By George & Josh Bate
The second of two Lucasfilm Publishing panels took place on the first day of Star Wars Celebration Japan. Hosted by Maggie Lovitt, the panelists C.B. Cebulski, Adam Christopher, Tessa Gratton, Marc Guggenheim, Lydia Kang, Dr. Chris Kempshall, Ethan Sacks, Phil Szostak, and Alyssa Wong all spoke about their upcoming Star Wars publishing efforts.
Keep reading for a breakdown of all the announcements from the Lucasfilm Publishing: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away panel..
Revenge of the Sith – 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
The panel kicked off with the authors discussing the upcoming deluxe edition re-release of Matthew Stover’s iconic Revenge of the Sith novelization. Adam Christopher, who previously wrote Shadow of the Sith and whose latest Star Wars novel Master of Evil hits bookstores later this year, called Stover’s book “the greatest Star Wars novel of all time.”
The new book comes with over 150 annotations from Matthew Stover, brand new cover art, an acetate jacket, a paper over-board book case, and more.
Revenge of the Sith – 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition releases October 14, 2025.
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): 50 Years of Innovation
Aligned perfectly with the 50th anniversary of ILM and the debut of Light & Magic Season 2 on Disney+, a new book celebrating the award-winning visual effects house is arriving soon.
Author Ian Failes breakdown ILM’s evolution decade-by-decade, highlighting 50 of their key projects that reshaped the visual effects industry. The book concludes with a look at the future of ILM and the visual effects industry at large, with speculations about what the next 50 years may have in store.
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): 50 Years of Innovation releases November 4, 2025.
The High Republic Adventures Phase III – The Battle of Eriadu
Alyssa Wong, author of Doctor Aphra and other fan-favorite Star Wars titles, was at the panel to talk about a new one-shot comic titled The High Republic Adventures Phase III – The Battle of Eriadu.
The comic will follow two estranged friends – Jedi Padawan Gavi and right hand of the villainous warden Driggit Parse – who find themselves on opposing sides of the Battle of Eriadu.
Check out spreads from the upcoming book below…
The High Republic Adventures Phase III – The Battle of Eriadu releases April 30, 2025.
The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi
The final adult novel in The High Republic publishing initiative arrives this summer. The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi sees the Jedi’s conflict with the Nihil and the Nameless come to a head in a finale described the panelists as “intense,” “surprising,” and “epic.”
The back cover of The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi was revealed and can be seen below.
Also revealed was concept of the Luminous Nine by Minji Yoon. This includes Azlin Rell, Bell Zettifar, Reath Silas, Torban Buck, Elzar Mann, Burryaga, Ty Yorrick, and Terec. Check out the concept art below….
The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi releases June 17, 2025.
The High Republic: Fear the Jedi – The Finale #1: Beacon
A mysterious new comic that seemingly marks the true end of the High Republic releases this summer. Written by Cavan Scott with art by Marika Cresta, not much was revealed about this comic.
Variant cover art by seen below….
The High Republic: Fear the Jedi – The Finale #1: Beacon releases July 30, 2025.
The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown
Author Tessa Gratton was at the panel to discuss her upcoming YA novel The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown. Gratton explained that the novel follows “Jecki and her least favorite padawan Yord…as they get roped into a planet-wide coming of age ceremony.”
Gratton continued, “By the final event, things go very wrong and they need to work together and save their friend even if their friend is behind it all.”
The official summary of the novel describes it as “Star Wars meets The Hunger Games.“
Gratton made it clear that, given Yord and Jecki’s unfortunate fates in The Acolyte series, this book is set prior to the events of the Disney+ series. However, this didn’t stop Gratton from leaning into some morbid humor about their eventual deaths in the book. One fan in the crowd jokingly shouted, “Too soon!”
The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown releases July 29, 2025.
The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte
Recently revealed just prior to Star Wars Celebration, The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte was also discussed at the panel.
Authored by Kristin Baver and published by Abrams, the official behind-the-scenes companion showcases the production art, character, and vehicle designs, planets, storyboards, and other breathtaking work created for the Disney+ series.
Check out some interior pages of The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte below….
The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte releases October 7, 2025.
The Art of Star Wars: Andor (The Complete Series)
The Acolyte isn’t the only Star Wars show getting a new ‘Art of’ book.
The Art of Star Wars: Andor (The Complete Series) will take fans behind the scenes of both seasons of the acclaimed Star Wars series.
Lucasfilm creative art manager Phil Szostak, series creator Tony Gilroy, and various others give an in-depth look at every facet of the creative process that brought this series to life.
The Art of Star Wars: Andor (The Complete Series) releases in March 2026.
Master of Evil
Also discussed during the panel was an upcoming novel focusing on Darth Vader.
Written by Adam Christopher, Master of Evil is the first Darth Vader novel in 10 years and is set “very shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith.”
“This period is covered very well in Charles Soule’s Marvel comic,” Christopher said. “Except there are gaps in the comics. And there is a particular gap in the comic that I don’t think Charles or even Marvel know about.” It’s in this gap that Christopher found the plot for the novel.
Christopher elaborated that the book will see Vader learn more about his dark side abilities and what it means to be a Sith.
Master of Evil is “the Star Wars book you’ve been waiting for,” says author Adam Christopher.
Master of Evil releases November 11, 2025.
Untitled novel by Dr. Chris Kempshall
Dr. Chris Kempshall’s The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire won our award for Best Star Wars Book of 2024. The in-universe history book about the Empire written from the perspective of Beaumont Kin provided novel insights about the tyrannical regime at the heart of so many Star Wars stories.
During the panel, Kempshall teased that he has a follow-up to the novel in the works. Kempshall said that Beaumont Kin may get some help from someone in writing another book. “Red two, stand by,” Kempshall teased, referencing the legendary character Wedge Antilles.
Hyperspace Stories: Codebreaker
Ethan Sacks was at the panel to discuss his upcoming comic series Hyperspace Stories: Codebreaker.
The comic series follows Poe Dameron and BB-8 and takes place shortly before The Force Awakens. The plot has the duo investigate a piece of First Order tech that is used to decode Reistance messages. Standing in their way is an infamous TIE fighter that puts Poe’s flying abilities to the test.
Interior spreads from issue 1 can be seen below….
The first issue of Hyperspace Stories: Codebreaker releases April 23, 2025.
Legacy of Vader
With three issues already released, the Kylo Ren comic series Legacy of Vader was detailed at the panel.
Cover art for issues 7 and 8 were revealed and can be seen below….
A new Knight of Ren called Tava Ren was also revealed. This villain will also feature in the manga Path of the Lightsaber.
Jedi Knights
The comic series aptly titled “Jedi team-up” along Star Wars authors continues to impress. During the Lucasfilm Publishing panel, Kelleran Beq’s appearance was revealed through issue 8 cover art. Check it out below….
Issue 8 of Star Wars: Jedi Knights releases October 2025.
The Acolyte: Visual Guide
The world of The Acolyte continues to live on with an upcoming Visual Guide written by Pablo Hidalgo.
If you’re like us, visual guides of Star Wars projects are among your favorite as they allow you to explore all the nitty gritty details of a galaxy far, far away.
Check out some pages from The Acolyte: Visual Guide below….
The Acolyte: Visual Guide releases June 17, 2025.
Untitled Millennium Falcon comic
C.B. Cebulski revealed that a secret Millennium Falcon-focused comic is in the works at Marvel. Nothing else about the comic was unveiled.