Celebration 2025 was jam-packed with exciting announcements for Star Wars fans, but one panel included a reference I never expected to see. Lucasfilm Animation celebrated its 20th anniversary at Star Wars Celebration, looking back at its various shows and revealing a new series called Star Wars: Maul—Shadow Lord. The panel also featured a beautiful poster combining several of Lucasfilm Animation’s Star Wars characters.
However, I saw people online noting how this poster has a secret easter egg referencing a show that was never released… Star Wars Detours. If you look in the bottom right corner, you can see a small stormtrooper with a large helmet craning his head to look up at Jedi Master Even Piell’s long ears:
This one tiny stormtrooper being overshadowed (literally) by the other Lucasfilm Animation characters is a cleverly subtle nod to the fact that Star Wars Detours was prematurely canceled and will probably never see the light of day.
Star Wars Detours Is The Last Thing I Expected To See An Easter Egg To
Disney and Lucasfilm have barely acknowledged the show since it was cancelled
Given the sad yet fascinating history behind Star Wars Detours, I never expected it to be referenced this way. The show was one of the last Star Wars projects created by George Lucas, developed by Robot Chicken co-creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich. It would have been a non-canon comedy set between Episodes III and IV, featuring exaggerated parodies of iconic Star Wars characters.
After Lucas sold the franchise, Disney and Lucasfilm decided it wouldn’t be wise to release an absurdist comedy that deconstructed Star Wars if they wanted kids to take Episode VII seriously. Detours was put on indefinite hold with the promise that it would eventually be released, but after 12 years, it’s clear that won’t happen. Seth Green believes Star Wars Detours will never be released, confirming in 2021 that Disney has no real interest in the show.
It’s Great To See Disney Acknowledge The Full History Of Star Wars
The animated shows (including Detours) deserve recognition
While acknowledging Star Wars Detours may be unexpected, it’s certainly welcome, especially in a panel celebrating a crucial part of Star Wars history. Star Wars may be a live-action film franchise at its core, but the animated TV shows have done just as much to expand the saga in wildly creative ways. Even the current live-action TV shows are built on the foundation laid by the animated shows.
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The Lucasfilm Animation anniversary poster shows that they at least remember Star Wars Detours existed, and that its cast and crew spent years working on it. While it may be nothing more than that, I personally hope Disney will take notice and finally release Star Wars Detours, perhaps as part of the Star Wars Vintage Collection on Disney+. There are 39 completed episodes ready to go, so here’s hoping this lost Star Wars series is finally given a chance.
Check out more of our Star Wars Celebration coverage:
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Upcoming Star Wars Movies |
Release Date |
|---|---|
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The Mandalorian & Grogu |
May 22, 2026 |
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Star Wars: Starfighter |
May 28, 2027 |
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Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
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Star Wars Celebration
Star Wars Celebration is a comic-con-like event devoted specifically to the Star Wars franchise. Beginning in 1999 in Denver, Colorado, to celebrate Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace, the events are known for releasing first looks at upcoming Star Wars content. In 2025, the event will be held in Japan from April 18-20.
