It might be easier to wag a finger and worry about the MCU-ification of “Star Wars” if the mandate seemed to be that everything from here on out is heavily tied together. For now, that doesn’t seem to be the case. “Obi-Wan Kenobi” can do its thing while the publishing side can focus on “The High Republic.” It all exists in the same galaxy. As has been the case with the expanded universe for decades now, fans can largely choose how much they wish to engage with.
Most importantly, having a plan is very clearly the way to go, simple as that may sound. Just look at what happened with the sequel trilogy, which kicked off very successfully with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Yet, despite being widely praised by critics, “The Last Jedi” remains arguably one of the most divisive blockbusters in history, which made things exceedingly difficult on “The Rise of Skywalker.” Much of this messiness seemingly had to do with the lack of a firm plan in place for the trilogy. Am I saying things would have been out-and-out “better” if J.J. Abrams had mapped out a plan for the trilogy that Lucasfilm stuck to? Not necessarily, but it would have been less messy.
I think that’s key when it comes to Mando, Grogu, Favreau, and Filoni. As it stands, these characters are incredibly popular, and “Star Wars” fans are largely on board for the ride. They are building to something specific and they are not flying by the seat of their pants. At the same time, other creators are allowed to explore other parts of the galaxy, at other points on the timeline. While we may look upon this differently once the Mando-verse reaches its eventual conclusion, for now, this is the way, as it were.
“The Mandalorian” season 3 premieres March 1 on Disney+.
