The High Republic Era has become a vitally important part of Star Wars, even if it is yet to appear in the movies themselves. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy revealed Lucasfilm’s plans for the future at Star Wars Celebration 2023, unveiling three new Star Wars movies scattered across the timeline. This was naturally unveiled alongside new graphics confirming the flow of this timeline, identifying key periods when the movies and Disney+ TV shows would take place. For many, this was their first introduction to a crucial part of the timeline – the High Republic Era.
The High Republic Era was first mentioned back in 2019, with rumors Lucasfilm Publishing was working on a mysterious “Project Luminous.” This turned out to be a bold transmedia initiative exploring the history of the galaxy, set at a time when the Jedi Order was at its height. It captured readers’ imaginations, and has expanded into a vast multi-year project; meanwhile, Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte Disney+ TV show will bring this period to live-action for the first time. Still more Star Wars fans have been introduced to the High Republic Era in Jedi: Survivor, which sees hero Cal Kestis stumble upon a High Republic legacy that stretches into the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign. The High Republic has easily become one of the biggest additions to Star Wars lore.
When The High Republic Era Is Related To The Star Wars Movies
The Golden Age of both the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic, the High Republic Era runs from c.500BBY to 100BBY. It likely indicates Lucasfilm has divided the history of the Republic into different time periods, in a similar manner to the Earth’s Middle Ages. Assuming the pattern holds, then there will likely be the Early Republic Era, the High Republic Era, and the Late Republic Era (which presumably runs from 100BBY to the end of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith).
How The High Republic Era Was Different To Normal Star Wars
The High Republic Era was a time when the Republic was bold and confident, used to peace rather than war. The Sith were generally believed to be extinct, although in truth they had retreated into the shadows and were beginning to manipulate events to their benefit. This was also a time of social and political change, accompanied by an artistic and scientific renaissance; Star Wars has even implied the Jedi discovered secrets of the midi-chlorians during the High Republic Era. The Jed were the guardians of this Republic, leading Pathfinder teams across the galaxy and running countless temples on planets across the Rim.
This was an age of exploration, peaking under Chancellor Lina Soh some 200 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The Republic pressed on further into the Outer Rim than ever before, with the Jedi establishing a base at Starlight Beacon, a space station that eventually became portable – but sadly didn’t last long. Explorers stumbled upon dangerous new threats, such as a race of dark side creatures called the Drengir, while pirate groups like the Nihil objected to the Republic’s expansion and responded in force.
Star Wars: The High Republic Reveals The History Of The Galaxy
The story of the High Republic Era has principally been told in Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative. Phase I is set 200 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, introducing terrifying new threats such as the Nihil, the Drengir, and the Nameless. The backstory of these threats is then presented in Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II, which jumps back to 350 years before the prequels. Phase III, which is soon to begin, returns to the age of the Nihil to explore the consequences of their attacks – and, presumably, to reveal just how the Jedi defeated them.
Force predators known as the Nameless are the most dangerous foes of the High Republic Era. These creatures consume the life force of Jedi and other Force-sensitives, and have been unleashed on the galaxy after they were discovered on a mysterious Force vergence. Little is known of the Nameless’ fate, but Claudia Gray’s Master & Apprentice contains ancient Jedi prophecies that appear to link them to an imbalance in the Force that ultimately required the Chosen One to correct it.
This story is told in a range of novels, audiobooks, comics, and even Manga. These include:
- Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi
- Cavan Scott’s The Rising Storm
- Claudia Gray’s The Fallen Star
- Zoraida Córdova’s Cataclysm
- Lydia Kang’s Cataclysm
- George Mann’s The Eye of Darkness
- Tessa Gratton’s Temptation of the Force
- Charles Soule’s Trials of the Jedi
Other Star Wars Stories Set In The High Republic Era
Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte Disney+ TV show is set at the tail end of the High Republic Era, and is expected to focus on the actions of the Sith at a time when the light of the Jedi shone more brightly than ever before. The greatest light casts a deep shadow, giving the Sith plenty of room to maneuver. Followers of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative have been delighted to learn Rebecca Henderson has been cast as Vernestra Rwoh, a Mirialan Jedi Knight introduced in Phase I. The cast of The Acolyte also includes Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, and Dafne Keen. Meanwhile, the animated Young Jedi Adventures are set during the High Republic as well, featuring Master Yoda himself.
Jedi: Survivor exploits the potential of the High Republic Era, with its entire plot flowing from Cal Kestis’ discovery of a Jedi secret dating from this period. For many, this serves as an introduction to a period of galactic history they have never encountered before. Hopefully they will choose to dive in, and learn more about this exciting part of the Star Wars timeline. Another game is in the works from Quantic Dream, Star Wars: Eclipse, which remains something of a mystery. No release date has yet been announced, but a trailer was released in 2021.
Are There Any Familiar Jedi In The High Republic Era?
There are, of course, some familiar faces in the High Republic Era. Master Yoda was already a venerated Grandmaster of the Jedi Order by the time of Phase I. Although he was based on Coruscant, Yoda quite liked to disappear to the galactic frontier for a time training Younglings and looking for new potential Force-sensitives. Oppo Rancisis and Yarael Poof, two Jedi Masters of the prequel era, also served on the Council during the High Republic. The smuggling queen Maz Kanata, who appears in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, had already settled on the planet Takodana – although its Jedi Temple was destroyed by the Nihil. So there are indeed some direct links between the High Republic Era and the Skywalker saga, reference points for readers and gamers to enjoy.
