History of Star Wars in Timeline
Star Wars is a highly successful American space opera franchise that originated with the 1977 film. Created by George Lucas, it quickly evolved into a global pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into numerous films, TV series, video games, novels, comics, and theme park attractions, creating a vast fictional universe. It is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
1971: Lucas Seeks Flash Gordon Rights
In 1971, George Lucas's desire to adapt Flash Gordon into a film led him to develop his own space opera concept, due to not obtaining the rights to Flash Gordon.
1973: Lucas Directs American Graffiti
After directing American Graffiti in 1973, George Lucas wrote a two-page synopsis for his space opera, which garnered investment from 20th Century Fox.
1974: First Screenplay Draft
By 1974, George Lucas had expanded his story into the first draft of a screenplay for his space opera, later known as Star Wars.
1976: Start of the Expanded Universe
From 1976, the term Expanded Universe (EU) included all officially licensed Star Wars storytelling material set outside the theatrical films, novels, comics and video games.
May 25, 1977: Release of Star Wars
On May 25, 1977, Star Wars was released, becoming a massive success and leading to Lucas developing an elaborate film serial.
1977: Lucas Forgoes Salary for Merchandising Rights
In 1977, George Lucas took a $500,000 pay cut as director of the original Star Wars film in exchange for full ownership of the franchise's merchandising rights.
1977: Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star Board Game Release
In 1977, the board game Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star was released.
1977: First Star Wars Film Impact
In 1977, the first Star Wars film became a cultural unifier and helped launch the science-fiction boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
1977: Release of Star Wars Film
In 1977, the first Star Wars film was released, marking the beginning of a global pop culture phenomenon.
1977: First Star Wars Trading Cards Published
In 1977, the first series of Star Wars Trading Cards, the "blue" series, was published by Topps.
1977: Star Wars Film Success
In 1977, the original Star Wars film was a huge success for 20th Century Fox, revitalizing the company and leading to record profits.
1977: Release of the Original Trilogy Begins
In 1977, the original Star Wars trilogy began its release, starting in media res.
1977: Release of Episode IV: A New Hope
In 1977, the original film, later subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope, was released, initiating the Star Wars saga.
1977: Lucas Plans Three Trilogies
Prior to releasing the original film in 1977, George Lucas had plans for "three trilogies of nine films".
1977: Political Themes in Star Wars
Since the launch of the franchise in 1977, political science has been an important element of Star Wars, focusing on a struggle between democracy and dictatorship.
1978: Lucas Plans 10 Sequels
In 1978, George Lucas announced to Time magazine that he planned "10 sequels" to Star Wars.
1979: Alien Influenced by Star Wars
In 1979, Ridley Scott's Alien was influenced by Lucas's concept of a 'used universe' from Star Wars.
1979: Episode IV: A New Hope Subtitle
In 1979, the film Star Wars was first subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope in the book The Art of Star Wars.
May 21, 1980: Release of The Empire Strikes Back
On May 21, 1980, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back was released, achieving wide financial and critical success.
1980: Lucas Confirms Nine-Film Series
In 1980, George Lucas confirmed that he had plotted a nine-film Star Wars series, including the prequel trilogy and the sequel trilogy.
1981: Lucas Cancels Further Sequels
By 1981, George Lucas had decided to cancel further Star Wars sequels due to the stress of producing the original trilogy.
1981: Prequels and Sequels Outlined
In 1981, George Lucas confirmed that he had outlined the prequels and sequels to Star Wars.
1981: Mad Max 2 Influenced by Star Wars
In 1981, George Miller's Mad Max 2 was influenced by Lucas's concept of a 'used universe' from Star Wars.
1982: Blade Runner Influenced by Star Wars
In 1982, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner was influenced by Lucas's concept of a 'used universe' from Star Wars.
May 25, 1983: Release of Return of the Jedi
On May 25, 1983, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film in the original trilogy, was released.
1983: Release of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
In 1983, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, completing the original Star Wars trilogy, was released.
1983: Lucas Explains Story Development
In 1983, George Lucas explained that the Star Wars story evolved over time, with ideas being saved for future movies.
1983: Original Trilogy Concludes
In 1983, the original Star Wars trilogy concluded its run of releases.
1984: The Terminator Influenced by Star Wars
In 1984, James Cameron's The Terminator was influenced by Lucas's concept of a 'used universe' from Star Wars.
1986: Aliens Influenced by Star Wars
In 1986, James Cameron's Aliens was influenced by Lucas's concept of a 'used universe' from Star Wars.
1987: Merchandising Revenue Reaches $2.6 Billion
By 1987, the first three Star Wars films had generated US$2.6 billion in merchandising revenue.
