The Force was strong at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, where Lucasfilm announced a highly anticipated new series, Star Wars: Visions Presents The Ninth Jedi, set to premiere on Disney+ in 2026. The announcement, made on the final day of the three-day fan event, sent waves of excitement through the global Star Wars community.
The series is a long-form spinoff of the acclaimed Star Wars: Visions short film The Ninth Jedi, originally released as part of the anthology’s first volume in 2021. Written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), the original short followed Lah Kara, the daughter of a lightsaber-smith, and Margrave Juro, a Jedi leader, as they navigated a dangerous mission in a galaxy where the Jedi were nearly extinct. The story captivated fans with its unique anime-inspired storytelling and rich exploration of Jedi lore.
James Waugh, Lucasfilm’s Senior Vice President of Franchise Content and Strategy, introduced Kamiyama to a roaring crowd at the event. Kamiyama expressed gratitude for the fans’ enthusiastic support of Kara and Juro’s adventures, teasing that the upcoming series will expand their story in bold new ways. “We’re thrilled to bring The Ninth Jedi to life as a full series,” Kamiyama said, according to Disney’s official Star Wars website. “This is a chance to dive deeper into the characters and the galaxy they inhabit.”
The Star Wars: Visions Presents banner, also unveiled at the event, marks a new direction for the Visions anthology, allowing filmmakers to craft longer, more intricate stories free from the constraints of short-form storytelling. The Ninth Jedi will be the first series under this banner, promising a cinematic exploration of a post-Jedi galaxy where hope and danger collide.
In addition to the series announcement, Lucasfilm revealed that Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 will premiere on Disney+ on October 29, 2025, featuring nine new shorts, including a sequel to The Ninth Jedi titled Child of Hope, directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani of Production IG. The third volume will also continue storylines from other fan-favorite Visions shorts, such as The Duel and The Village Bride.
The Ninth Jedi series announcement was one of several surprises at Star Wars Celebration, which also included news of a new Darth Maul animated series, Maul: Shadow Lord, a Ryan Gosling-led film, Star Wars: Starfighter, and the Star Wars-themed Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 reveal. Lucasfilm’s focus on anime-inspired storytelling underscores its commitment to diversifying the Star Wars universe, blending traditional Japanese artistry with the franchise’s iconic mythology.
As anticipation builds for The Ninth Jedi and Star Wars: Visions Volume 3, Lucasfilm continues to push the boundaries of storytelling in a galaxy far, far away. With its 2026 premiere, The Ninth Jedi is poised to become a cornerstone of the Star Wars legacy, offering fans a fresh perspective on the enduring battle between light and dark.
