It’s every Star Wars fans’ dream for Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (KotOR) to enter franchise canon. That has finally happened, sort of, with a brand new name.

Disney and Lucasfilm have announced Star Wars: The High Republic; an epic new Star Wars era that will be explored in adult and young adult novels, children’s books, and comics from multiple publishers including Disney Lucasfilm Press, Del Rey, IDW Publishing, and Marvel.

Star Wars: The High Republic is set in a time when the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order are at their zenith, about 200 years before the events of Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace. In comparison, the timeline set in the non-canon Star Wars KotOR was set thousands of years before the events of the movies.

Unfortunately, this new era will not overlap any of the filmed features or series currently planned for production. This is said to be for the purpose of “giving creators and partners a vast amount of room to tell Star Wars stories with new adventures and original characters”.

However, fans will still be disappointed to know that these new stories won’t receive live-action or animated adaptations anytime soon (if the source material does turn out to be good, that is).

Lucasfilm publishing creative director Michael Siglain said:

“Star Wars: The High Republic features the Jedi as we’ve always wanted to see them — as true guardians of peace and justice.

This is a hopeful, optimistic time when the Jedi and the Galactic Republic are at their height.

But of course, into this glorious new era something wicked this way comes.

This initiative will give readers young and old a new corner of the galaxy to explore through rich, meaningful stories.

Plus, readers will learn what scares the Jedi.”

Star Wars: The High Republic will employ top-tier authors like Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Daniel José Older, Cavan Scott, and Charles Soule.

The first lineup of books and comics are set to debut at the upcoming Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in August 2020 with Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi, a massive crossover story that’s told across various formats by various publishers.

The first wave of Star Wars: The High Republic titles includes the following:

Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray (Young Adult novel, Disney Lucasfilm Press)

Star Wars: The High Republic: A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland (Middle Grade novel, Disney Lucasfilm Press)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures by Daniel José Older (IDW Publishing comic book series)

Star Wars: The High Republic by Cavan Scott (Marvel comic book series)

Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule (Adult novel, Del Rey)

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