Project Luminous is the future of Skywalker Saga has come to an end, and as a result Star Wars has to change shape. Naturally, most fans are focused on what movie comes next; but, frankly, the publishing side is probably going to be more important for the next couple of years. Star Wars books and comics have blazed the trail for the franchise ever since the Expanded Universe kicked off in the mid-'90s. George Lucas would most likely never have returned to direct and produce the prequels had the EU not existed.
There have been rumblings about Project Luminous for months, and Lucasfilm finally confirmed most of them at a dedicated press event. There, they unveiled the team of writers who will chart the future of Star Wars; Claudia Gray: Cavan Scott, Daniel Jose Older, Justina Ireland, and Charles Soule. These are some of the best talents associated with the modern Star Wars era, and they'll be at the center of Project Luminous. Other experienced Star Wars authors, such as E.K. Johnston, have already reacted to news of this project with delight on social media; that definitely means this cross-publishing initiative is going to expand. Lucasfilm has officially called publishing an "incubator," indicating that this may well grow beyond even the books and comics themselves. If it's loved by readers, and proves successful, then this is the future of the Star Wars movies and TV shows as well.
At this stage details are sparse. The story won't really begin until August, with the publication of Charles Soule's first Star Wars novel, Light of the Jedi. Still, Lucasfilm has been preparing the way for this for months already, and now the marketing is beginning. Here's everything we know to date about Project Luminous and the High Republic.
Project Luminous' High Republic Era Explained
Project Luminous is set in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. This is close enough to be within the lifetime of Master Yoda - perhaps indicating he'll have a presence in Project Luminous - but distant enough for events to have become the stuff of legend by the time of Anakin Skywalker. The Rise of Kylo Ren #2 established this was an age of exploration, with the Jedi - peacekeepers of the Old Republic who were still independent - using the Force to chart new Hyperspace routes and discover new worlds.
Starlight Station is at the Heart of Project Luminous
Project Luminous is set at the galactic frontier, and the central location is the Starlight Beacon, a space station that sounds like the cosmic equivalent of a lighthouse given a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine twist. Star Wars #2 featured a briefing from a Rebel Alliance Commander in which he referenced Project Starlight as a historical curiosity that had faded into legend. According to this Commander Grek, Starlight Beacon was designed to make the Outer Rim safer for travelers. It was placed in an area of significant Hyperspatial turmoil, sending out a signal that acted as a beacon, helping travelers find their way. The Lucasfilm strongly implied Project Starlight was a Jedi initiative.
The Jedi of the High Republic Era
In the first Star Wars film, Obi-Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker the Jedi had served the galaxy for millennia. "For over a thousand generations," he declared, "the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic." Project Luminous is set at the time when the Jedi were at their height, before they had been trapped by the politics of the Senate, before they became warriors. The Project Luminous described the Jedi of their stories as the Knights of the Round Table, Force-sensitives who will become legends; on Twitter, writer Charles Soule has identified two of their number, the Wookiee Burryaga Agaburry and another Jedi named Avar Kriss who seen in a Holocron in The Rise of Kylo Ren. Both travel and galactic communication were more difficult in the High Republic Era, meaning Jedi served as rangers, traveling the galaxy and keeping the peace, forced to trust their own judgment in sometimes chaotic situations. Visually, Lucasfilm has put a lot of effort into deg the Jedi of this era, even commissioning Ian Kay - the designer of Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - to come up with ideas for the Jedi.
The Villains of the High Republic Era
The villains of Project Luminous are an alien race called the Nihil, and the avoided giving any details about them, describing them only as the cosmic equivalent of Vikings. Apparently they are thieves; their motto is, "You can't take it with you, but we can take it from you." It seems the Nihil have a dangerous way of weaponizing Hyperspace, which may refer to technology but also may imply Force sensitivity. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary canonized a Force cult called the Aing-Tii, who could use the Force to travel Hyperspace. That may well have seeded the Nihil. According to the Lucasfilm , Project Luminous will reveal what the Jedi fear - suggesting the Nihil will be a terrifying foe indeed.
The Story of Project Luminous
The story of Star Wars' Project Luminous will be told across Lucasfilm's various publishing platforms, and includes an unprecedented partnership between Random House, Marvel Comics, and IDW. It will begin in Charles Soule's novel, Light of the Jedi, which involves an unspecified "Great Disaster." This Great Disaster serves as the launchpad for the entire publishing initiative. Here are all the confirmed books and comics to date:
- Light of the Jedi, by Charles Soule, is a novel that will be published in August. Although Soule is traditionally associated with comics, over the last couple of years he's extended his writing craft to penning some excellent novels, and Lucasfilm is clearly impressed. It seems Soule is the key player in Project Luminous, given his comics have been setting up the High Republic Era and Starlight Beacon for months.
- A Test of Courage, by Justina Ireland, is a middle grade book starring a 16-year-old Jedi Knight. This sounds to be the youngest Jedi ever to the trials, so it will be fascinating to see a story from their perspective.
- Into the Dark, by celebrated Star Wars author Claudia Gray, is presumably a young-adult novel. Few details were given about this book, but given Gray's previous works, it's most likely character-focused.
- Cavan Scott will be writing Marvel's ongoing The High Republic series, set mostly on Starlight Station and featuring various types of Jedi who work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Republic. At the space station, one of the Jedi is "surrounded by legends."
- Daniel Jose Older will be writing IDW's The High Republic Adventures, which focuses on Jedi Padawans as they travel across the galaxy. It's worth noting Timothy Zahn's novel Thrawn: Alliances introduced a Force navigation power referred to as "Skywalking," which younger Force-sensitives were more proficient at.
This is just Phase One, and other publishers will be involved in Project Luminous as well.
Will the Sith be Involved in Project Luminous?
It's unclear whether or not the Sith will be involved in Project Luminous. They were operating in the shadows at this time, attempting to systematically undermine the Jedi Order, and won't have been willing to tip their hand. They may, however, have been concerned Jedi exploration would lead to the discovery of Exegol, their last redoubt, which was concealed deep within the Unknown Regions. Intriguingly, a storyboard in a video published by Lucasfilm included a reference to the "Sith Empire," so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Exegol figure in the story somehow.
