Star Wars Celebration Recap - Starfighter, Shadow Lord, Zero Company, & More!

Davyn Horton
Apr 20, 2025
11 min read

Star Wars Celebration has concluded, with a lot of exciting news tidbits that have gotten Star Wars fans all over the world excited for what is to come. Here is a recap of everything that was revealed throughout the duration of the weekend.

Star Wars Starfighter

Star Wars Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, debuts in theaters May 28, 2027! Not much is known about the film, other than the fact that it will be taking place "approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," and that Ryan Gosling will be playing "a brand new character," which should be a lot of fun. Aside from that, we don't know anything about what is going to be in store, but details will be revealed in due course.

Maul: Shadow Lord

One of the most shocking announcements of the night was the next full-length animated series, Maul: Shadow Lord.

The synopsis reads: "After the Clone Wars, Maul plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. In a new series set after the events of the final season of The Clone Wars, Maul rises again to lead the underworld factions."

The HoloFiles' trailer description reads:

The trailer begins with two alien creatures speaking across a table in some kind of hangar. It’s the kind of underworld meeting between crime bosses. Or, at the very least, people on the wrong side of the law. A conversation about the state of the galaxy continues as different beautiful environment shots are shown in quick succession.

Then, a ship lands at an unknown location and a hooded figure begins to walk down the ramp. Initially covered by the hood and surrounding smoke, the person pulls back the hood to reveal…Maul. Of course, the Celebration crowd went wild at this point.

The rest of the trailer focused primarily on Maul training a new Twi’lek padawan after having a vision that she can help him in his mission for revenge. The trailer concludes with Maul fighting Marrok, the Inquisitor who first appeared in Ahsoka. Marrok tells Maul, “So it’s true. You live.”

It is widely been speculated that this show will serve as the project that introduces Darth Talon into Star Wars canon, though whether or not that happens for sure remains to be seen.

Maul: Shadow Lord will be debuting exclusively on Disney Plus in 2026. Sam Wither, the voice of Maul in The Clone Wars as well as Star Wars Rebels, and even in Solo A Star Wars Story, will be reprising his role as Maul.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

One of the most anticipated Star Wars projects is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will be the first Star Wars film since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. After many years of film announcements that have gone nowhere, we will finally get the return of Star Wars to the big screen where it belongs.

With The Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars Celebration Japan attendees got an exclusive look at the first trailer. The HoloFiles' trailer description reads:

The footage begins inside the cockpit of an AT-AT. An Imperial commanding officer tries to hide his nerves with outward confidence as the camera pans over to behind the cockpit. Here, various Snowtroopers are preparing for battle – handling weapons, fixing their armor, etc.

Suddenly, the door at the back of this small hanger area begins to light up and Din Djarin breaks through. What ensues is an epic fight sequence that reminded us of those iconic hallway scenes from Daredevil and Daredevil: Born Again. The Mandalorian disposes of the bad guys using all sorts of creative tricks, concluding by shooting something hanging from the ceiling and watching it crush a Snowtrooper to death.

All of the footage described to this point unfolded as a continuous take. The action was meticulously crafted and definitely had a cinematic scale.

After that, the footage shifts to an exterior shot of three AT-ATs walking along a massive snowy cliff. The last of the three AT-Ats then blows up, likely due to what Mando and Grogu were up to. The dynamic duo are then seeing flying away using Din’s jetpack in a shot that looks extremely similar to a shot from Chapter 14: The Tragedy.

The footage then cuts quickly to lots of different things. Sigourney Weaver’s character is seen recruiting Din and Grogu for a mission. They sit at a dinner table with a snack in front of them. Grogu tries to use the Force to get the snack but is interrupted by Weaver’s New Republic leader.

The footage shows Grogu swimming in a body of water. It was adorable.

It also shows Grogu face off against a mouse droid. Grogu holds out his hand and uses the Force to crush the mouse droid to pieces. A wheel then spins away from the mouse droid and Grogu humorously steps aside to let the wheel go past him.

The footage concluded with a shot of a gladiator arena occupied by Rotta the Hutt! The little stinker from The Clone Wars movie has grown up and put on some muscle. The back of Rotta is shown as the Hutt holds his arms up to a roaring crowd.

(Image Credit | Lucasfilm [Picture Taken At Star Wars Celebration By The Holofiles])

It does appear as if that everything they showed for The Mandalorian and Grogu, from the SWCJ attendees-exclusive trailer, to the still images, one of which confirmed the return of fan-favorite character Zeb Orellios. This film is looking incredible, and it will be so amazing to finally see this on the big screen next year.

The Mandalorian and Grogu debuts in theaters May 22, 2026.

