The year was 2012. Disney just bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion (€3.7 billion), and the internet exploded with speculation. “New Star Wars movies every year!” screamed one headline. But after nearly seven years, the Force is finally returning to the big screen, leading many to wonder, how often is too often for new Star Wars movies?
The gap between Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace stretched 16 years, while Revenge of the Sith preceded The Force Awakens by a decade. However, this latest wait feels wildly different. Could there be a sweet spot, a tried-and-true timetable that keeps the galaxy far, far away fresh without oversaturating the market?
To understand the current seven-year pause, we have to rewind. Those extended breaks happened because, creatively, Star Wars had reached a full stop. George Lucas, after both Jedi and Sith, effectively closed the book. This time around, the situation is different.
The Rise of Skywalker in 2019 might have concluded “The Skywalker Saga,” but it didn’t signal the end of Star Wars itself. Its return was an inevitability. The question was only “when?” So, while seven years is shorter than 16 or 10, it carries a different weight. Between the original and prequel trilogies, conversation around the franchise was speculative. Now? The hype feels real.
Back then, anticipation was part of the fun. Three years separated each film in the original and prequel trilogies, allowing both the filmmakers and fans time to breathe. The arrival of the internet amplified this anticipation leading up to The Phantom Menace. Despite the growing frenzy, Lucasfilm maintained that three-year gap, letting each film resonate before the next chapter arrived. The anticipation surrounding Star Wars was arguably the best part of Star Wars. Then Disney came on board.
The Saturation Point: When Did Star Wars Become Too Much?
Remember 2015? The Force Awakens launched to massive fanfare, but what followed felt like a tidal wave. In five years, fans got five Star Wars films. Solo arrived a mere six months after The Last Jedi. Two new Star Wars movies within the same year became the norm. The rapid release schedule compressed the hype cycle. The rumors, trailers, and magazine features all blended together. Excitement dwindled, and the lackluster reception of The Rise of Skywalker only added to the fatigue. So, while The Force Awakens was a shot of adrenaline, the subsequent releases felt like diminishing returns.
After The Rise of Skywalker, the franchise pivoted. The Mandalorian debuted in late 2019, ushering in the streaming era of Star Wars. Suddenly, we didn’t need to line up or buy advanced tickets. The experience became individualized. Yet, the content kept flowing. From 2019 to today, Lucasfilm unleashed seven live-action shows (amounting to 10 seasons) and six animated series (roughly 18 seasons). Even The Clone Wars saw new episodes. New Star Wars became omnipresent, and the magic started to fade. What was once a cinematic event became background noise.
How many Star Wars movies are in development?
Reports suggest nearly a dozen Star Wars movies are in various stages of development. The pipeline is full. The real question becomes, can this many stories truly feel special?
Re-Evaluating the Release Schedule: A Return to Theaters?
Picture the local multiplex. The smell of popcorn hangs in the air as you sit in a packed theater, buzzing with collective anticipation. It’s an experience that streaming can’t replicate. Now, fast forward to this year. The Mandalorian and Grogu will be the first Star Wars film since 2019, followed by Star Wars: Starfighter next year. On one hand, seven years feels like an eternity for just another chapter. On the other, back-to-back releases risk repeating past mistakes. Perhaps the wait will yield a Force Awakens or Rogue One-style success. Or perhaps not.
The current leadership at Lucasfilm reportedly aims to prioritize theatrical releases. A movie a year may become the norm. This raises the stakes. Can they strike a balance between consistency and quality? Is it sustainable?
Will there be more Star Wars movies after Rise of Skywalker?
Yes, there will be. The strategy shift at Lucasfilm aims to recapture the theatrical experience, with new movies planned for the foreseeable future. Whether it translates to a consistent and engaging output remains to be seen. Star Wars is not dead.
What is the next Star Wars movie coming out?
As of this writing, The Mandalorian & Grogu is slated to be the next big-screen release, scheduled for May. This marks a return to theaters after a long hiatus and a potential course correction for the franchise.
Finding the Magic Number: How Much Waiting is Too Much?
Three years seemed perfect in the past, but that may be unrealistic now. A year is probably too frequent. The ideal wait time? Two years might be a good compromise. Two years allows for anticipation to build, for rumors to swirl, for the fan base to collectively lose their minds. The strategy may require patience, but might ensure the longevity of the franchise. It’s about finding that sweet spot where hype meets quality.
But the question remains: Can Disney and Lucasfilm really afford to wait two years between Star Wars movies? Or is the temptation to flood the market too strong to resist, even if it risks diminishing the Force?