1987: Star Tours ride at Disneyland
In 1987, the Star Tours ride opened at Disneyland, marking the beginning of live Star Wars attractions at Disney parks.
1989: Prequels Would Be "Unbelievably Expensive"
In 1989, George Lucas stated that the prequels would be "unbelievably expensive" to produce due to the technical requirements.
1989: Original Star Wars Film Preserved in U.S. National Film Registry
In 1989, the Library of Congress selected the original Star Wars film for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.
1992: Lucas Acknowledges Prequel Plans
In 1992, George Lucas acknowledged that he had plans to create the prequel Star Wars trilogy.
1993: Galaxy Series II 'Floating Yoda' Card Value
In 1993, the Galaxy Series II 'floating Yoda' P3 card became highly collectible, often commanding US$1,000 or more.
1995: Decipher, Inc. Creates Star Wars Customizable Card Game
In 1995, Decipher, Inc. gained the license for, created, and produced the Star Wars Customizable Card Game.
1996: Shadows of the Empire Multimedia Project
In 1996, Shadows of the Empire was released as a multimedia project set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It included a novel by Steve Perry, a comic book series, a video game, and action figures.
1997: 35mm Reels of Special Editions Presented for Preservation
In 1997, 35 mm reels of the special edition of Star Wars were used for the preservation process due to difficulty of transferring from the original prints
1997: Pez Dispensers Production Begins
In 1997, Pez dispensers began to be produced with Star Wars characters, adding to the extensive range of Star Wars merchandise.
1997: Star Wars Monopoly and Themed Games Released
In 1997, a Star Wars Monopoly game and themed versions of Trivial Pursuit and Battleship were released.
1997: Rerelease of Original Trilogy with CGI Updates
In 1997, a theatrical rerelease of the original Star Wars trilogy updated the 20-year-old films with CGI, envisioning the style for the new trilogy.
May 19, 1999: Release of The Phantom Menace
On May 19, 1999, Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released, receiving mixed reviews.
1999: Release of Episode I: The Phantom Menace
In 1999, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the first film in the prequel Star Wars trilogy, was released.
1999: Prequel Trilogy Begins
In 1999, the prequel Star Wars trilogy began its release.
2001: Decipher Loses License for Star Wars Customizable Card Game
In 2001, Decipher, Inc.'s license for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game expired.
2001: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Influenced by Star Wars
In 2001, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy was influenced by Lucas's concept of a 'used universe' from Star Wars.
May 16, 2002: Release of Attack of the Clones
On May 16, 2002, Episode II: Attack of the Clones was released, also receiving mixed reviews.
2002: Release of Episode II: Attack of the Clones
In 2002, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the second film in the prequel Star Wars trilogy, was released.
2002: Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards
In 2002, Lucasfilm sponsored the first annual Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards.
2003: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Influenced by Star Wars
In 2003, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy was influenced by Lucas's concept of a 'used universe' from Star Wars.
2003: Clone Wars Animated Micro-Series
In 2003, the Clone Wars animated micro-series was produced, expanding the Star Wars universe.
May 19, 2005: Release of Revenge of the Sith
On May 19, 2005, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was released, receiving somewhat more positive reviews.
2005: Release of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
In 2005, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the final film in the prequel Star Wars trilogy, was released.
2005: Risk: The Clone Wars Edition Released
In 2005, Hasbro released Risk: The Clone Wars Edition, adapting the classic board game with a Star Wars theme.
2005: Prequel Trilogy Concludes
In 2005, the prequel Star Wars trilogy concluded its run of releases.
2006: Risk: The Original Trilogy Edition Released
In 2006, Hasbro released Risk: The Original Trilogy Edition, another Star Wars-themed adaptation of the classic board game Risk.
2007: Lucasfilm Allows In-Universe Fiction Entries
In 2007, Lucasfilm changed the submission standards to allow in-universe fiction entries to the Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards.
2008: Release of The Clone Wars Animated Film
In 2008, Lucasfilm released the animated film The Clone Wars, which serves as the theatrical pilot for the television series of the same name.
2008: The Force Unleashed Project Launch
In 2008, The Force Unleashed multimedia project was launched, set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It included a novel and a video game.
2008: Clone Wars Animated Series
In 2008, the Clone Wars animated series was released, further expanding the Star Wars universe.
2008: The Clone Wars Animated Film Release
The Clone Wars animated film, released in 2008, was among the works included in the Star Wars canon.
2010: Inception Influenced by Star Wars
In 2010, Christopher Nolan cited Star Wars as an influence when making the blockbuster film Inception.
2010: The Empire Strikes Back Selected for Preservation
In 2010, The Empire Strikes Back was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.
