Star Wars, created by George Lucas, is a massively popular space opera franchise that began with the 1977 film. Its expansive fictional universe includes films, television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme parks, and more, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises ever.
1971: George Lucas Begins Developing Star Wars
In 1971, George Lucas, unable to secure the rights for a Flash Gordon adaptation, started developing his own space opera that would eventually become Star Wars.
1973: George Lucas Directs American Graffiti
In 1973, George Lucas directed American Graffiti, a coming-of-age comedy film. The film's success influenced his future projects, including Star Wars.
1974: First Draft of Star Wars Screenplay
By 1974, George Lucas completed the first draft of the Star Wars screenplay, having expanded his initial two-page synopsis. 20th Century Fox agreed to invest in the project.
May 25, 1977: Star Wars Release
Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977.
1977: Release of First Star Wars Trading Cards by Topps
In 1977, Topps released the first "blue" series of Star Wars trading cards.
1977: Lucas Plans Three Trilogies
Before the release of the original Star Wars film in 1977, George Lucas had plans for three trilogies of nine films, made possible by the film's subsequent success.
1977: Star Wars Becomes a Cultural Phenomenon
In 1977, the release of Star Wars had a significant cultural impact. Phrases from the movie entered the popular lexicon and the film helped launch the science fiction boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
1977: Release of The Story of Star Wars LP
The Story of Star Wars, an LP using audio samples from the original film and new narration to retell the story, was released in 1977.
1977: Release of Star Wars: A New Hope
The first Star Wars film, Star Wars: A New Hope, premiered in 1977.
1977: Release of Star Wars: A New Hope
The first Star Wars film, Star Wars: A New Hope, was released in 1977.
1977: Release of Star Wars: A New Hope
The first Star Wars film, Star Wars: A New Hope, was released in 1977. The film introduced the political themes of the franchise, featuring a struggle between democracy and dictatorship.
1977: Star Wars Release
The first Star Wars movie, titled "Star Wars", was released in 1977. It quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon.
1977: Episode IV: A New Hope Release
The first film in the Star Wars franchise, retroactively subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope, was released in 1977.
1977: Financial Success of Star Wars Reinvigorates 20th Century Fox
The original Star Wars film, released in 1977, was a huge financial success for 20th Century Fox, reinvigorating the company and leading to record profits.
1977: Start of the Original Trilogy
The original Star Wars trilogy began its release in 1977, introducing audiences to the galaxy far, far away.
1977: George Lucas Secures Merchandising Rights
While filming the original Star Wars film in 1977, George Lucas opted to take a $500,000 pay cut in exchange for complete ownership of the franchise's merchandising rights.
1977: Release of Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star Board Game
In 1977, the board game Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star was released.
1978: Lucas Announces Plan for 10 Sequels
In 1978, Lucas announced that he planned to create 10 sequels to the original Star Wars film.
1979: Release of Alien
Ridley Scott's Alien was released in 1979, also influenced by Star Wars' concept of a "used universe."
1979: Episode IV: A New Hope Subtitle
The original Star Wars film, released in 1977, was retroactively subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope in the 1979 book The Art of Star Wars.
1979: Release of Star Wars Electronic Battle Command
Kenner released the first officially licensed electronic Star Wars game, Star Wars Electronic Battle Command, in 1979.
May 21, 1980: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Release
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back was released on May 21, 1980.
1980: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Release
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the sequel to Episode IV: A New Hope, was released in 1980.
1980: Lucas Confirms Nine-Film Series Plan
In 1980, George Lucas confirmed that he had a plan for a nine-film Star Wars series.
1981: Lucas Cancels Further Sequels
Due to the stresses of producing the original Star Wars trilogy, Lucas canceled plans for further sequels in 1981.
1981: Release of Mad Max 2
George Miller's Mad Max 2 was released in 1981, drawing inspiration from Star Wars.
1981: Lucas Confirms Outlines for Prequels and Sequels
In 1981, George Lucas confirmed that he had outlined both the prequel and sequel trilogies for the Star Wars franchise.
1981: Broadcast of Star Wars Radio Drama
The first Star Wars radio drama, an adaptation of the 1977 film, was broadcast on National Public Radio in 1981.
1982: Lucasfilm Founds Video Game Company
Lucasfilm established its own video game company in 1982.
1982: Release of Blade Runner
Ridley Scott's Blade Runner was released in 1982, influenced by Star Wars' concept of a "used universe."
May 25, 1983: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Release
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film of the original trilogy, was released on May 25, 1983.
1983: Broadcast of The Empire Strikes Back Radio Drama
The 10-episode radio adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back debuted in 1983.
1983: Conclusion of the Original Trilogy
The original Star Wars trilogy concluded its run in 1983, leaving a lasting impact on cinema and popular culture.
