A hundred years before Anakin Skywalker was born, a Force-sensitive pair of twins unleashed events that would echo across generations and shape galactic politics for centuries to come.
The sprawling Star Wars saga has expanded far beyond its original trilogy, now covering roughly 150 years of in-universe history through films, television series, books, and games. For newcomers and longtime fans alike, understanding the proper chronological sequence can be challenging as the franchise continues to fill gaps and expand in multiple directions.
The earliest live-action entry in the timeline is now Disney+’s “The Acolyte,” set approximately 132 years before Luke Skywalker destroyed the first Death Star, during the waning days of the High Republic era. This period represents the Jedi Order at the peak of its power and influence, with hundreds of knights maintaining peace across the galaxy.
“The series follows Force-sensitive twins both played by Amandla Stenberg, ‘Squid Game’s’ Lee Jung-jae as a Jedi master with a dark past and Manny Jacinto as an oft-sleeveless bad guy,” explains a CNN timeline overview. The show explores corruption within the Jedi ranks that would ultimately help pave the way for their downfall a century later.
Fast forward to the prequel trilogy, beginning with “The Phantom Menace” (32 BBY or “Before the Battle of Yavin”), which introduces us to 9-year-old Anakin Skywalker under the tutelage of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Clone Wars animated series (22-19 BBY) bridges the gap between “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” chronicling the galaxy-wide conflict manipulated by Senator Palpatine.
Following the rise of the Empire and execution of Order 66, a wealth of stories explore the Dark Times including “The Bad Batch,” “Solo,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Star Wars Rebels,” culminating in “Rogue One” which leads directly into the original trilogy.
The classic films (0-4 ABY, or “After the Battle of Yavin”) follow Luke Skywalker’s journey from farm boy to Jedi Knight, the Rebellion’s fight against the Empire, and Darth Vader’s eventual redemption through his son’s unwavering belief in the good still within him.
In the aftermath of the Empire’s defeat, shows like “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett,” and “Ahsoka” (all set around 9-11 ABY) explore a galaxy struggling to rebuild under the New Republic while Imperial remnants scheme from the shadows. These series introduce fan-favorite characters like Din Djarin and Grogu (Baby Yoda) while expanding on the adventures of legacy characters like Ahsoka Tano and Boba Fett.
Three decades after the Battle of Endor, the sequel trilogy (34-35 ABY) introduces a new generation of heroes in Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron, who face the rising threat of the First Order led by Kylo Ren, the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa.
“The Force Awakens,” “The Last Jedi,” and “The Rise of Skywalker” cover just over one year of narrative time, but within that span, “Rey connects with the Force, Kylo Ren becomes Supreme Leader, Darth Sidious returns, the First Order is soundly defeated and Han, Luke and Leia die,” according to a CNN timeline analysis.
The current endpoint of the Star Wars chronology remains “The Rise of Skywalker,” when Rey adopts the Skywalker name and buries Luke and Leia’s lightsabers on Tatooine. However, the future of the franchise continues to expand, with upcoming films set to explore new eras both before “The Acolyte” and after Rey’s story.
Announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, director James Mangold will helm a film set 25,000 years before the Skywalker saga, exploring the dawn of the Jedi Order. Meanwhile, Daisy Ridley is set to return as Rey in a film charting her efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order approximately 15 years after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker.”
For viewers wanting to experience the complete saga chronologically, the journey begins with “The Acolyte” and continues through decades of galactic conflict, redemption, and renewal. The Star Wars universe has transcended its original conception to become a multi-generational epic spanning centuries of fictional history, with no end in sight.
