That May 4 is universally considered to be the day dedicated to Star Wars is by now unquestionable; yet, perhaps few know, at least not for die-hard fans you mean, that the same fifth month of the year has always been the official time of the saga set in the ‘galaxy far, far away’ conceived by George Lucas. After all, the same person directly involved was also born on the very 14th of May. Randomness? Maybe yes or maybe no. Destiny, perhaps. Anyway, beyond this further detail six out of nine chapters, divided equally into three trilogies, were, indeed, released in the very month of May and in this 2025, same time, two films landed on the big screen 45 and 20 years ago, respectively.
The days that are to be taken into consideration for this dual anniversary related not only to the world created by George Lucas but also from the broader cinematic point of view are, again respectively, and not really in chronological order, understood as years, but as the numerical order of the calendar are May 19, from 2005, and May 21, from 1980.
Two episodes that represent for different reasons perhaps the darkest part of a story that continues to this day to attract and fascinate entire generations. Stories and episodes known as ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Revenge of the Sith’.
It is clear that with the first title we refer to the dawn of the 1980s decade, while for the second in the first half of the ‘0’ decade of the new millennium. Two different films, both in form and content; two films, however, that are united by one thing in common: by the unfortunate triumph, if one can say so, of the dark side of the force.
Of course, if in the second film of the classic trilogy the Empire’s victory is in fact only temporary, in the third installment of the prequel trilogy the victory of evil is seemingly final, as in ‘The Return of the Jedy’ everything is reversed and the force returns to balance. ‘The Return,’ indeed. A part of the title that was already to be used back in 1983.
In fact, again for those who are not too familiar with the galaxy devised by the man from Sacramento, at first the third and final chapter of the classic trilogy was to be titled, precisely, ‘Jedy’s Revenge’; but in fact the knights of the light side of the force do not present such a nature. Which their arch-enemies, the Sith precisely, show without fail and as is evident in Episode III. Yet, there would be a fairly hidden detail in the three films of the late 1970s and early 1980s that is not mentioned at all: that of prophecy.
Looking very carefully at the saga, dwelling on the first six episodes, the main protagonist is, in the narrative arc of the first six episodes, always Anakin Skywalker and not Luke Skywalker, as one might later think.
In fact, in the final duel between father and son it is true that Luke himself destroys the emperor but as a result of what? As a result of Anakin’s own conversion, hidden under Lord Vader’s helmet and mask, to the light side, bringing balance back to the force and, at the same time, also reversing the prophecy that, at first, was thought to be misinterpreted by the wise Master Yoda.
The exact moment is when the Emperor himself has almost succeeded in killing Luke, Anakin comes to his senses thanks, if you can call it that, to his greatest fear: that of losing the people he cares about. After all, the Star Wars saga is not just a story laden with special effects, it is not just composed of the legendary and spectacular lightsaber duels and spaceship conflicts. No. It is a profound metaphor of the human soul always struggling with itself, a concept taken up especially, though it was first addressed chronologically in the very 1980 film now known as Episode V.
Needless to mention the financial success of both films, both in 1980 and 2005 were epoch-making. Especially for the first mentioned, when Lucas had the problem of how to reveal that the evil dark lord of the galaxy was, in fact, the father of the second protagonist.
Both films, as they used to be called, were made at a less than idyllic time by the same director. Both proposed in one way or another the fragilities of the two main characters. Fragilities that will also be addressed in the new trilogy in the making? And in what way? What will episodes X, XI and XII look like? Not only that.
In essence, there is not only and exclusively talk of these new three films, but also the final chapter of The Mandalorian, which will be a film titled ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu,’ to be released on May 20, 2026; and a new film titled Star Wars Start fighter, which will feature Ryan Gosling as one of the main actors, to be released in May 2027. The latter will be a Jedy training his nephew, a new padwan. Same pattern as in the sequel trilogy and same pattern also in the new trilogy in which Daisy O’Riley’s character will have to refound the Jedy order.
Although the Ryan Gosling movie is intended as a stand alone could it be could it really be the first episode of the new trilogy not officially announced to surprise the fans? It could be, but of course it is only a hypothesis. So, lots of new things that will be waiting for us from 2026 onward but that taste like something we have already seen, or at least that is what it seems. Certainly, the only three original stories besides the classic trilogy are represented by the prequels themselves, but since we already knew how it ended was there any need to show it?
The article Star Wars: the saga between past and future comes from TheNewyorker.
