Star Wars is among the biggest screen franchises of all time, and since being acquired by Disney in 2012, its universe has expanded at a pace even the most ardent fans struggle to keep up with. Cinema’s most famous galaxy far, far away has spawned a plethora of TV shows over the past decade, as well as new big-screen releases.
Yet, there were already Star Wars TV shows before Disney took over the franchise, although some of them have been completely forgotten about. The first TV spinoff of the movies aired way back in 1978, and it was soon followed by the franchise’s first TV series, in the mid-1980s.
At the same time, the Star Wars timeline is now packed with so many TV shows that it takes a special commitment to have watched them all. Even some of the franchise’s most recent additions to its small-screen canon have already been forgotten by many fans, as they’ve been overshadowed by its higher-profile releases.
On top of the TV shows left by the wayside soon after their run concludes, there are also some highly-anticipated Star Wars series that never made it to the screen at all. At a time when the franchise could be theatrical releases its main focus once again, it’s worth reminding ourselves of these hidden pieces of television history.
Droids
1985–1986
The first TV shows from the George Lucas era of Star Wars aired back-to-back during an hour reserved for the franchise on ABC during the mid-1980s. While they’re both animated series made for the whole family to enjoy, Droids is more action-focused, as a space adventure story featuring the likes of bounty-hunting Mandalorian Bobba Fett.
On the other hand, it’s fronted by C-3PO, who sets the demonstrably comedic tone of the show. 40 years after its release, there’s now a debate as to whether Droids should be considered part of the Star Wars canon. Nevertheless, it remains an entertaining watch with some intriguing elements of character backstory.
Ewoks
1985–1986
The other half of The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour, this series is stylistically similar but markedly different in tone from its companion animation. Set in the home territory of its titular furry creatures, on the Forest Moon of Endor, it’s a gentler, slower-paced affair concerned with the culture of the Ewoks and their rivalry with the Duloks.
Whereas the live-action Ewok movies are now considered one of George Lucas’ biggest Star Wars mistakes, this endearing kids’ show is hard to dislike. In fact, it’s well worth introducing to new generations of younger viewers, who’ll likely find plenty of fun in the Ewoks’ magical adventures.
Clone Wars
2003–2005
The traditional 2D-animated version of Clone Wars has virtually been erased from the Star Wars canon, in large part because it contradicts the official character arcs of Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano. Still, it’s an impressive show in its own right, which took the historic first step towards the expansive animated universe we know today.
There are even some fans who consider 2003’s Star Wars: Clone Wars better than the 2008 3D-animated version, although it must be said that they’re in the minority. Most viewers below a certain age don’t even know this show exists, which is testament primarily to the huge impact 2008’s The Clone Wars has had.
Underworld
Unreleased
Long before Disney got hold of Star Wars, and began producing groundbreaking TV shows like The Mandalorian and Andor, George Lucas had his own plan for the franchise’s live-action berth on the small screen. Underworld was a profoundly ambitious project, set on the mean streets of unruly planets known to harbor some of the galaxy’s organized crime rackets.
This theme has now been revived in Maul – Shadow Lord, the latest Star Wars animated series, but Lucas’ vision for his live-action show went even darker and deeper. At the same time, Underworld was going to provide origin stories for beloved movie characters such as Han Solo and Chewbacca.
In the end, the project was discarded as a logistically difficult production to film, which was deemed far too expensive for television by major studios. If only they could have predicted what Star Wars would achieve with live action on the small screen a decade or two later.
Despite having the scripts for almost 60 episodes ready to go, Underworld was never produced. The show never got past pre-production, so no part of it has ever been filmed.
Detours
Unreleased
Another scrapped Star Wars release that’s never seen the light of day, Detours is a stop-motion animated show that was actually produced before Disney pulled the plug on it. 39 episodes of the series exist, just waiting to be shared with fans. However, Disney felt it didn’t strike the right tone for the franchise they wanted to grow.
Detours is a parody of Star Wars that mocks its storylines, characterizations and space opera tropes at the same time as telling an original story set between the prequel movie trilogy and Episode IV: A New Hope. Developed by George Lucas alongside Robot Chicken creators Seth Green and Matt Senreich, it serves as a massive sendup of the entire franchise.
If Lucas could see the funny side of this TV show, then Kathleen Kennedy, who succeeded him as head of Lucasfilm, apparently couldn’t. Kennedy and executives at Disney felt that the parody series would undermine Star Wars in the eyes of viewers discovering the franchise for the first time. As it stands, we may never get to see it.
LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles
2013–2014
LEGO Star Wars is still going strong on the small screen, having released “what if” story Rebuild the Galaxy and its sequel Pieces of the Past in the last two years. But it was The Yoda Chronicles that launched this non-canon branch of the franchise as a TV staple back in 2013.
Surprisingly, action-packed and plot-heavy, this two-season animated series from Denmark’s favorite toy company covers both the Clone Wars and the rule of the Galactic Empire, while focusing on Yoda’s efforts to train Padowans and save ancient Jedi Holocrons from Darth Vader. It might have niche appeal, but it’s well worth checking out for fans of arguably the greatest Jedi master.
Resistance
2018–2020
Resistance is the series which best illustrates why Star Wars animation deserves more recognition. This two-season, 40-episode series is a masterpiece of anime-style visuals and realistic, personal drama. It tells the story of a New Republic pilot who’s recruited to spy on the First Order.
While growing geopolitical instability serves as a backdrop to the series, protagonist Kazuda Xiono feels more down-to-earth and relatable than any other Star Wars hero. Despite its cult status, Resistance is underseen and criminally underappreciated among the franchise’s audience overall. Live-action and 3D-animated releases might get more attention, but this show is up there with the best of them.
Skeleton Crew
2024–2025
Even though it only came out in 2024, Skeleton Crew has already receded from view, and into the dusty annals of Star Wars history. In part due to an “anti-woke” fan campaign against previous release The Acolyte, the show was the lowest-viewed Disney+ TV series in franchise history when it came out.
Ultimately, though, this Mandoverse tale of four kids lost in a faraway galaxy was just one children’s Star Wars TV show too many, without bringing anything particularly groundbreaking to the screen. It didn’t help that it was completely overshadowed by the game-changing Andor finale months after its release.
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.