Categories: News

New Star Wars book will bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens

In case you missed it, Disney Publishing Worldwide and Lucasfilm announced last week "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens," an "ambitious publishing program" that will see the release of more than 20 print and digital books/comics that, as the name suggests, lead up to the release of the highly anticipated next film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With the old Expanded Universe no longer being recognize, the aim of this program is to help build a new one, and it'll start with the release of Chuck Wendig's Star Wars: Aftermath.

Taking place after the events on Endor in Return of the Jedi, the new book will contain hints about The Force Awakens, including new starships, planets, characters, and "subtle clues" about what happened to older characters following the Battle of Endor.

An official description on the Star Wars blog provides a bit more description of the book:

"The second Death Star has been destroyed. Rumors are flying that the Emperor and his enforcer, Darth Vader, are dead. A new government is forming to replace the Empire. But the galaxy is a big place, and the fallout of this cataclysm will affect different worlds in different ways. Does everyone accept the fall of Imperial rule? Has everyone even heard the life-altering news? What rushes in to fill the vacuum the Empire has left? And who will try to stop them? Those are some of the themes we’ll be exploring in Aftermath…"

Aftermath will actually be the first book in a trilogy that will bridge the Star Wars timeline between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

As for the broader program, future stories part of Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens will feature characters old and new, and retell classic Star Wars tales from new perspectives. All titles published under this program will be canonical within the Star Wars universe, and in-continuity with the Star Wars films, animated series, new books, and Marvel comics.

Admittedly, I'm not much of a reader, but with so much mystery surrounding Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, I'm intrigued to learn more. When the new movie releases, I want to feel like I already know the characters. If narrative stories aimed for "middle grade and young adults" are my only way, then so be it.

Star Wars: Aftermath is set to release in September, three months before The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18, 2015. While we're on the subject, Disney last week also announced the release date for Star Wars: Episode VIII as well as one of the planned spin-offs Star Wars: Rogue One.

Matt Liebl

Share
Published by
Matt Liebl

Recent Posts

Review: Hitman 3 is the peak of the trilogy

To kick off 2021, we have a glorious return to one of the best franchises…

4 years ago

Hogwarts Legacy has been delayed to 2022

Last summer, we got our first official look at Hogwarts Legacy. The RPG set in…

4 years ago

EA to continue making Star Wars games after deal expires

Today, it was revealed that Ubisoft would be helming a brand-new Star Wars game. The…

4 years ago

PS5 Exclusive Returnal talks combat, Glorious Sci-Fi frenzy ensues

Housemarque shared lots of new details about their upcoming PS5 game Returnal. Today, we learn…

4 years ago

Lucasfilm Games confirms Open-World Star Wars handled by Ubisoft

Huge news concerning the future of Star Wars games just broke out. Newly revived Lucasfilm…

4 years ago

GTA 5 actors recreate iconic scene in real life

GTA 5 is probably the biggest game of all-time. It has sold over 135 million…

4 years ago