Today at San Diego Comic-Con, there was a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices cried out in joy and were suddenly silenced.
Why?
At a panel celebrating the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm revealed that the beloved animated show will be returning to television… or whatever device you use for your streaming services. Confirmed by Dave Filoni, the director of The Clone Wars and the man currently in charge of Lucasfilm Animation, the show will come back for another twelve episodes on Disney’s yet-to-be-named streaming service. While there is no word on when this seventh season will be released, the streaming service itself is set for a 2019 release.
Cancelled shortly after Disney acquired all Star Wars properties in 2012, the show had several story arcs in development that would never air. Some of the show’s remaining storylines were brought to life in the show’s sixth season Netflix revival, a four-issue comic book series, and a novel, but fans were still upset (to put it lightly) that The Clone Wars never received a definitive ending. Clamoring for Lucasfilm to save the show from cancellation, fans should be pleased by this surprise announcement, even if the series’ resurrection is a few years late.
Following the immensely disappointing prequel films, Star Wars was at a low point as a franchise in the 2000s. In many ways, The Clone Wars accomplished the goals set by the prequels and gave the fandom hope that there were still exciting stories left to tell in the Star Wars universe. Whereas Episodes I, II, and III presented the clones as faceless canon fodder and Anakin as a moody brat with a creepy romance and a hollow friendship, The Clone Wars turned the clones into a sympathetic band of brothers and Anakin into a charismatic hero with tragic flaws.
On top of that, additions like Ahsoka Tano, and Captain Rex became fan favorites, and the show’s blend of exhilarating action, clever humor, and strong characters cemented the series as one of the greatest animated shows of the last twenty years. The Clone Wars delivered everything the prequels failed to capture and so much more.
Based on the trailer shown at SDCC and Filoni’s descriptions, the show’s twelve new episodes will cover one of the series’ most intriguing untold stories, The Siege of Mandalore. With Anakin, Obi-Wan, Rex, and Ahsoka set to return to the planet where Darth Maul was last seen and one of Obi-Wan’s closest friends was lost, this seventh season promises to have plenty of drama and emotional reunions.
In the midst of all of the shows returning for reboots, re-imaginings, and revivals, The Clone Wars stands as one of the shows most worthy of such an honor. Few shows get to end on their own terms, but if any show deserves to do so years after cancellation, it’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
