When you wish upon a star, magic happens, or at least that's the promise Disney has been making to audiences worldwide for decades.

The House of Mouse has brought many fantasies to life, young and old alike, using their infinitely expansive imagination. It has used its remarkable storytelling abilities, and, of course, the inimitable Disney magic, to make an indelible mark on the childhood of many over the past century. One such realm they've been conjuring up tales in is a galaxy far, far away.

Unfortunately, ever since Disney shepherded the Star Wars universe following its acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2021, audiences have been seeing mixed results. More recently, a series of events and announcements from Disney hint at a mix of exciting and tumultuous times for the franchise.

Industry gossip and fan speculation are swirling around the Star Wars universe like never before. Disney is set to launch two Star Wars movies in the year 2026. Now, in the grand scheme of things, that might not seem like a revolutionary idea, given the precedent set by MCU. However, an undeniable tension among fans and critics exists, primarily because of the franchise's historical track record and the complicated path it has walked in recent years.

The first Star Wars film to grace the silver screen in 2026 will see the return of Daisy Ridley, reprising her role as Rey, on a quest to rebuild the Jedi Order post the events of Rise of Skywalker. The film, though initially slated for a December 2025 release, has been pushed back due to a writers' strike, an event that has caused ripples throughout Hollywood, delaying a multitude of projects. While it's natural to view such a strike as an unfortunate hiccup, the optimists among us - and many Star Wars fans - see it as a chance for the franchise to recalibrate, to find the sweet spot between the new directions it wants to tread and the expectations of its ardent fan base.

There's another Star Wars movie slated for December 2026, but Disney has been tight-lipped about the details. Speculation and anticipation are running high, though.

With two movies scheduled to release in a single year, Disney is arguably taking a leaf out of the MCU playbook. Yet, this raises concerns. In the past, former Disney CEO Bob Iger has been vocal about the risk of releasing too much Star Wars content in a short time frame. The ill-fated Solo movie is often cited as a cautionary tale.

But, it's not alone. Even the uber-successful The Mandalorian series, led by Pedro Pascal, who probably isn't always on the big screen as much as most expected, saw a massive drop in viewership ratings after an initial spike following its release. Even Andor, as good as it was, didn't really get the audience that it deserved.

The question then arises - Is Disney charting a risky course, one that could potentially lead to even further Star Wars fatigue among audiences? Or is this a calculated strategy, one that will breathe new life into a franchise that, while never forgotten, has struggled to keep its narrative relevant amid an influx of new cinematic universes?

If we're being honest, the answers are as elusive as the Dark Side of the Force, yet the intrigue around these decisions adds a new dimension to the franchise's narrative.

Of course, there's always an alternative. The truth is that most of the best Star Wars content post the original trilogy comes from the Star Wars Animated Universe. Everything from Clone Wars, Rebels, Tales of the Jedi, Visions, and Bad Batch, has received a ton of praise from fans and even casual audiences. This isn't to say that the other live-action content hasn't fared well. However, with the ongoing animation renaissance, why not risk an animated Star Wars movie theatrically? The last we heard, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is doing pretty well among audiences and critics alike.

The best thing about animated features is that they resonate with audiences of all ages. Not to mention, this route could offer a refreshing change of pace for the Star Wars saga and give Disney more breathing room to plot its next move.

Make no mistake, the desire to see more Star Wars is very much alive. The only problem is if the demand is still as high as it once was. The decision to pack three movies from 2026 through 2027 is divisive at best. It remains to be seen if this is a misstep or a masterstroke.

Let's just hope that Disney doesn't think that it was smart for its explanation of how Emperor Palpatine survived after all this time.