The Future of Star Wars Films

Star Wars Starfighter isn't the only Star Wars film in development at Lucasfilm. StarWars.com reads:

One of several theatrical projects still in development from Lucasfilm, including films by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, Taika Waititi and a new trilogy by Simon Kinberg. Shawn Levy’s film — Star Wars: Starfighter — will star Ryan Gosling and go into production starting this fall.

In addition, it had been previously announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 that Dave Filoni would also be directing a Star Wars film. It is interesting to note that there was no mention of Filoni's film during Star Wars Celebration, but that doesn't necessarily indicate that Filoni's film is no longer in development. We'll just have to wait and see for more details on that, as well as all of the other films that were reiterated to be happening/announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025.

The Future Of Publishing Is Looking Bright

From a Rebellion-based sequel to The Rise and Fall of The Galactic Empire being teased, to magna adaptations of Jedi Fallen Order and Thrawn, to even The Industrial Light and Magic: 50 Years of Innovation. The world of Star Wars publishing has never looked stronger.

There was a lot of discussion of The High Republic content that had been previously announced, as that publishing venture nears its conclusion, but there was also some talk about some stuff that hadn't been really revealed before.

One of the big ones was Master of Evil, a new Darth Vader novel set right after Revenge Of The Sith that is written by Adam Christopher. Part of the extended plot synopsis, revealed the week before Star Wars Celebration Japan, reads:

After Revenge of the Sith, a newly forged Darth Vader hunts for the secrets of life and death under the watchful eye of Emperor Palpatine. In the wake of Emperor Palpatine’s rise to power, the true nature of his most sinister enforcer remains a mystery. Darth Vader is a dominant yet illusive figure: the shadow cast by a malignant Imperial regime, unknowable to even its top officials. But even as his humanity gives way to myth, Vader remains haunted by the promises of the dark side, seeking the ultimate power that his master has hinted at but withheld—the power to conquer death itself.

Star Wars books and comics are not the most sought-after Star Wars content for some Star Wars fans, but they should be appreciated more. With all of the talent that is within this medium, it should be given a great bit more appreciation. A lot of work goes into the world of publishing. If fans would be willing to

To read more in the world of Star Wars Publishing that was talked about at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, read here.

Gaming Is In... An Interesting Place

Star Wars gaming is in a very fascinating place at the moment.

The highlight of the weekend for the world of gaming was the new tactical-based game set during the twilight of the Clone Wars, Zero Company. Involving what appears to be a ragtag group of people and aliens, this is shaping to be a very unique game.

The StarWars.com description for the game reads:

Star Wars Zero Company features a gritty and authentic original story set during the twilight of the Clone Wars that puts players in control of Hawks, a former Republic officer who’s in charge of an elite squad of cunning operatives. As an unconventional outfit of professionals for hire hailing from across the galaxy, Zero Company must set aside their differences to take on an emerging threat that will consume the galaxy if left unchecked.

Bit Reactor’s Game Director Greg Foertsch and Lucasfilm Games’ Executive Producer Orion Kellogg as having "the political intrigue of Andor, the gritty battles of Rogue One, and the wit and wisdom of A New Hope." There is so much information that was revealed about this game, so to read more about it, you can do so here.

Aside from Star Wars Zero Company, there wasn't a ton of gaming news this year. Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune releases May 15, along with a Nintendo Switch 2 release of the full game September 4. In addition, Fortnite had a reveal of their own, showcasing Fortnite Galactic Battle, the brand-new season of Fortnite beginning May 2, bringing in classic Star Wars and original Fortnite characters alike in a five-week exciting season. Aside from these three reveals, and a Monopoly Go x Star Wars event, gaming news for this year was a little bit on the dry end.

If there is more games in development, then they are simply not ready to show to the fans, but in due course there will hopefully be more news to come that will get gaming fans to be excited for the future.

Rebuild The Galaxy Season Two

One of the biggest surprises of the weekend was the announcement of a 2nd season of Lego Star Wars Rebuild The Galaxy. Entitled Pieces of the Past, the creators behind the show have promised that:

In Pieces of the Past, we continue to celebrate the entire history of Star Wars and LEGO by incorporating characters, ships, locations, and LEGO designs no one ever thought they'd see on screen. As lifelong Star Wars and LEGO fans, the opportunity to play with every toy in the box is a dream come true, and we’re excited for audiences around the world to lay in a course for the unknown.

In addition to Ahmed Best confirming his return as Darth Jar-Jar, what was an even bigger surprise was the announcement that fan-favorite Ashley Eckstein would be reprising her role as Ahsoka Tano, to play a Lego BrickHeadz version of the fan-favorite character. In addition, Ben Schwartz, most recently known for providing his voice to Sonic The Hedgehog in the Sonic live-action films, will be entering the Lego Star Wars galaxy, voicing Jaxxon.

