Why Disney’s Star Wars Release Schedule Is a Huge Mistake
After almost four years since the last Star Wars film, many would think that the best-case scenario would be to bring the franchise back to the big screen with several new films as soon as possible. Star Wars is a legendary franchise and its movies are always highly anticipated. However, Lucasfilm would be better off spreading out its new slate of Star Wars movies.
The recent announcement of the next three Star Wars films releasing on May 22, 2026, Dec. 18, 2026, and Dec. 17, 2027, should be concerning for fans as it suggests that Lucasfilm and Disney have not learned from the negative reception of the sequel trilogy and its accompanying movies. Furthermore, these release dates contradict recent comments from the president of Lucasfilm, indicating that the studio is in turmoil.
To move forward, Lucasfilm needs to deeply reflect on what went wrong with the sequel trilogy. While The Force Awakens and Rogue One were almost universally praised, things quickly went downhill with the release of The Last Jedi. No matter what side you were on, it was obvious that no one was ready to return to the series just five months after The Last Jedi split the fandom in two.
Disney is making the same mistake with the release of one of their new Star Wars films so close to Avengers: Secret Wars. With the plethora of Star Wars shows on Disney+, rushing to release new movies should not be Lucasfilm’s priority. Instead, the studio should take its time with its movies and give each of them time to breathe and really impact the audience.
The release dates for the three upcoming Star Wars movies are even more surprising given the recent comments from Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. Going back to the blueprint of the entire franchise, George Lucas and the creative team behind the original trilogy did not rush to release the next entry in the series every year. Instead, there were three years between each movie in the original trilogy. Lucas followed the exact same plan for his prequel trilogy as well.
Additionally, Star Wars fans waited ten years following 2005’s The Revenge of the Sith as Disney worked towards acquiring the franchise from Lucas and bringing it back to theaters. Therefore, no one could be rightfully disappointed in longer periods between future Star Wars movies, as long as Lucasfilm ensures that those movies are of the highest quality possible.
The three previously announced Star Wars movies are not directly connected to each other, unlike the sequel trilogy. Since they are not serving as direct sequels to each other, they should each be given the time to hold their own as the one and only Star Wars movie of a certain time period.
While the release dates for these three Star Wars movies have already been unveiled, it is common practice for major studios, specifically Disney, to shift things around. Even if the studio spaced each entry out every two years, it would be enough to generate excitement. In this case, as Yoda preaches to Luke, patience would be the wisest way forward.
Having been almost four years since the last Star Wars movie, one would think that bringing the franchise back to the big screen with several new films sooner rather than later would be the best-case scenario. Star Wars is one of the most iconic franchises of all time, and its movies tend to be a big deal. However, it would be much wiser for Lucasfilm to spread out its new slate of Star Wars movies.
The recent news that the next three Star Wars films will release on May 22, 2026, Dec. 18, 2026, and Dec. 17, 2027, should be alarming for all fans since it suggests that Lucasfilm and Disney have not learned, or perhaps even listened to, the negative reception of the sequel trilogy and its accompanying movies. Additionally, these release dates directly contradict recent comments from the president of Lucasfilm, further indicating that the studio is in turmoil.
“Let The Past Die”
Moving forward, Lucasfilm must deeply reflect on what went wrong with the sequel trilogy. While The Force Awakens and Rogue Onereleased in Dec. 2015 and Dec. 2016, respectively, were almost unanimously praised by fans and critics alike, things quickly went downhill for the new era of Star Wars.
Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedithe eighth entry in the Skywalker Saga, is perhaps one of the most divisive movies of all time. While some applaud The Last Jedi for its fresh take on the galaxy far, far away, others wholeheartedly believe the film ruined the entire franchise. No matter what side you were on upon the film’s release and in the following months, it was obvious that no one was ready to return to the series in May 2018, just five months after The Last Jedi split the fandom in two. Nevertheless, Lucasfilm chose to release Solo: A Star Wars Storythe lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars movie ever. In a way, Disney is making the exact same mistake as one of their new Star Wars films will open so closely to Avengers: Secret Wars and many pointed out that Solo: A Star Wars Story being released so close to Avengers: Infinity War hurt its box office.
While there is a slightly longer gap between them, the reveal that two upcoming Star Wars movies will be released within seven months of one another is eerily reminiscent of Solo’s disastrous release strategy. With the plethora of Star Wars shows on Disney+ nowadays, rushing to release new movies should not be Lucasfilm’s priority. Instead, the studio should take its time with its movies, which are often bombastic sci-fi epics, and give each of them time to breathe and really impact the audience.
Star Wars Should Be An Event
The release dates for the three upcoming Star Wars movies are even more surprising given Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy’s recent comments regarding the franchise. She referenced James Bond films when speaking about what the future release schedule will look like. Speaking with Empire, she said,
“That’s every three or four years and there wasn’t this pressure to feel like you had to have a movie every year. I feel that was very important to Star Wars. We have to eventise this.”
Kennedy went on to stress the importance of not rushing Star Wars films. While many fans have disagreed with certain decisions she has made as the head of Lucasfilm, here she is proving that she understands what made Star Wars so special in the first place.
Going back to the blueprint of the entire franchise, George Lucas and the creative team behind the original trilogy did not rush to release the next entry in the series every year. Instead, there were three years between each movie in the original trilogy. Lucas followed the exact same plan for his prequel trilogy as well. Additionally, Star Wars fans waited ten years following 2005’s The Revenge of the Sithas Disney worked towards acquiring the franchise from Lucas and bringing it back to theaters. Therefore, no one could be rightfully disappointed in longer periods between future Star Wars movies, as long as Lucasfilm is ensuring those movies are of the highest quality possible.
The 2026 release will be seven years following the release of Rise of Skywalkerbut there certainly has not been any less Star Wars material as audiences have watched The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, The Bad Batchand the upcoming Ahsoka. Star Wars does not feel like it has truly been away because it never left.
Stepping Away From The Skywalker Saga
Another important note is that the three previously announced Star Wars movies are not directly connected to each other. Unlike the sequel trilogy, these films will not be tied to the Skywalker Saga. Since they are not serving as direct sequels to each other, they should each be given the time to hold their own as the one and only Star Wars movie of a certain time period.
While one of the movies will feature the return of Rey as she works to rebuild a new Jedi order, the story is set fifteen years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. It is likely that the Skywalker saga will be referenced in it, but the Daisy Ridley-led movie should mark a new beginning for the franchise and provide some much-needed excitement for the post-Skywalker era after a mostly negative reception to The Rise of Skywalker.
One of the other upcoming movies will be directed by Dave Filoni and will serve as a climactic crossover between characters from The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fettand Ahsoka. Since those shows have mostly told their own interconnected story on Disney+, there is no reason to rush the movie until each of them has reached a suitable endpoint on the streaming service.
Finally, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold has signed on to direct Dawn of the Jedi. Mangold described the movie as a “biblical epic” that will reportedly be set about 25,000 years before the events of the Skywalker Saga and present the story of the first Force-using peacekeepers. Since this movie is so far removed from the rest of the Star Wars timeline, there is also no reason to rush its development, and might take some time as Mangold is also developing Swamp Thing for Warner Bros. Discovery DCU.
While the release dates for these three Star Wars movies have already been unveiled, it is common practice for major studios, specifically Disney, to shift things around. Even if the studio spaced each entry out every two years, it would be enough to generate excitement. In this case, as Yoda preaches to Luke, patience would be the wisest way forward.
