Summary
- Star Wars timeline issues can be easy to create, due to constant new additions and expectations for continuity.
- From the movies to the TV shows, Star Wars has fallen short in a few areas of creating a consistent timeline.
- The Mandalorian era especially has a murky timeline that needs sorting.
With such a large franchise that includes many different movies, television shows, books, and comics, it’s not surprising that Star Wars occasionally has issues with its timeline. The Star Wars galaxy has been around for almost 50 years and, in the last ten, has had many new additions to the franchise. It can be hard to navigate the Star Wars timeline, especially when creating content that will exist between two previous titles or even one that takes place at the same time as other Star Wars projects.
With the vast majority of Star Wars content available today being firmly within the Skywalker saga, this means that writers and creators have to manage much more than their story, but also the stories that have come before. Because many Star Wars viewers are detail-oriented, it will be obvious if something doesn’t work in the Star Wars timeline. Despite this, there have been times when the timeline doesn’t make sense, and while these instances don’t necessarily create plot holes, they can be irritating to viewers.
Related Star Wars Movies In Order: How To Watch Release Order, Chronologically & With The TV Shows
What’s the best way to watch Star Wars? Here’s everything you need to know to watch in release or timeline order, and how to include the TV shows.
10 Obi-Wan Kenobi Was 57 When He Died In A New Hope
But Looked Much Older
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Obi-Wan Kenobi was first introduced in the original Star Wars movie (later renamed A New Hope) and was seen as the wise older Jedi that could help guide Luke Skywalker to reach his full potential. In the original trilogy, Obi-Wan was played by Sir Alec Guinness, who was 62 when filming wrapped on A New Hope. While that’s only a 5-year age gap, it’s significant because Guinness was made to look older, thus making the character seem wiser.
While this wouldn’t normally be a problem, when George Lucas made the prequel trilogy, there was a disconnect between how young Ewan McGregor’s version of Obi-Wan was versus Alec Guinness’. While the Obi-Wan Kenobi television show helped bridge that gap for viewers, Kenobi still had a lot of aging to do in less than ten years onscreen. There was nothing to suggest that Tatooine’s harsh climate led to Obi-Wan’s aged appearance, but Obi-Wan’s age still remains a point of contention for Star Wars viewers, especially when thinking of the timeline.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi became a Jedi Knight after his master’s death. Obi-Wan trained Anakin Skywalker as a Jedi, with his own apprentice knighted after the Battle of Geonosis. The Jedi Master became a key player in the Jedi during the Clone Wars, and was heartbroken when Anakin turned to the dark side; Obi-Wan critically wounded Anakin before taking to the shadows, watching over the young Luke and Leia for years. He sacrificed himself for his two charges, becoming a Force Ghost and continuing to mentor them.
Created By George Lucas Cast Alec Guinness , Ewan McGregor First Appearance Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Died Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Franchise Star Wars
9 It’s Not Clear When The Mandalorian Season 3 Takes Place
But We Know It’s Before Ahsoka Season 1
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While audiences know generally when The Mandalorian seasons 2 and 3 take place, it’s unclear how much time passed between them. Some theorize it was only a couple of months, while others say it could be as long as three years. The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau has been tight-lipped about when The Mandalorian season 3 precisely takes place, though it’s not clear why that is. It’s hard to believe that revealing when something takes place will ruin it for audiences or will spoil something else.
Because audiences don’t know when The Mandalorian season 3 takes place, it also means there is no exact time for when Ahsoka season 1 takes place. For much of the first few episodes, some believed that the events of Ahsoka season 1 took place concurrently with the events of The Mandalorian season 3. However, the appearance of Carson Teva and his testimonial in Ahsoka episode 7 revealed that the events of The Mandalorian season 3 had already concluded. Hopefully, Favreau’s upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu movie will be able to cement when these seasons take place.
