While the primary focus of the Star Wars Celebration is on the franchise’s film and TV aspects, Lucasfilm Publishing has garnered a loyal following with its tie-in novels, including the High Republic initiative. This era, which began in January 2021, is reaching its conclusion with the June release of the final book in its third phase, “Trials of the Jedi” by Charles Soule.
Looking towards the future, Lucasfilm Publishing’s Star Wars Celebration panel, titled “Stories From a Galaxy Far, Far Away,” offered some insights. The Tokyo panel highlighted the latest publishing news spanning the prequel to sequel trilogies and beyond, including details on the grand finale of The High Republic. The panel featured announcements from prolific creators such as Adam Christopher, Tessa Gratton, Marc Guggenheim, Lydia Kang, Ethan Sacks, Phil Szostak, Alyssa Wong, and Marvel’s C.B. Cebulski.
A notable reveal was the announcement of an art book for the series “Andor,” adding a visual dimension to the franchise. According to the official press release, “The Art of Star Wars: Andor (The Complete Series)” will take fans behind the scenes of the Disney+ series set during the nascent days of the Rebellion, focusing on Cassian Andor’s evolution from a thief to a rebel spy. The book includes interviews conducted by Phil Szostak, Lucasfilm creative art manager, with the showrunner Tony Gilroy, the Lucasfilm art department, and other key creatives, offering a comprehensive look at the creative processes behind the series. The book will feature hundreds of design sketches, including ships, vehicles, character studies, and more, serving as a definitive visual companion to “Andor.” However, it will be priced at $50 and is scheduled for release in March 2026.
The panel also touched on the final High Republic book, “Trials of the Jedi,” and announced several other titles: comics such as “Star Wars: The High Republic – The Battle of Eriadu” and “Star Wars: The High Republic – The Beacon”; the Padawan adventure “The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown”; another art book, “Industrial Light & Magic: 50 Years of Innovation”; “Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories – Codebreaker” for Poe Dameron fans; and new issues of “Star Wars: Legacy of Vader” and “Star Wars: Jedi Knights.”
Ahead of the panel, Lucasfilm Publishing unveiled some forthcoming releases, including Adam Christopher’s “Star Wars: Master of Evil” featuring Darth Vader, a two-volume art book series “Doug Chiang: The Cinematic Legacy and the Star Wars Legacy,” and a Halloween-themed book “Star Wars: I Find Your Lack of Candy Disturbing,” with art by Jeffrey Brown. Other anticipated releases include “The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte,” “The Acolyte Visual Guide,” and updated editions of “Star Wars: The Blueprints” and “Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy.”
Additionally, during the “Manga Mania!” panel earlier in the day, Lucasfilm Publishing announced forthcoming projects from its manga line. These projects include a Kickstarter initiative for a two-volume set titled “The Art of Star Wars: A New Hope—The Manga,” manga adaptations of “Star Wars: Thrawn” and “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,” and the story “Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber.”
