Project Luminous unveiled: What kinds of stories will Star Wars: The High Republic tell?

Disney Publishing and Lucasfilm have finally unveiled their Project Luminous initiative, now called Star Wars: The High Republic. What kind of stories will be told through these books?

Disney Publishing and Lucasfilm have been hyping up a mysterious project, previously referred to as Project Luminous, for some time now — and this week, the details about this initiative were finally unveiled. As it turns out, the two are combining forces to bring fans Star Wars: The High Republic, a series of Star Wars stories that will center on the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic long before we meet Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace.

Star Wars fans haven’t known a time before tyranny and rebellion plagued the galaxy, except during the prequel trilogy, which is where the shift in power and move toward injustice began. The stories that will be part of The High Republic, however, will take place 200 years prior to the prequel trilogy, during a time of peace and prosperity fans have only ever heard mentioned in passing in the films. They’ll consist of novels, YA novels, and comic books, offering a variety of formats from which to enjoy this addition to the franchise.

According to Disney Publishing and Lucasfilm, this publishing project will unravel in phases, the first of which will be called “Light of the Jedi.” Judging by its name, this will give fans tales of the Jedi when they were at their most powerful — not special, chosen ones who needed to bring balance to the Force. With that in mind, it’ll be fascinating to see this new take on the galaxy, and the Jedi Order, which was likely flawed even during its golden age.

“We are so excited to be opening up such a rich, fertile era for our authors to explore,” Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy, said in a statement. “We’ll get to see the Jedi in their prime.”

Numerous publishers and authors will be involved with The High Republic initiative, including Claudia Gray, Charles Soule, Justina Ireland, Daniel José Older, and Cavan Scott, all of whom have titles already announced (and some of which are already available for pre-order):

• Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray
• Star Wars: The High Republic: A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland
• Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures by Daniel José Older
• Star Wars: The High Republic by Cavan Scott
• Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule

The first of these books will reportedly be released at a Star Wars event in Anaheim, Calif., taking place in August. That’s not long to wait — and thank goodness for that! After ending the Skywalker Saga and The Clone Wars so recently, fans will need more content to keep them occupied. Hopefully these books do the trick!

What do you hope to learn about the Jedi and the Galactic Republic from Star Wars: The High Republic?