Star Wars is expanding with a series of books and comics exploring a different period from the one we're used to. The High Republic publishing campaign has been announced, and it will consist of several books set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, at the height of Jedi rule, power, and influence.

　　This story will be told across novels, children's books, and comics. Five projects have been announced, including pieces from writers who have previous experience in the Star Wars universe, such as Charles Soule (numerous comics, including Lando, Poe Dameron, and Darth Vader - Dark Lord of the Sith) and Claudia Gray (Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan and three other books). They are:

　　Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark (Claudia Gray, young adult novel)Star Wars: The High Republic: A Test of Courage (Justina Ireland, middle grade novel)Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (Daniel José Older, comic, IDW Publishing)Star Wars: The High Republic (Cavan Scott, comic, Marvel)Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi (Charles Soule, adult novel)Gallery

　　The purpose of picking this time is that the writers can have a lot of creative freedom--it does not overlap with any established canon period or character, so the attached writers are able to do whatever they want without worrying about the other Star Wars works out there.

　　Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy promises that these works will cover "a more hopeful, optimistic time," but also that there will be more traditional Star Wars conflict as well: "But of course, into this glorious new era something wicked this way comes."

　　The next new Star Wars movie will arrive in 2022, although it's not clear what that will be yet. Director JD Dillard was recently brought in to develop a new Star Wars film project. Meanwhile, there's plenty of Star Wars coming to the small screen: the last season of The Clone Wars is now airing on Disney Plus, a new season of The Mandalorian will release this year, and an Obi-Wan series is in development.