

Īfter the conclusion of his then six-episode saga in 2005, Lucas returned to spin-offs in the form of television series.Īn animated film, The Clone Wars (2008), was released as a pilot to a TV series of the same name. The first theatrical films set outside the main episodic series were the Ewok spin-off films Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985), the first of which was screened internationally after being produced for television. Abrams and Michelle RejwanĪs Lucas was outlining a trilogy of trilogies, he also imagined making additional movies unrelated to the Skywalker Saga. Abrams and Bryan Burkĭerek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow and Chris Terrio & J. Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt The first six films-most notably the original trilogy-have had retroactive changes made after their initial theatrical releases. The sequel trilogy features Kylo Ren (Ben Solo)-the son of Leia and Han Solo, nephew of Luke, and grandson of Anakin-who seeks to rule the galaxy with Rey, the granddaughter of Palpatine and the last Jedi apprentice of Luke and Leia.Įach episodic film begins with an opening crawl, accompanied by the main Star Wars theme by John Williams, who composes the scores for each film. The original trilogy follows his children, Luke and Leia, as they join the Rebel Alliance and battle Vader, Palpatine and his Galactic Empire. The prequel trilogy focuses on Anakin Skywalker, his training as a Jedi, and eventual fall to the dark side as Darth Vader. The story follows each generation of the Force-sensitive Skywalker family and their struggle against the evil Sith Lord Darth Sidious (Palpatine). The saga begins chronologically with Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) and concludes with Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019). The first film released, Star Wars (1977), is the fourth film chronologically and was later subtitled Episode IV – A New Hope.

It was released beginning with the original trilogy (Episodes IV, V and VI, 1977–1983), followed by the prequel trilogy (Episodes I, II and III, 1999–2005) and the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII, VIII and IX, 2015–2019). The main Star Wars film series is a trilogy of trilogies as it neared completion, it began to be referred to as the "Skywalker Saga". 4.2.2 Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985).2.2.1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).Several television series continuing the Star Wars canon or inspired by it have also been released. In 19, two live-action films featuring the Ewok characters were televised in the United States and released theatrically in Europe. The first spin-off film produced was the Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), released a year after the original film. Several films were also released prior to Disney's 2012 acquisition of the franchise, but these spin-offs (except the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)) are no longer considered canon in the Star Wars storyline. The original film was nominated for most of the major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Alec Guinness (who played Obi-Wan Kenobi), while all sequels have been nominated for technical categories. The major live-action releases (including all the films within the Skywalker Saga) were nominated for Academy Awards. The combined box office revenue of the films equates to over US$10 billion, and it is currently the second-highest-grossing film franchise. A third anthology film, Rogue Squadron, was scheduled to be released in 2023, but its production has been delayed.

In between the production and release of the sequel trilogy films, two anthology films were also made, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), both chronologically set between the prequel and original trilogies. After creator George Lucas sold the Star Wars franchise to Disney in 2012, a sequel trilogy consisting of Episodes VII through IX was released, consisting of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Years later, the prequel trilogy was released, consisting of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). The 1977 self titled film, later subtitled Episode IV – A New Hope, was followed by the sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), respectively subtitled onscreen as Episode V and Episode VI these films form the original trilogy. The film series started with a trilogy set in medias res which was later expanded to a trilogy of trilogies, known as the " Skywalker Saga".

The Star Wars franchise involves multiple live-action and animated films.
