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Star Wars is now divided into nine distinct eras, and one of them, The High Republic, is making its live-action debut with The Acolyte, the new series on Disney Plus starring Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, and Manny Jacinto.
Before diving into The Acolyte, you may have some questions: what is The High Republic exactly? Where does it fit in the Star Wars timeline? And how does it differentiate itself from the prequels, sequels, and original trilogy?
Here is a quick cheat sheet to The Acolyte that should address all the burning questions you may have about this exciting new chapter in a galaxy far, far away.
What is The High Republic?
According to Star Wars.com, The High Republic is described as follows: “Under the protection of the Jedi Knights and the wise rule of the Senate, the Republic grows into a golden age. The vast Outer Rim beckons the intrepid seeking to discover new worlds and spread the optimism of the Republic.”
Initially announced in 2020, The High Republic, previously known as Project Luminous, was revealed as Lucasfilm’s initiative for “an epic new era of Star Wars storytelling.”
Featuring books and comics for readers of all ages, The High Republic offers “a vast amount of room to tell Star Wars stories with new adventures and original characters,” as stated in the original announcement.
“We are so excited to be opening up such a rich, fertile era for our authors to explore,” said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy at the time. “We’ll get to see the Jedi in their prime.”
In the Star Wars universe, The High Republic represents a period of peace and stability in the galaxy, occurring centuries before the events of The Phantom Menace.
During this time, the Jedi are at their peak, serving as peacekeepers in a galaxy not yet fully affected by the dark side of the Force or the Sith. The Republic explores the Outer Rim, emphasizing intellectual curiosity and expansion over internal conflicts.
While not delving into every major event of The High Republic, one significant incident is The Great Disaster, which occurred approximately a century before The Acolyte. This catastrophe involved the destruction of The Legacy Run, a freight transport, causing widespread devastation across the galaxy and leading to conflicts with the Nihil.
Where is The High Republic on the Star Wars timeline?
The High Republic spans from 500 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) to 100 BBY, covering a period of 500 years before the events of A New Hope. The Acolyte is set in 132 BBY, a century before The Phantom Menace and the prequels.
In the broader context of the Star Wars franchise, The High Republic fits within the timeline of all nine named eras:
- Dawn of the Jedi – ~25,000 BBY
- The Old Republic – 25,000 BBY-1,000 BBY
- The High Republic – 500 BBY-100 BBY (The Acolyte)
- Fall of the Jedi – 100 BBY-19 BBY (Prequel trilogy, The Clone Wars)
- Reign of the Empire – 19 BBY–0 BBY (Tales of the Empire, Andor, The Bad Batch)
- Age of Rebellion – 0 BBY-5 ABY (The original trilogy)
- The New Republic – 5 ABY-34 ABY (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka)
- Rise of the First Order – 34 ABY-35 ABY (Star Wars sequels)
- New Jedi Order – 50 ABY (Rey’s untitled Star Wars movie)
Where do I start with The High Republic and what should I read next?
The best starting point for The High Republic is Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi novel, released in 2021. It serves as the initial work and provides a comprehensive introduction to the era’s themes and setting.
Other essential texts include Cavan Scott’s The Rising Storm novel and his High Republic comic series, as well as Claudia Gray’s The Fallen Star. These works kick off The High Republic’s first phase, Light of the Jedi.
Following these, readers can delve into various short stories, comics, and novels across the next two phases: The Quest of the Jedi and Trials of the Jedi. Each phase offers new adventures and characters within The High Republic.
If you want a comprehensive guide to the High Republic’s chronological order, Star Wars provides a detailed list of every story in its correct timeline placement, though it can be quite extensive.
Lastly, don’t forget about The Acolyte, the new Disney Plus series. For more information on the show, explore The Acolyte timeline, release schedule, interviews with the cast, and behind-the-scenes insights.
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