1983: Release of Star Wars: Jedi Arena and Star Wars Arcade Game
Parker Brothers released Star Wars: Jedi Arena, the first video game to feature lightsaber combat, in 1983. Also in 1983, Atari released a Star Wars rail shooter arcade game with vector graphics.
1983: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Release
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi concluded the original Star Wars trilogy with its release in 1983.
1983: Release of Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell Audio Drama
Buena Vista Records released an original 30-minute Star Wars audio drama titled Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell in 1983.
1983: Lucas Explains His Approach to the Story
In 1983, Lucas explained that he didn't have a complete script for the entire Star Wars saga. Instead, he developed the story organically, saving ideas for later films.
1984: Release of The Terminator
James Cameron's The Terminator was released in 1984, drawing inspiration from Star Wars.
1984: Release of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Video Game
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, a video game with raster graphics, was released in 1984.
1986: Release of Aliens
James Cameron's Aliens was released in 1986, drawing inspiration from Star Wars.
1987: Opening of Star Tours
In 1987, the Disneyland ride Star Tours opened.
1987: First Three Films Generate $2.6 Billion in Merchandising Revenue
By 1987, the first three Star Wars films generated US$2.6 billion in merchandising revenue.
1989: Lucas Discusses Prequel Trilogy Cost
In 1989, George Lucas acknowledged that the prequel trilogy would be incredibly expensive to produce.
1989: Star Wars: A New Hope Selected for Preservation by the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress selected the original Star Wars film for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry in 1989, recognizing its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.
1992: Lucas Confirms Plans for Prequel Trilogy
In 1992, George Lucas confirmed that he had plans to create the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
1993: Release of Galaxy Series II "Floating Yoda" P3 Card
The Galaxy Series II "floating Yoda" P3 card was released in 1993 as a very rare promo card.
1993: Release of Star Wars: X-Wing
LucasArts released Star Wars: X-Wing, their first self-published Star Wars video game and the first space flight simulator based on the franchise, in 1993.
1993: Tales of the Jedi Comic Series Premiere
Dark Horse Comics launched the Tales of the Jedi comic series in 1993.
1995: Decipher, Inc. Acquires License for Star Wars Customizable Card Game
Decipher, Inc. obtained the license for, designed, and produced the Star Wars Customizable Card Game starting in 1995.
1995: Release of Star Wars: Dark Forces
In 1995, the first Star Wars first-person shooter video game, Star Wars: Dark Forces, was released.
1996: Release of Shadows of the Empire
In 1996, a multimedia project set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi called Shadows of the Empire was released, including a novel by Steve Perry, a comic book series, a video game, and action figures.
1996: Release of Return of the Jedi Audio Drama
Return of the Jedi was adapted into a 6-episode audio drama in 1996.
1997: First Star Wars PEZ Dispensers Released
PEZ dispensers featuring Star Wars characters were first produced in 1997.
1997: Release of Star Wars Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, and Battleship
Star Wars-themed versions of Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, and Battleship were released in 1997, with updated versions released in later years.
1997: Preservation of 35mm Reels of the Star Wars Special Editions
In 1997, 35mm reels of the Star Wars Special Editions were presented for preservation due to the difficulty of transferring from the original prints.
1997: Original Trilogy Re-release with CGI Updates
A theatrical re-release of the original Star Wars trilogy in 1997 updated the 20-year-old films with the style of CGI envisioned for the upcoming prequel trilogy.
1998: Conclusion of Tales of the Jedi Comic Series
1998 saw the conclusion of Dark Horse Comic's Tales of the Jedi series.
1998: Launch of Rogue Squadron Series
The Rogue Squadron video game series, focusing on space battles set during the films, began its run in 1998.
May 19, 1999: Episode I: The Phantom Menace Release
Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released on May 19, 1999.
1999: Episode I: The Phantom Menace Release
Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the first film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, was released in 1999.
1999: Start of the Prequel Trilogy
The Star Wars prequel trilogy began its release in 1999, exploring the events leading up to the original trilogy.
2001: Decipher, Inc. Loses License for Star Wars Customizable Card Game
Decipher, Inc. lost its license for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game in 2001.
2001: Release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The first film in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, was released in 2001, drawing inspiration from Star Wars.
May 16, 2002: Episode II: Attack of the Clones Release
Episode II: Attack of the Clones was released on May 16, 2002.
2002: First Annual Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards
Lucasfilm sponsored the first annual Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards in 2002, recognizing fan-made films. Initially, the contest was open only to parodies, mockumentaries, and documentaries due to copyright and trademark concerns.
2002: Episode II: Attack of the Clones Release
Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the second installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, was released in 2002.
2003: Launch of Star Wars Galaxies
In 2003, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Star Wars Galaxies, was launched.
2003: Clone Wars Micro-Series Released
The Clone Wars animated micro-series was released in 2003.
