Simon Kinberg is confirmed to be working on a brand newStar Warstrilogy, and I have a theory about when it will be set. Despite the variousStar WarsTV shows produced for Disney+, Lucasfilm has no shortage ofupcomingStar Warsmovies, with two set to release in 2026 and one in 2027. This doesn’t include the countless otherStar Warsmovieseither in development or canceled after they were announced. Such a wide array of projects will continue filling in aStar Warstimelinepacked with multiple books, comics, video games, and more.
Even with so manyStar Warsstories on the horizon, none are confirmed to be set in an era that has remained untouched since Disney bought the franchise.Kinberg’s newStar Warstrilogycould be set at any point in the timeline, but I personally think that Lucasfilm will finally tap into this unexplored era and usher in a new wave of stories. It has the potential to be just as amazing as the same era in theStar WarsLegends timeline, and as a massive Expanded Universe fan, I couldn’t be more excited by this possibility.
Only One Part Of The Official Star Wars Timeline Has No Projects
The Old Republic era has not been touched in canon
Out of all the storytelling eras in the officialStar Warstimeline, only one has remained relatively untouched in canon. James Mangold’s upcomingStar Warsmovie will be the first story in the “Dawn of the Jedi” era, exploring the origin of the Jedi Order 25,000 years before the movies. The “High Republic” era has become a transmedia initiative with countless books, comics, and even TV shows likeThe Acolyte. The “Fall of the Jedi” era is when theStar Warsprequel trilogy occurs, while the “Reign of the Empire” era explores the dark times between Episodes III and IV.
The “Age of Rebellion” era covers theStar Warsoriginal trilogy, the “New Republic” era is whereThe Mandalorianand its spinoffs are set, and the “Rise of the First Order” era encompasses theStar Warssequel trilogy. Finally, Rey’s upcomingStar Warsmovie will usher in the “New Jedi Order” era, beginning 15 years after the events ofStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. With eightStar Warseras either containing stories or set to have some in the next few years,the only part of the timeline left as a blank slate is the “Old Republic” era.
I think this would give Lucasfilm the freedom to tell an Old Republic story that works in canon without having to radically contradict the Legends stories that so many fans already love.
In theStar WarsLegends timeline,the Old Republic era spanned approximately 25,000 BBY to 1,000 BBY. While there were plenty of great stories set in that time, thousands of years had no information at all, meaning there are still many stories to tell. I think this would give Lucasfilm the freedom to tell an Old Republic story that works in canon without having to radically contradict the Legends stories that so many fans already love.
KOTOR Was One Of The Best Legends Stories Of All
Truly putting the choice in the player’s hand
One of my all-time favoriteStar Warsstories from the Legends continuity isStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and I know I’m not alone in that opinion. Set 4,000 years before theStar Warsmovies,KOTORfollows a Republic soldier who is recruited to train as a Jedi and track down Darth Malak’s superweapon: the Star Forge. Along the way, the heroes must unravel the mystery of Malak’s fallen master, Darth Revan, who may have a secret connection to the main character.
“Savior, Conqueror, Hero, Villain”: Darth Revan, KOTOR’s Greatest Sith Lord, Explained
Ever since his debut as a Sith turned Jedi in Knights of the Old Republic, Revan has become one of the most fascinating Star Wars characters.
As someone who consumes a lot ofStar Warsmedia, I appreciated thatKOTORis jam-packed with lore that connects it to previous stories while adding new history to the franchise. The game’s roleplaying elements allow a player’s choices to affect their alignment to the light or dark side of the Force, resulting in two different endings. Most importantly, the game has a legitimately good story with a fantastic group of characters, something that isn’t easy to achieve when the main character is essentially designed to be a blank canvas.
The firstKOTORgame later spawned its own franchisethat cemented the Old Republic as one ofStar Wars' best storytelling eras.Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lordswas just as enthralling as its predecessor, and whileKOTOR IIIwas tragically canceled, the online gameStar Wars: The Old Republiceventually helped fill the void. Additional books, comics, and reference guides further fleshed out these games, givingStar Warsfans some of the most compelling characters and plotlines in the franchise’s history.
I Think Simon Kinberg Is Making A KOTOR Trilogy
This era has the most creative potential
With so much great source material to draw inspiration from, and at least a 20,000-year time span to work with, I wouldn’t be surprised if Simon Kinberg was making aKOTORtrilogy. Even if it’s not a direct adaptation of the video game, that name would immediately grab the attention of fans and even casual viewers who have heard of it. Of course,aKOTORremake is currently in development, which could cause confusion, buthaving an Old Republic trilogy in general is absolutely plausible.
That only leaves the question of what Kinberg’s potentialKOTORtrilogy could be about, and I have a few ideas.One option is for Kinberg’s trilogy to pick up where James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi movie leaves off, exploring the early days of the Old Republic now that the Jedi Order has been established. This period was never fully explored in Legends, with theStar Wars: Dawn of the Jedicomics and spinoff novel ending with the Je’Daii Order still secluded from the rest of the galaxy in the Tython system.
Another possibility that fascinates me isexploring the conflict surrounding the Great Scourge of Malachor fromStar Wars Rebels. As someone who previously worked on the show, Kinberg could be the one to finally show this battle onscreen and reveal details about what led to it and how it affected the Jedi Order. Even if Kinberg goes a completely different route, an Old Republic trilogy sounds extremely exciting to me, but I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see how big a commitment Lucasfilm is willing to make to this era inStar Warscanon.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic tells the story of the Star Wars universe long before the Skywalker family altered the fate of the galaxy. The player assumes control of Revan, an amnesiac Force user who finds themselves thrown into the center of the ancient struggle between the Jedi and the Sith. An open-world RPG that allows the player to explore a galaxy of planets, KOTOR puts an emphasis on player choice: Revan must decide whether to save the galaxy, or conquer it.
