A LONGER TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY

Why you should be excited for The Acolyte and the High Republic, a bold new era for Star Wars

IT’S UNCHARTED TERRITORY!

Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, the High Republic was a golden age for the galaxy, with Jedi ten a penny. What will that mean in practice? Lightsabers all round, and a different feel for the Star Wars universe — with special excitement reserved for new Disney+ live-action series The Acolyte, set at the tail end of the High Republic and rise of the Sith.

JEDIS WILL FIGHT VIKINGS!

According to Lucasfilm, the entire concept of the High Republic sprung from a question asked by author Cavan Scott: “What scares the Jedi?” The answer, it seems, is the Nihil. Pitched as space Vikings, the Nihil are from the Outer Rim and like to raid and pillage across the galaxy — all while wearing outfits filched from Immortan Joe

ACTUAL BABY YODA!

No, not Grogu, but rather Yoda himself, back in the prime of his youth (aged, er, 700). Is he on the Jedi Council at this stage? Are he and Yaddle a thing? It’s a safe bet that, at some point, appear Yoda shall. And will we also see Chewbacca? Given he’s over 200 years old when we meet him, the Wookiee would have been born during this era.

THE RISE OF THE SITH!

Emperor Palpatine’s former master, Darth Plagueis The Wise, who discovered the secret of eternal life before Palpatine murdered him, was around in this period. Could his misadventures be the basis of a prequel to the prequels?