2003: Conclusion of Rogue Squadron Series
The Rogue Squadron game series concluded in 2003.
2003: Release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The final film in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King, was released in 2003, drawing inspiration from Star Wars.
May 19, 2005: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Release
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was released on May 19, 2005.
2005: Conclusion of the Prequel Trilogy
The Star Wars prequel trilogy concluded in 2005, providing deeper context to the events of the original films.
2005: Release of Risk: The Clone Wars Edition
In 2005, Hasbro released The Clone Wars Edition of the board game Risk, adapted for Star Wars.
2005: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Release
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the final film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, was released in 2005.
2006: Premiere of Knights of the Old Republic Comic Series
Dark Horse Comics launched the Knights of the Old Republic comic book series in 2006.
2006: Release of Risk: Original Trilogy Edition
The Original Trilogy Edition of the board game Risk, adapted for Star Wars by Hasbro, was released in 2006.
2007: Lucasfilm Changes Submission Standards for Fan Film Awards
In 2007, Lucasfilm changed the submission standards for the Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards to allow in-universe fiction entries, expanding the scope of the contest.
2008: The Clone Wars Animated Film Released
In 2008, Lucasfilm released "The Clone Wars" animated film, which served as a pilot for the subsequent television series of the same name and is set during the prequel trilogy era.
2008: The Clone Wars Animated Series Released
The Clone Wars animated series premiered in 2008.
2008: Launch of The Force Unleashed Multimedia Project
The Force Unleashed, a multimedia project set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, was launched in 2008, including a novel, a video game, a graphic novel, a role-playing game supplement, and toys.
2009: Disney Acquires Marvel Entertainment
Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment in 2009.
2010: Release of Inception
Christopher Nolan's Inception was released in 2010, with the director citing Star Wars as an influence.
2010: Conclusion of Knights of the Old Republic Comic Series
In 2010, Dark Horse Comic's Knights of the Old Republic series came to an end.
2010: Release of The Force Unleashed II
In 2010, a sequel to the video game The Force Unleashed, part of The Force Unleashed multimedia project, was released.
2010: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Selected for Preservation by the Library of Congress
The Empire Strikes Back was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry in 2010.
2011: Closure of Star Wars Galaxies
Star Wars Galaxies, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, ceased operation in 2011.
2011: Opening of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
The successor to Star Tours, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, opened in 2011.
January 2012: George Lucas Retires from Star Wars
In January 2012, George Lucas decided to step down from the Star Wars franchise and announced that he would not be making any more Star Wars films.
2012: Disney Acquires Lucasfilm
In 2012, George Lucas sold his production company, Lucasfilm, to Disney, relinquishing his ownership of the Star Wars franchise.
2012: Disney Announces Star Wars Anthology Film Series
Following the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney in 2012, an "anthology" film series, consisting of origin stories set between the main episodes of the Skywalker Saga, was announced.
2012: First Six Films Generate $20 Billion in Merchandising Revenue
By 2012, the first six Star Wars films produced roughly US$20 billion in merchandising revenue.
2013: LucasArts Ceases Development
LucasArts ended its role as a video game developer in 2013 after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, though it continued as a licensor.
January 2014: Marvel Comics to Reclaim Star Wars Comics License
In January 2014, it was announced that Marvel Comics would regain the license to publish Star Wars comics.
April 25, 2014: Expanded Universe Rebranded as Legends
On April 25, 2014, the Expanded Universe of Star Wars spin-off media, with its varying levels of continuity, was declared non-canonical and rebranded as "Legends." This move aimed to align most subsequent works with the episodic films, "The Clone Wars" film, and its television series.
2014: Star Wars Legends Removed from Canon
The Star Wars Expanded Universe, known as Star Wars Legends, was removed from the official canon in 2014.
2014: Star Wars Rebels Premieres
The animated series Star Wars Rebels was released in 2014.
November 2015: Release of Star Wars: Battlefront
A canonical reboot of the Battlefront games, Star Wars: Battlefront, was released in November 2015.
December 16, 2015: Episode VII: The Force Awakens Released
Episode VII: The Force Awakens premiered on December 16, 2015, in numerous countries. The film achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success.
2015: Start of the Sequel Trilogy
The Star Wars sequel trilogy commenced its release in 2015, continuing the Skywalker saga beyond the events of the original trilogy.
2015: Marvel's Star Wars Comic Series Premiere
Marvel Comics launched its first three Star Wars comic book publications in 2015: Star Wars, Darth Vader, and the limited series Princess Leia.
2015: Disney Acquires Lucasfilm and Announces Sequel Trilogy
In 2015, the Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm and revealed plans to release Episode VII in 2015, marking the beginning of the sequel trilogy. Lucas's original outlines for the sequels were ultimately discarded to allow for greater creative freedom.
