“Get Dave Filoni On the Phone!”, ‘Star Wars’ Fans Demand New Series

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carl weathers, jon favreau, kathleen kennedy, gina carano, dave filoni, and pedro pascal take a selfie

Credit: Daniel Boczarski for Disney

Ever since The Mandalorian Season 2 ended with the shocking return of Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker (CGI Mark Hamill) to the Star Wars story, fans have been clamoring for more of the iconic character and his new Padawan, Grogu (AKA “Baby Yoda”).

luke skywalker with grogu
Credit: Lucasfilm

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Casting Skywalker, however, poses a bit of a problem given the timeline of The Mandalorian saga. It takes place during the original trilogy era, approximately five years after George Lucas’s Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983).

hamill last jedi
Credit: Lucasfilm

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70-year-old Mark Hamill has been playing the legendary Jedi since 1977, and while de-aging technology can be used successfully for a scene or two — just like it was for Princess Leia (CGI Carrie Fisher) in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) — it isn’t sustainable long-term.

sebastian stan luke skywalker deepfake
Credit: Stryder HD/YouTube

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Many have suggested that Marvel Cinematic Universe star Sebastian Stan could take-on the role of Skywalker for future projects, as he bears an uncanny resemblance to Hamill in his younger years. Although both actors have spoken out about the possibility at various points in time, no official casting announcement has come from Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy or any other executive.

Now, Star Wars fans have what they believe is an even better idea for how to bring Luke Skywalker and Grogu’s Jedi Academy story into the Star Wars franchise — they want it animated.

(l to r) jon favreau, dave filoni, and george lucas
Credit: Disney+ (Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian)

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This is, actually, an incredibly viable idea given that Star Wars animation is Lucasfilm Creative Director Dave Filoni’s wheelhouse. Filoni, considered by many fans to be the savior of Star Wars (alongside, of course, Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau), is responsible for helping George Lucas develop characters like Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and for series like Star Wars Rebels and, most recently, Clone Wars spinoff Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

ahsoka tano with lightsabers
Credit: Lucasfilm

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The conversation within the fan community started on Reddit, where one user asked:

Luke’s “Jedi Academy” Animated Series… Would an animated series be more appropriate for these characters and Grogu’s training??(Mark Hamill reprising his role for Luke’s voice)

Luke’s "Jedi Academy" Animated Series… Would an animated series be more appropriate for these characters and Grogu’s training??(Mark Hamill reprising his role for Luke’s voice ; from starwarsspeculation

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Redditor u/MacGuffinGuy loves this idea, believing it could set up Ben Solo’s time at the Academy before he burns it down, as witnessed in the well-known flashback scene in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017):

100%, such a series would be perfect animated because you could have him training Leia and later Ben solo without expensive CGI recreations or recasts. This is my biggest want from Faloni [sic: Filoni] atm

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u/OliverJamesG is convinced that the “Tales of the Jedi” project that was teased as part of Lucasfilm’s 2021 employee Christmas gift is actually the much-anticipated Jedi Academy series:

I think this is what the unannounced “Tales of the Jedi” animated series is going to be.

Related: Intense Artwork Reveals Grogu’s Possible Fate With Kylo Ren

One commenter is ready for development to start immediately, emphatically writing (and seemingly summing up many fans’ thoughts):

*slams hands on table “Get Dave Filoni on the phone!!”

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It is, however, important to remember that at this time a Luke Skywalker series of any kind has not been confirmed. Currently, Star Wars fans can enjoy new episodes of Mandalorian spinoff, The Book of Boba Fett, every Wednesday on Disney+.

book of boba fett temuera morrison
Credit: Lucasfilm

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Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni’s other upcoming series, The Mandalorian Season 3 and Ahsoka, do not yet have release dates.

What do you think? Is an animated Jedi Academy show a good route for Lucasfilm to go?

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