Jon Favreau Says Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Is Going To Influence The Mandalorian, Here’s How
Jon Favreau says The Mandalorian and other Star Wars shows will explore the time period around the sequel trilogy.
The next Star Wars movie may be far, far away, but the influence of the franchise’s latest films is already here. J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson’s sequel trilogy will impact the future of The Mandalorian. According to the show’s creator, Jon Favreau, the Star Wars team is looking to tell stories that fill the gaps leading up to the sequel trilogy and beyond.
In an interview with Moovy, Jon Favreau expressed excitement about the time period of the Star Wars history that The Mandalorian explores. The series began five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, and has steadily moved toward the impending events of The Force Awakens. Across that 30 year gap, the First Order and a new Resistance arise, leaving room for The Mandalorian to explore intriguing political events.
At this point, Jon Favreau has only put a small dent in the gap between the original and sequel trilogies. But as the filmmaker explores the new territory in the franchise’s canon, he is looking to many sources for inspiration. He referenced the ample material in the Star Wars extended universe that covers the adventures of Luke, Leia, and Han after Return of the Jedi, looking to what fans embrace as guidance for where to take The Mandalorian.
Jon Favreau is also looking beyond the Star Wars sequel trilogy. “[T]he sequel trilogy only takes place over the course of a few years,” he explained. “And it’s a big thing on the screen, and it’s very eventful. But it is a relatively brief moment in history over the course of the thousands of years that Star Wars takes place. And so what happens after it is interesting too, and I know that there’s some discussion, exploration going on about what happens after it.”
Jon Favreau has a couple of decades of Star Wars history to cover before The Mandalorian catches or surpasses the events of the sequel trilogy, but he plans on the show running for many years to come. As The Mandalorian bridges two trilogies of films, the fallout of the First Order’s downfall and the continuation of Rey’s journey offers intriguing possibilities.
As Jon Favreau put it, conversations about the world of Star Wars after the sequel trilogy are happening. While those conversations may affect the trajectory of The Mandalorian, they may also offer clues about the future of Star Wars on the big screen.
Lucasfilm has announced a number of Star Wars films to be in development that have since been canceled. Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron and Kevin Feige’s Star Wars project have reportedly been shelved. Rian Johnson and Taika Waititi have also been connected to Star Wars films, but their futures remain in flux.
What Jon Favreau said about exploring Star Wars post-sequel trilogy may offer clues about where the movies are headed next. Rian Johnson, who directed the sequel trilogy entry The Last Jedi, could very well be developing a follow-up that explores the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker. That trilogy could even see Johnson team back up with Daisy Ridley to continue the adventures of Rey.
Speculation about the future of Star Wars is endless, as are the franchise’s possibilities. For now, The Mandalorian leads the charge in exploring the uncharted gap between the original and sequel trilogies. Jon Favreau has become a Star Wars legend with his hit series, and whichever direction he leads the show, fans can hold onto hope that it is, indeed, the way.
