Following the conclusion of Star Wars: Andor Season 2, only one live-action Star Wars television show has been officially confirmed, signaling a significant strategic shift for the franchise. Since the launch of Disney+ in 2019, most Star Wars content has been in the form of live-action series. This marked a huge departure for the franchise, which originally started as a film series and later included animated productions like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.
With The Mandalorian debuting as the flagship show on Disney+, Star Wars storytelling shifted dramatically. Within just a few years, the New Republic era became the timeline’s primary focus. Viewers needed to watch multiple series to fully understand the larger “Mandoverse” narrative—culminating in the upcoming film The Mandalorian & Grogu, which will be Star Wars’ first theatrical release in seven years. However, with several Star Wars films in the pipeline, Disney appears to be shifting away from prioritizing live-action series. So, what changed?
Ahsoka Season 2 Is the Only Confirmed Live-Action Show After Andor
As of May 13, Andor Season 2 has wrapped filming, and the only confirmed live-action Star Wars show in production is Ahsoka Season 2. Surprisingly, during this year’s Star Wars Celebration in Japan, the only newly announced Star Wars series was the animated Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, which will focus on Darth Maul’s criminal exploits after surviving Order 66 during The Clone Wars.
Even The Mandalorian, arguably the most popular Star Wars live-action show, hasn’t confirmed a fourth season, as Din Djarin and Grogu’s story is expected to conclude in the 2026 film. Ahsoka Season 2 has a lot on its plate: tying into The Mandalorian and Grogu, addressing the fate of Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren stranded in another galaxy, the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, and the political turmoil threatening the New Republic.
Why Has Lucasfilm Slowed Down Star Wars TV Production?
Lucasfilm’s live-action television output has slowed considerably. Over the past five or six years, Disney+ produced seven standalone Star Wars live-action shows totaling ten seasons. On average, that’s about two series per year, with a peak in 2022 when The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Andor Season 1 were released.
The “Mandoverse” (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew) is tied closely to the New Republic era. Other series like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, and The Acolyte explored different time periods and characters. Live-action TV allowed Star Wars to experiment with new tones and storytelling styles, but the return on investment appears to have fallen short of Disney’s expectations.
Beyond Andor’s critical acclaim and The Mandalorian’s early success, how much of a lasting cultural impact have these shows had?
While The Mandalorian enjoyed three seasons and Ahsoka and Andor were both renewed for a second, Obi-Wan Kenobi was designed as a one-off miniseries. The Book of Boba Fett faced significant critical and audience backlash. The Acolyte became the first show to be officially canceled after one season, and there has been no news about Skeleton Crew. While many of these series have been fun and creatively bold, Disney clearly hoped for more viewership and cultural resonance.
Some shows have also proven to be extremely expensive to produce. Reportedly, Andor Seasons 1 and 2 cost over $600 million combined, and The Acolyte cost around $230 million. In today’s crowded streaming landscape, studios must make difficult decisions, and cutting back on costly, streaming-exclusive content is one of the easiest ways to control budgets.
Star Wars Isn’t Alone in Facing Streaming Strategy Challenges
Star Wars isn’t the only franchise grappling with how to manage its streaming content. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) also released numerous series in the early Disney+ years, with mixed success and an increasingly tangled continuity. Both franchises could learn from the approach taken with Daredevil: Born Again—longer, less frequent, and more character-driven shows that still fit within the broader universe. This could be a more sustainable path forward for Disney’s tentpole brands on both the big and small screens.
Star Wars Appears to Be Transitioning to One Live-Action Show Per Year
With five Star Wars movies confirmed and others in development limbo, Disney seems intent on returning to Star Wars’ cinematic roots. The Mandoverse story will wrap up in the theatrical film The Mandalorian & Grogu, releasing May 22, 2026. Other upcoming films include:
- Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28, 2027)
- Daisy Ridley’s untitled New Jedi Order film
- James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi origin film
If the current trajectory holds, Star Wars may only release one live-action series per year: Andor Season 2 in 2025, Ahsoka Season 2 (tentatively) in 2026, and possibly a new series in 2027. This would give each show room to breathe and avoid making Star Wars canon overly complex.
The era of rapid-fire Star Wars content appears to be ending. Instead, Disney and Lucasfilm seem to be focusing on fewer, higher-quality projects that can contribute meaningfully to the broader universe—without overwhelming audiences.
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