The Mandalorian 
4.0 Where to Watch
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The Mandalorian is set after the Empire’s fall and before the First Order’s emergence in the ever-growing Star Wars universe. The series follows the travails of a lone gunfighter named Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. Acting as the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian has become incredibly popular on Disney+, partly due to Mando’s relationship with Grogu, which the internet dubbed “Baby Yoda” upon his introduction in season 1.
Cast Werner Herzog , Emily Swallow , Pedro Pascal , Nick Nolte , Omid Abtahi , Gina Carano , Carl Weathers , Giancarlo Esposito Seasons 3 Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Jon Favreau Directors Jon Favreau , Taika Waititi , Bryce Dallas Howard Showrunner Jon Favreau Expand
8 How Did The Galaxy Forget About More Than 10,000 Jedi In Less Than 20 Years?
Was it the Empire’s Doing?
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In the Star Wars prequel era, there were more than 10,000 Jedi across the galaxy, who were also leading the Republic’s war efforts against Count Dooku and the Separatists. However, after Palpatine declared Order 66, the clone army turned on the Jedi and killed them. While the exact number of Jedi who survived Order 66 isn’t known, it’s been said that about 1% of Jedi survived, which would equate to about 100 Jedi.
It’s possible that the Empire attempted to eradicate most of the historical records of the Jedi, especially since they were considered traitors.
One of the biggest complaints is that the galaxy seemingly forgot all about the Jedi in the 19 years between the prequels and A New Hope. Characters like Han Solo were skeptical of the Jedi. It’s possible that the Empire attempted to eradicate most of the historical records of the Jedi, especially since they were considered traitors. However, older characters should’ve known about the Jedi from their time living through the Clone Wars.
7 How Did Din Djarin Not Know What The Jedi Were?
Especially Given Mandalore’s History With Them
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When Din Djarin was tasked with returning Grogu to his people, the Jedi, he seemed unsure of what or who they were. While The Mandalorian season 1 didn’t dive too deep into the Jedi and their history, it’s clear that Din Djarin should’ve known who the Jedi were. Because Din was a foundling, he was still raised as a Mandalorian, and with that came all of their history and customs. Part of the Mandalorian history has to do with their war with the Jedi, which led to a truce between the two.
This story, combined with Bo-Katan Kryze leading the Siege of Mandalore at the tail end of the Clone Wars with former Jedi Ahsoka Tano, makes it odd that Din Djarin was so in the dark about the Jedi. While Din Djarin’s tribe, the Children of the Watch, were fundamentalists who took the Mandalorian creed very seriously, it’s hard to believe that part of his youth wasn’t dedicated to learning about the Mandalorians who had come before him. Even then, he still would have had quite a few years of overlap with the existence of the Jedi Order.
Din Djarin
Din Djarin was once a lone bounty who has since tasked himself with raising his adopted son and Mandalorian apprentice, Grogu. Born on Aq Vetina and raised on Concordia by the Mandalorian faction the Children of the Watch, Din is an orphan and Mandalorian foundling who has risked both his life and his Mandalorian Creed to protect Grogu. Djarin has become an important part of the galaxy’s fight against the Imperial Remnant that lingers in the wake of the Empire’s fall, as he is now working under-the-table for the fledgling New Republic’s rangers.
Cast Pedro Pascal Created By Jon Favreau , Dave Filoni First Appearance The Mandalorian Alias Mando Alliance Mandalorians Race Mandalorian Movies The Mandalorian & Grogu TV Shows The Mandalorian , The Book of Boba Fett Franchise Star Wars Expand
6 Not Providing Omega’s Age Confuses How Old She Actually Is
And Would Help Solidify Her Place In The Timeline
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Throughout Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Omega was sought after by the Empire. The female clone became an integral part of Clone Force 99, but audiences never discovered how old Omega was throughout The Bad Batch’s three seasons. Speculations over Omega’s age have always been floating around, but nothing has ever been confirmed. Omega did tell her brothers that she had seen and watched over them before they were born, but because she was not a genetically altered clone, she aged normally.
