"New Star Wars Novel Explores Post-Skywalker Universe"

Fans of the Star Wars saga are in for a treat as we venture beyond the events of *The Rise of Skywalker*. While the much-anticipated film from Shawn Levy, *Star Wars: Starfighter*, is still on the horizon, a new young adult novel titled *Star Wars: The Last Order* will give us an earlier glimpse into the galaxy's future. Announced via publisher Penguin Random House's website, this novel dives deeper into the stories of John Boyega's beloved hero Finn and Naomi Ackie's resistance ally Jannah, both introduced in *The Rise of Skywalker*. The novel, penned by Kwame Mbalia, offers an exciting new narrative set in the aftermath of the 2019 film.

According to the official synopsis, *Star Wars: The Last Order* picks up after the events of *The Rise of Skywalker*, where the Resistance rescues a ship full of young passengers who had been kidnapped by the First Order. As Finn and Jannah embark on a mission to find the responsible First Order officer before more children are endangered, they confront their own complex histories as former stormtroopers. This narrative promises to enrich our understanding of these characters while expanding the Star Wars universe.

This novel marks the first Star Wars project to explore the universe post-*Rise of Skywalker*, although it's not the first planned project to do so. Shawn Levy's film, while eagerly awaited, remains a future endeavor. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy shared insights on the project in a February interview with Deadline, stating, "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 for Levy's film, expressed his enthusiasm to Screen Rant last month, hinting at a sooner-than-expected release. The film's release date was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan, with Ryan Gosling confirmed to star, set for May 28, 2027.

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