"First Post-Rise of Skywalker Novel Explores New Star Wars Universe"

Star Wars fans are in for a treat as they finally get to delve into the universe beyond The Rise of Skywalker—and it's not through Shawn Levy's upcoming film, Star Wars: Starfighter. Instead, a new young adult novel titled Star Wars: The Last Order will provide an early exploration of the post-Rise of Skywalker world. Revealed on publisher Penguin Random House's website, this novel promises a deeper look into the lives of John Boyega's Finn and Naomi Ackie's Jannah, characters we met in the 2019 film.

Written by Kwame Mbalia, the novel's official synopsis from Penguin Random House reads:

“Following the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the Resistance rescues a ship full of young passengers who had been kidnapped by the First Order. As Finn and Jannah set out to find the First Order officer responsible before he can endanger any more children, the two former stormtroopers must wrestle with their own complicated pasts as soldiers of the oppressive regime.”

This novel marks the first Star Wars project to explore the universe after the events of Rise of Skywalker, even though it wasn't the first planned project to do so. Shawn Levy's eagerly awaited film, Star Wars: Starfighter, is still on the horizon, promising its own unique contribution to the Star Wars timeline.

In an interview with Deadline in February, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy shed light on the timeline of Levy's film. She stated, "It’s all post-[the first] nine. Shawn’s is a standalone Star Wars story that'll take place post-nine, maybe five or six years out." Jonathan Tropper, the writer on the project, also expressed his enthusiasm last month to Screen Rant, saying, "I hope it's on the way sooner than you think." Shortly after, the film's release date was announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan, with Ryan Gosling confirmed to star, setting the premiere for May 28, 2027.

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According to Penguin Random House, Star Wars: The Last Order is set to hit the shelves on October 21, 2025. Meanwhile, fans will have to wait a bit longer for Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, slated for release on May 28, 2027.