2010: The Force Unleashed Sequel
In 2010, a sequel to The Force Unleashed video game was released as part of The Force Unleashed multimedia project, which also included a graphic novel, a role-playing game supplement, and toys.
2011: Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
In 2011, the Star Tours ride was succeeded by Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disneyland.
January 2012: Lucas Announces No More Star Wars Films
In January 2012, George Lucas announced that he would make no more Star Wars films, leaving the franchise to other filmmakers.
2012: Merchandising Revenue Reaches $20 Billion
By 2012, the first six Star Wars films had generated approximately US$20 billion in merchandising revenue.
2012: Development of Anthology Films
Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, an anthology film series set between the main episodes of the Skywalker Saga entered development.
2012: Lucas Sells Lucasfilm to Disney
In 2012, George Lucas sold his production company, Lucasfilm, to Disney, transferring ownership of the Star Wars franchise.
April 25, 2014: Expanded Universe Rebranded as Legends
On April 25, 2014, the Expanded Universe of Star Wars spin-off media was deemed non-canonical and rebranded as Legends.
2014: Rebels Animated Series Released
In 2014, the animated series Rebels was released, adding to the Star Wars franchise.
December 16, 2015: Release of The Force Awakens
On December 16, 2015, Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released in many countries, becoming a critical and box office success.
2015: Release of Episode VII: The Force Awakens
In 2015, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the first film in the sequel Star Wars trilogy, was released.
2015: Lucas's Sequel Outline Discarded
In 2015, it was revealed that George Lucas's sequel outline, which he provided to Lucasfilm during the 2012 sale to Disney, had been discarded.
2015: Sequel Trilogy Begins
In 2015, the sequel Star Wars trilogy began its release.
2016: Release of Rogue One Film
In 2016, Rogue One was released, telling the story of the rebels who steal the plans for the Death Star.
December 13, 2017: Release of The Last Jedi
On December 13, 2017, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi was released in many countries, achieving critical and box office success.
2017: Release of Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
In 2017, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, the second film in the sequel Star Wars trilogy, was released.
2018: Release of Solo Film
In 2018, Solo was released, telling Han Solo's backstory set 10 years prior to A New Hope.
2018: Obi-Wan Kenobi Film Becomes Series
In 2018, a story focused on Obi-Wan Kenobi, originally planned as a film, was changed to a live-action series after the box office failure of Solo.
2018: Resistance Animated Series Released
In 2018, the animated series Resistance was released, expanding the Star Wars universe.
December 18, 2019: Release of The Rise of Skywalker
On December 18, 2019, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker was released in many countries, receiving a mixed reception.
2019: Release of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
In 2019, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, concluding the sequel Star Wars trilogy, was released.
2019: Galaxy's Edge Opens at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
In 2019, Galaxy's Edge, an immersive Star Wars themed area, opened at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
2019: The Mandalorian Premieres
In 2019, The Mandalorian premiered, initiating the launch of multiple live-action series.
2019: Sequel Trilogy Concludes
In 2019, the sequel Star Wars trilogy concluded its run of releases.
January 2021: Fictional Universe Eras Defined
In January 2021, the Star Wars canon fictional universe eras were defined.
2021: Return of the Jedi Selected for Preservation
In 2021, Return of the Jedi was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.
2021: The Book of Boba Fett Released
In 2021, The Book of Boba Fett, a live-action spin-off series, was released.
2021: The Bad Batch Animated Series Released
In 2021, the animated series The Bad Batch was released, continuing to expand the Star Wars universe.
2022: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Opens
In 2022, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, a themed hotel, opened at Walt Disney World.
2022: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor Released
In 2022, the Obi-Wan Kenobi series and the Andor series were released on Disney+.
April 2023: Fictional Universe Eras Refined and Expanded
In April 2023, the Star Wars canon fictional universe eras were further refined and expanded.
April 2023: Announcement of Three New Films
In April 2023, three new Star Wars films were announced, each set in different eras of the franchise.
2023: Ahsoka Released
In 2023, Ahsoka, a live-action spin-off series, was released.
2023: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Closes
In 2023, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel at Walt Disney World ceased operations.
January 2024: Favreau to Direct The Mandalorian & Grogu
In January 2024, it was announced that Jon Favreau would direct a new Star Wars film, titled The Mandalorian & Grogu.
2024: Skeleton Crew Released
In 2024, Skeleton Crew, a live-action spin-off series, was released.
January 2025: Nolfi Hired to Write Script
In January 2025, George Nolfi was hired to write the script for an untitled Star Wars film.
May 22, 2026: The Mandalorian & Grogu Scheduled Release
The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled for release on May 22, 2026.
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