"New Star Wars Novel Delves into Post-Rise of Skywalker Era"

We're finally getting a glimpse into the world beyond Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker—but not through Shawn Levy's lens, at least not yet. While fans eagerly await Levy's upcoming film, Star Wars: Starfighter, they'll have the chance to dive into the post-Rise of Skywalker universe sooner through the new young adult novel, Star Wars: The Last Order.

Revealed on Penguin Random House's website, Star Wars: The Last Order promises to delve deeper into the stories of Finn, portrayed by John Boyega, and Jannah, portrayed by Naomi Ackie, both beloved characters introduced in Rise of Skywalker. The novel, penned by Kwame Mbalia, offers an exciting plotline:

“Following the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the Resistance rescues a ship full of young passengers who had been kidnapped by the First Order. As Finn and Jannah set out to find the First Order officer responsible before he can endanger any more children, the two former stormtroopers must wrestle with their own complicated pasts as soldiers of the oppressive regime.”

This novel marks the first exploration of the Star Wars universe post-Rise of Skywalker, even though it's not the initially planned project to do so. As for Shawn Levy's project, it remains highly anticipated and firmly set on the horizon.

Lucasfilm's president, Kathleen Kennedy, shed light on the project in a February interview with Deadline, explaining how the Star Wars timeline will evolve with this new addition. “It’s all post-[the first] nine,” she stated. “Shawn’s is a standalone Star Wars story that'll take place post-nine, maybe five or six years out.” Just last month, the film's writer, Jonathan Tropper, rekindled excitement by telling Screen Rant, "I hope it's on the way sooner than you think." Days later, the release date was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan, with Ryan Gosling confirmed to star.

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According to Penguin Random House, Star Wars: The Last Order is set to be released on October 21, 2025. Meanwhile, fans will need to wait a bit longer for Shawn Levy's film, slated for release on May 28, 2027.