It’s believed that Omega was born around 31 BBY, making her about 12 when The Bad Batch season 1 takes place. However, The Bad Batch series finale showed an older Omega leaving Pabu to join the Rebellion as a pilot. It’s unclear when this scene took place, meaning there’s no real way to determine how old she is. If Omega were to appear in another Star Wars title, revealing her age might be a good way to firmly cement her place in the Star Wars title, and may give other clues about when that epilogue scene took place.
Omega
A mysterious mutant clone created by the Kaminoans, Omega longed to get away from Kamino and explore the galaxy. She was rescued from the Empire by Clone Force 99, and soon became the heart of the team. The Empire still view Omega as valuable, though, and all signs indicate her story could well end in tragedy.
Cast Michelle Ang Created By George Lucas , Dave Filoni First Appearance Star Wars: The Bad Batch Race Clone TV Shows Star Wars: The Bad Batch Franchise Star Wars Expand
Related How Old Is Omega in Each Season of The Bad Batch?
One major question that was never answered in The Bad Batch was when Omega was born—but we just figured out how old she was throughout the whole show.
5 The Second Death Star Took A Fraction Of The Time To Build
Despite the First One Taking Nearly Two Decades
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One of the things that never made sense about the original trilogy was how long it took the Empire to build the first Death Star, especially when the Second Death Star only took a few years. While Galen Erso was attempting to delay the building of the superweapon, there was only so much he could do. Despite this, audiences saw blueprints for the Death Star all the way back in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and it would still take more than 20 years for the weapon to be built.
While the second Death Star was not fully constructed when it was seen in Return of the Jedi, it was operational. Even if the Empire still had the plans and knowledge of how to build the weapon, it doesn’t make sense that they were able to put decades of labor into only a few short years. This is one timeline issue that Star Wars still needs to address, especially when considering the second Death Star was bigger than the original.
4 Darth Vader Never Sensed His Children
But Sensed Ahsoka in Rebels
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When Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, he thought his wife Padmé Amidala and his unborn child had perished at his hand. However, Padmé was unknowingly carrying twins, both of whom survived. Oddly, Vader never sensed his children, even when he ran into Leia multiple times before learning of her true parentage. Vader only pursued Luke after learning that his last name was Skywalker, and this was after he had encountered him in A New Hope.
This is even stranger when realizing that Vader was able to sense Ahsoka Tano, Anakin’s former Padawan, in Star Wars Rebels. While Ahsoka had more knowledge of the Force when they encountered one another, it’s still odd that Vader recognized Ahsoka but not his own children. Knowing how much Vader missed Padmé, it’s odd he couldn’t see her in Luke and Leia.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
Created By George Lucas Cast Bob Anderson , Hayden Christensen , James Earl Jones , Matt Lanter , Matt Lucas , Jake Lloyd , David Prowse , Sebastian Shaw First Appearance Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Died Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi Franchise Star Wars
3 Grogu Trained With Luke Skywalker, But For How Long?
The Timeline Hasn’t Been Confirmed
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The Mandalorian season 2 finale showed Grogu going off to train as a Jedi with Luke Skywalker, but much of that was walked back in The Book of Boba Fett. Grogu made the decision to leave Luke’s Jedi Academy and rejoin his adoptive father, Din Djarin, instead. During his time with Luke, Grogu’s strength in the Force grew exponentially, and he could defend himself in a fight.
It’s never been confirmed how long Grogu stayed with Luke Skywalker, as some believe it was only a few months, while others believe it was about a year.
However, abilities in the Force do not appear overnight, meaning that Grogu had to have spent a lot of time with Luke before deciding to leave. It’s never been confirmed how long Grogu stayed with Luke Skywalker, as some believe it was only a few months, while others believe it was about a year. It’s possible that audiences will get an answer to this question, possibly even in a throwaway line in one of Din Djarin’s upcoming appearances.
