Disney and Lucasfilm are headed back in time with Star Wars Resistance, a new anime-inspired TV series due to air this fall on Disney Channel, before jetting over to Disney XD for international viewers.
Featuring the voices of Oscar Isaac and Gwendoline Christie (and BB-8!), who were last seen at loggerheads during The Last Jedi, Resistance takes place prior to the events of The Force Awakens, and instead shifts the focus over to Kazuda Xiono, a “young pilot recruited by the Resistance and tasked with a top-secret mission to spy on the growing threat of the First Order.”
He’ll be whisked off on a high-flying adventure that will supposedly cater to the whole family, while there’s also word of “colorful new characters” to help flesh out what are essentially Kaz’s first steps in the Star Wars universe.
Details of a firm release date and/or episode count weren’t disclosed, though Lucasfilm Animation veteran Dave Filoni was on-hand to trace Resistance‘s path to launch.
The idea for Star Wars Resistance came out of my interest in World War II aircraft and fighter pilots. My grandfather was a pilot and my uncle flew and restored planes, so that’s been a big influence on me. There’s a long history of high-speed racing in Star Wars, and I think we’ve captured that sense of excitement in an anime-inspired style, which is something the entire team has been wanting to do for a long time.
Joining Isaac and Gwendoline Christie in the voice booth are Christopher Sean, Suzie McGrath, Legion actor Scott Lawrence, Myrna Velasco, Josh Brener, former Scrubs star Donald Faison, Bobby Moynihan, Jim Rash and Rachel Butera of Tammy’s Tiny Tea Time.
Said to be teeming with humor and heart, look for Star Wars Resistance to blast off this fall, when the Mouse House’s newfound TV series will set up shop on the Disney Channel.