2015: Episode VII: The Force Awakens Release
Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the first film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, was released in 2015.
2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Released
In 2016, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" was released, depicting the rebels who stole the Death Star plans shortly before the events of the original Star Wars film.
2016: Rogue One Release
Rogue One, the first theatrical live-action "anthology" film in the Star Wars universe, was released in 2016.
November 2017: Release of Star Wars Jedi Challenges and Star Wars: Battlefront II
In November 2017, Disney partnered with Lenovo to release the augmented reality video game Jedi Challenges. Also in November 2017, the sequel to Star Wars: Battlefront, Battlefront II, was released.
December 13, 2017: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Released
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi debuted on December 13, 2017, receiving positive reviews from critics and achieving box office success.
2017: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Release
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, the second film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, was released in 2017.
August 2018: Zynga to Publish Star Wars Mobile Games
In August 2018, it was announced that Zynga would publish free-to-play Star Wars mobile games.
2018: Solo's Box Office Failure Leads to Obi-Wan Kenobi Series
Due to the box office underperformance of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in 2018, the planned Obi-Wan Kenobi film was transformed into a live-action series.
2018: Solo: A Star Wars Story Released
In 2018, "Solo: A Star Wars Story", which explores the backstory of Han Solo several years prior to the original Star Wars film, was released. The underperformance of "Solo" at the box office resulted in the planned Obi-Wan Kenobi film being reimagined as a limited series.
2018: Solo Release
Solo, the second theatrical live-action "anthology" film in the Star Wars universe, was released in 2018.
2018: Star Wars Resistance Premieres
The animated series Star Wars Resistance premiered in 2018.
April 2019: Project Luminous Announced at Star Wars Celebration
Project Luminous, a new Star Wars publishing initiative, was first announced at Star Wars Celebration in April 2019.
November 2019: Release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a single-player action-adventure game with an original story and cast of characters, was released in November 2019.
December 18, 2019: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Released
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker premiered on December 18, 2019, and garnered mixed reviews from both critics and audiences.
2019: Conclusion of the Sequel Trilogy
The Star Wars sequel trilogy reached its conclusion in 2019, marking the end of the Skywalker saga.
2019: Release of Audio-Only Star Wars Novels
Starting in 2019, audio-only Star Wars novels not directly based on printed media began to be released.
2019: The Mandalorian Premieres
In 2019, the first live-action Star Wars series, "The Mandalorian", premiered on Disney+, set between the original and sequel trilogies.
2019: Opening of Galaxy's Edge
In 2019, an immersive themed area called Galaxy's Edge opened at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
2019: The Mandalorian Premieres on Disney+
In 2019, "The Mandalorian", the first live-action Star Wars series, premiered on Disney+, set between the original and sequel trilogies.
2019: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Release
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, the final installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, was released in 2019.
February 2020: Star Wars: The High Republic Publishing Initiative Revealed
In February 2020, a press conference unveiled Project Luminous as the Star Wars: The High Republic publishing initiative.
October 2020: Release of Star Wars: Squadrons
In October 2020, a space combat game titled Star Wars: Squadrons, which expands upon the space battles from Battlefront, was released.
January 2021: Star Wars Eras Defined
In January 2021, distinct eras within the Star Wars fictional universe, each centered around the film trilogies, were officially established.
2021: Star Wars: The Bad Batch Premieres
The animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch premiered in 2021.
2021: The Book of Boba Fett Premieres
The Book of Boba Fett, a live-action spin-off of The Mandalorian, premiered in 2021.
2021: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Selected for Preservation by the Library of Congress
Return of the Jedi was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry in 2021.
2022: Opening of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
A themed hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, began operation in 2022 at Walt Disney World.
2022: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor Series Premiere
In 2022, both the Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor live-action series premiered on Disney+. These series focus on their respective titular characters during the reign of the Empire.
April 2023: Three New Star Wars Films Announced
In April 2023, Lucasfilm announced three new Star Wars films set in different eras of the franchise, including a film set during the "dawn of the Jedi", a film set between the original and sequel trilogies, and a film about a new Jedi Order set fifteen years after the sequel trilogy.
April 2023: Star Wars Eras Refined and Expanded
In April 2023, the defined eras within the Star Wars fictional universe were further refined and expanded upon.
2023: Ahsoka Premieres
Ahsoka, another live-action spin-off of The Mandalorian, premiered in 2023.
2023: Closure of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser themed hotel at Walt Disney World ceased operations in 2023.
January 2024: The Mandalorian & Grogu Announced
In January 2024, a new Star Wars film titled "The Mandalorian & Grogu", directed by Jon Favreau, was revealed. This film is intended to be the inaugural release in the upcoming lineup of Star Wars films.
May 22, 2026: The Mandalorian & Grogu Scheduled for Release
The Mandalorian & Grogu is expected to premiere on May 22, 2026.