Related Luke Skywalker In The Mandalorian Explained: Jedi Order & Baby Yoda Future
Luke Skywalker trains Grogu between The Mandalorian season 2 and The Book of Boba Fett, but what does this mean for the Jedi Order and its future?
2 Project Necromancer’s Full Timeline Is Confusing
The Bad Batch Halted The Project’s Results and Progress
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The Bad Batch showed the beginning of Palpatine’s Project Necromancer, a plan that would be fully realized 50 years later in the sequel trilogy. Though first mentioned by name in The Mandalorian season 3, The Bad Batch season 3 went in depth on this project. While developing the kind of technology that Palpatine required to transfer his M-count and consciousness to a new body would take a long time, many were surprised to see Project Necromancer’s genesis come in The Bad Batch.
The Bad Batch series finale showed that all the data and progress the Empire’s scientists had made was lost when Mount Tantiss was destroyed. However, it’s not clear when the project got back off the ground. It’s known that Project Necromancer was in progress during The Mandalorian, but it’s not clear when Palpatine renewed his efforts to find a way to live forever.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch 5.0 Where to Watch
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Star Wars: The Bad Batch is an action-adventure animated series set after the events of The Clone Wars, following Clone Force 99 (a.k.a. the Bad Batch.) Finding themselves immune to the brainwashing effects of Order 66, the Bad Batch become mercenaries for hire while outrunning the empire, now seeing them as fugitives of the law.
Cast Dee Bradley Baker , Michelle Ang , Noshir Dalal , Liam O’Brien , Rhea Perlman , Sam Riegel , Bob Bergen , Gwendoline Yeo Seasons 3 Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Jennifer Corbett , Dave Filoni , Matt Michnovetz , Tamara Becher , Amanda Rose Munoz , Gursimran Sandhu , Christian Taylor , Damani Johnson Directors Brad Rau , Steward Lee , Nathaniel Villanueva , Saul Ruiz Showrunner Dave Filoni Creator(s) Dave Filoni , Jennifer Corbett Where To Watch Disney Plus Expand
1 Advancements in Technology Don’t Always Make Sense
The Prequels Looked More Advanced Than The Original Trilogy
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The Acolyte provided audiences their first live-action look at the High Republic Era, which takes 100 years before the events of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Older versions of Star Wars technology, like GONK droids, or even hand-held droids like Pip, were seen throughout the series. However, because the original trilogy was made using mostly practical effects, the technology doesn’t always hold up against shows and movies that were made decades later.
When comparing the original trilogy to the prequels, it seems that the prequel era had better technology in-universe, even though audiences should know that isn’t necessarily true. Because the prequels came out at a time that allowed more CGI and visual effects to be on the rise, it allowed George Lucas to experiment and create cool tech pieces. Newer titles have tried not to be too technologically advanced, but there are still times when it’s hard to believe some scenes take place earlier in the Star Wars timeline than others.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
Created by George Lucas First Film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Cast Mark Hamill , James Earl Jones , David Prowse , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , Daisy Ridley , Adam Driver , Ian McDiarmid , Ewan McGregor , Rosario Dawson , Lars Mikkelsen , Rupert Friend , Moses Ingram , Frank Oz , Pedro Pascal TV Show(s) The Mandalorian , Andor , Obi-Wan Kenobi , The Book of Boba Fett , Ahsoka , The Acolyte , Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , Lando , Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , Star Wars: The Bad Batch , Star Wars: Resistance , Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures , Star Wars: Visions Character(s) Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , Rey Skywalker , Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious , Obi-Wan Kenobi , Ahsoka Tano , Grand Admiral Thrawn , Grand Inquisitor , Reva (The Third Sister) , The Fifth Brother , The Seventh Sister , The Eighth Brother , Yoda , Din Djarin , Grogu , Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader , Leia Organa , Ben Solo/Kylo Ren Video Game(s) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic , Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords , Star Wars Battlefront (2015) , Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005) , Star Wars: The Force Unleashed , Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II , Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order , Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Expand