All episodes of Lego Star Wars Rebuild The Galaxy: Pieces of the Past will build its way onto Disney Plus September 19.

Andor Season Two

Andor Season Two comes out Tuesday night, so there wasn't too much new information regarding what is to come, but there were some fascinating tidbits from throughout the panel, including but not limited to:

A promise that Season 2 is promised to be bigger and better than ever, according to series creator Tony Gilroy, executive producer/lead actor Diego Luna, and more.
On Mon Mothma's side, the season will begin on Chandrila, as the marriage of Mon’s daughter Leida is happening, though it was promised that her journey only gets darker from there.
The first episode of Andor Season 2, as well as an extended trailer, was shown exclusively for SWCJ attendees. The extended trailer confirmed the return of Admiral Raddus, first seen in Rogue One A Star Wars Story!
Andor Season 2 has 140 sets across 7 sets and 24 locations, 700 costumes for the principal cast alone, 152 creatures created, 30 droids created, & 1,300 VFX shots!

The social media embargo for Season 2 was lifted shortly following the panel's conclusion, and the reactions and reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. One of them, from Maggie Lovitt from Collider, reads:

Social embargo is up and I can finally share that I have seen the entirety of @andorofficial . This is the best @starwars that has ever existed and will ever exist. I am not being hyperbolic. This series was everything. You’ll see everything I’ve poured into my lengthy review next week, but @diegoluna and the entire cast and crew have created something that will stand the test of time. Timely, heartbreaking, inspiring, perfect. Thank you Tony Gilroy for making this series, and blessing us all with impeccable storytelling. I wish I could fully express how much Andor and this corner of the universe means to me. But it means everything to me.

Andor Season 2 is shaping up to be one of the best seasons of Star Wars television that has ever been released, though time will tell if fans will feel the same as the critics. Thankfully, there are only a couple of days left until we know the answer.

Ahsoka Season Two

Ahsoka Season Two begins filming this coming week. Dave Filoni will write all eight episodes for the second season. Here are some of the highlights from the Ahsoka panel, and the subsequent on-stage interviews after the panel, in regards to what's coming in season two:

Admiral Ackbar will appear, and will have a face-off with Grand Admiral Thrawn!
Rory McCann will officially play Baylan Skoll, taking on the role originally played by the late great Ray Stevenson!
Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker!
Despite filming having not started, a trailer of sorts was shown, confirming that Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and Chopper will all be returning!
Zeb Orellios was also confirmed, bringing all surviving members of the Ghost crew together in the same project for the first time since the series finale for Star Wars Rebels!
It was specifically revealed that Ezra, Hera, and Chopper would all have larger roles in season two!
An all-out cinematic war, involving the reunion of the Ghost crew, was promised!
And much more!

Ahsoka Season Two is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. Rosario Dawson and the rest of the cast and crew of the series have promised some awesome things to come, and it will be really exciting to see the vision for this second season on screen very soon.

Visions Volume Three... And Beyond

In the final major panel, which happened on day three, the Star Wars Visions Volume Three panel brought some big surprises, including announcements that Volume Three would have sequel episodes for popular Volume One episodes The Duel, The Village Bride, and The Ninth Jedi, with the sequel episodes being named The Duel: Payback, The Lost Ones, and The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope respectively.

In addition to new looks being presented for the three sequel episodes, new looks were shared for the six new shorts that are coming in Volume Three. Titled Yuko's Treasure, The Smuggler, The Bounty Hunters, The Song of Four Wings, The Bird of Paradise, and Black, with each and every episode offering something unique and different that will excite fans across the world.

As exciting as the Volume Three news was for fans, it did not end there, as a new long-form and full-season series format, Star Wars Visions presents, was announced, which will also creators of select Visions shorts to explore the world and lore of those shorts in a more expanded and full-season format. The first short to get the Star Wars Visions presents treatment will be The Ninth Jedi.

Star Wars Visions Volume Three premieres October 29, 2025. Star Wars Visions Presents The Ninth Jedi premieres in 2026. Both will be exclusively available on Disney Plus.

The Next Celebration Location Is...

Star Wars Celebration will return to Los Angeles, California for the first time since 2006 for a four-day convention April 1-April 4, 2027, to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Wars itself. This is shaping up to be a huge celebration, filled with love and appreciation for the franchise that so many people around the world love, and will continue to love, for a long time to come.

Recap

Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 was a blast, and brought many exciting updates about what the future of Star Wars holds, which will bring excitement to fans all over the world for a long time to come, but what is even more exciting is that the next time there will be a Star Wars Celebration, fans will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Star Wars itself, which will truly be an exciting time. For now, fans have a lot to look forward to, as the future of Star Wars is finally looking as bright as it once did.