With the re-introduction of peppermint mochas, twinkle lights, brightly lit trees and Christmas music back into the fray, we can officially say that the holiday season is here! It’s been a long year of waiting and hoping, but the return of the winter season spells good news for college students all over, as we get a little chance to breathe after midterms, collect ourselves, and finish off the year strong, with friends and family there to support us. I myself am quite the Christmas person, and every year I look forward to unearthing my long-awaited decorations and going home for the holidays. But there is one thing about this Christmas season that I am looking forward to more than anything—namely, the triumphant return of Star Wars. In the next five weeks, this juggernaut of a franchise is slated to release some of their most cutting-edge and diversely entertaining products, and their timing aligns perfectly with the holiday season, so that you can spend your holiday break streaming, playing, reading, and watching all that Star Wars has to offer.
Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
The first major offering from everybody’s favorite galaxy far far away is Resistance Reborn, written by Rebecca Roanhorse. This novel follows the activities of the Resistance immediately after the events of The Last Jedi (2017), as General Organa tries desperately to rebuild her movement from the survivors of the First Order’s rampage. If you’ve never read a novelization of a Star Wars property before, this book promises to introduce you to a whole new world of Star Wars lore, while still following the familiar characters you’ve learned to love through the movies. Considering that there is a significant time jump between The Last Jedi and the upcoming The Rise of Skywalker, this novelization feels like an organic part of the new sequel stories, and is sure to fill in the gaps between the two films. It was released on November 5, 2019.
The second Star Wars property sure to excite fans is the long-anticipated The Mandalorian. This action-adventure romp through space follows the exploits of an intergalactic bounty hunter five years after the events of Return of the Jedi. From what we’ve seen in the final trailer, which was released on October 28, The Mandalorian promises to deliver a grittier, grounded story, more in line with the non-Force using characters from the 2016 Star Wars story Rogue One, but with a Western style and feel. The final trailer for the series was released on October 28, and the first episode of the series will be available for streaming on Disney+ starting November 12, 2019. I know I’ll be watching!
If a binge watch or a night reading isn’t your deal, then you can look forward to the release of Jedi: Fallen Order, a new video game set in the Star Wars universe! This single-player game allows you to follow the story of Cal Kestis, a padawan who is on the run from the Empire after the events of Revenge of the Sith. This game promises to be full of lightsaber battles, grounded combat, and even more Star Wars story content than ever before! It’s slated to be released on November 15, 2019 for Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4, and the Xbox One.
So far, Star Wars is slated to release a number of at-home entertainment options. But, starting on December 5, 2019, the company is releasing an entirely different experience that will take you into a whole new galaxy. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is going to be a ride at Walt Disney World that takes guests into the very heart of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. The ride is going to consist of an eight-person ride trolley in which guests will move back and forth between VR screens, and will feature characters from the sequel trilogy like Rey, Fin, Poe, and Kylo Ren. This ride promises to bring a thrilling sci-fi adventure to the Disney parks, and I for one am excited to hear reviews and ride Rise of the Resistance when it opens in Disneyland on January 17, 2019.
Finally, the last (and possibly the biggest) release coming from Star Wars is the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth and final installment in the Star Wars saga. The film will follow the heroes of the sequel trilogy, Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren, as they face off against the forces of darkness in the galaxy, and is set to be released on December 20, 2019. This last chapter of the forty-year saga is possibly the highest anticipated release of this year, and even topped Avengers: Endgame with its advance ticket sales. So far, the plot of The Rise of Skywalker has been speculated about often on the internet, but the marketing for the film has remained ambiguous about the big story moments that are sure to fill this final movie in one of the most successful franchises of all time. I’m personally more excited about this movie than any other film in my life, and I’m going to be the very first in line to watch my favorite story come to its triumphant end.
There is so much to get excited about this holiday season, and whether you love to read, watch, play, or visit, Star Wars is ready to provide you with more content than ever before–and I, for one, am ready to be transported to a galaxy far, far, away.