Star Wars Hints Time Period of Next Feature Film Is After The Rise of Skywalker

The Disney Investor Day brought a plethora of internet-stopping reveals , spoiling fans with surprising announcements that made several rumors into a reality. Lucasfilm presented a clear road map for the future of the Star Wars franchise, introducing a bunch of live-action series while providing a concrete plan for the movie branch of the galaxy far, far away.

For now, the main focus of Star Wars is expanding the interconnected narrative from the Disney+ shows, but it's clear that the movie branch is just as exciting as its small-screen counterpart. As part of the massive presentation from the virtual event, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy officially announced Rogue Squadron , and the film will be directed by none other than Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins.

Along with the announcement, Jenkins expressed her excitement in joining the monumental franchise by sharing a teaser video explaining her deep connection to flying while also sharing how she landed the gig to direct Rogue Squadron . Given that, it's clear that the immense passion of Jenkins will no doubt lead the newly-announced Star Wars film to greater heights.

And now, an official release from Lucasfilm may offer clues as to when Rogue Squadron will actually take place in the decade-spanning Star Wars timeline.

NEWS

After the avalanche of news during Disney Investor Day, Lucasfilm shared an interesting tidbit about the upcoming Rogue Squadron film. In the official release, Lucasfilm posted a summary of what Rogue Squadron will be about, teasing that the film will "move the saga into the future era of the galaxy."

This could hint that the Patty Jenkins-directed Star Wars film will be set after the events of 2019's The Rise of Skywalker . Lucasfilm's full statement can be seen below.

"The story will introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride, and move the saga into the future era of the galaxy."

WHAT THIS MEANS

Based on the initial tease, it seems that Rogue Squadron will usher in a new age of heroes for Star Wars. To recap, Rogue Squadron was the name of the team that was founded by Luke Skywalker during the Galactic Civil War. Given that, it's possible the next generation of starfighter pilots will be inspired by that origin, ultimately leading to a brand new version of the Rogue Squadron to fight an unknown threat.

It would be fitting for Rogue Squadron to be set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker since the film will likely answer the ultimate question of "what happens next" after the generational battle between the Jedi and the Sith ends. There's a strong chance that a new and improved version of the New Republic will be born after the events of the Skywalker Saga, and the film could end up featuring the return of some characters from the sequel trilogy.

Among the three heroes of the sequel trilogy, Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron is the most plausible option to return given that he is one of the best pilots of the Resistance. Dameron could end up serving as the mentor of the Rogue Squadron team, teaching them a variety of tips and tricks in the art of flying.

As for the threat that the pilots will face, Jenkins would be given the opportunity to introduce a new set of villains, as the post- Skywalker Saga storyline is pretty much a clean slate.

All in all, it would make narrative sense for Rogue Squadron to take place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker since Lucasfilm can take advantage of the timeline's blank canvas to set up more stories down the road.