Star Wars has a tendency to be confusing if you so much as miss one movie or one Disney+ series, bridging the gap to something grander. The Mandalorian is no exception to this typical Star Wars convolution. As the show delved deeper into its narrative, one question always piqued the curiosity of new and potential viewers: when does The Mandalorian take place in the expansive Star Wars timeline?
To answer this question, we’ll need a hyperdrive to explore the rich tapestry of the Star Wars universe and shed light on the chronological positioning of The Mandalorian.
The Battle of Yavin introduced a new timeline standard
Before we embark on our journey through the Star Wars timeline and pinpoint The Mandalorian‘s place, it is essential to understand that events in the ‘galaxy far, far away‘ are measured with reference to a pivotal moment in historyโthe Battle of Yavin.
This battle, also known as the first assault on the Death Star in Episode IV: A New Hope, is marked as the year 0 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin). With this understanding in place, we can now easily understand The Mandalorian‘s spot along with a broader scale of Star Wars events.
The Mandalorian timeline – between the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy
The Mandalorian‘s narrative unfolds in a period that bridges the gap between the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy of Star Wars films. Here’s a breakdown of where The Mandalorian fits within the larger timeline:
- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace โ 32 BBY
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones โ 22 BBY
- The Clone Wars โ 22 BBY-19 BBY
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith โ 19 BBY
- The Bad Batch โ 19 BBY
- Solo: A Star Wars Story โ 13 BBY โ 10 BBY
- Obi-Wan Kenobi โ 10 BBY
- Star Wars Rebels โ 5 BBY โ 1 BBY
- Andor โ 5 BBY
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story โ 1 BBY
- Star Wars: A New Hope โ 0 BBY
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back โ 3 ABY
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi โ 4 ABY
- The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2 โ 9 ABY
- The Book of Boba Fett โ 11 ABY
- Ahsoka โ between 9 and 11 ABY
- The Mandalorian season 3 – 11 ABY
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens โ 34 ABY
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi โ 34 ABY
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker โ 35 ABY
The Mandalorian: A Bridge Between Eras
The Mandalorian‘s placement in the Star Wars timeline is significant, as it resides in a relatively uncharted territory within the franchise’s media. This era, which occurs after the original trilogy but before the sequel trilogy, offers fertile ground for unexpected cameos and compelling narratives.
The show has already delighted fans with the return of familiar characters such as Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano, and Luke Skywalker. However, the possibilities were theoretically limitless since it coincided with the heyday of iconic figures like Leia, Han, Lando, and Chewbacca. Though they sadly didn’t appear.
Moreover, The Mandalorian‘s timeline allowed for the exploration of untold stories that could further connect with other Star Wars spin-offs. The crossover between The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, for example, exemplified the willingness of the show’s creators to interweave narratives seamlessly.
Grogu’s backstory also adds a layer of complexity to the timeline. Born approximately 50 years before the events of The Mandalorian, Grogu shared an age with Anakin Skywalker and the waning days of the Galactic Republic.
30 years before the series, Grogu was at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, placing him in the prequel era during the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
The potential for tie-ins & The Mandalorian season 4
The connection between The Mandalorian and the animated series Rebels offers another intriguing dimension to the Star Wars timeline. Ahsoka Tano’s appearance and her mention of Thrawn in The Mandalorian hinted at possible tie-ins with the events of Rebels. With Ahsoka ongoing, they already fulfilled this promise.
As the Star Wars franchise continues to unfold and expand, fans can eagerly anticipate more surprises, crossovers, and revelations that enrich the Star Wars galaxy.
With Season 4 already in the works and other exciting projects like Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew ongoing and slated for the future (respectively), Star Wars storytelling remains bright and boundless.
The Mandalorian has firmly established itself as a vital bridge between the past and future of this beloved franchise, ensuring that more Star Wars stories are coming. The Mandalorian Season 4 is already in production, though it doesn’t have a set release date yet.
Moreover, since The Mandalorian Season 3 concluded Grogu and Din Djarin’s tale, The Mandalorian Season 4 will possibly be about a different Mandalorian, namely Bo-Katan Kryze, and her plight to restore Mandalore to its former glory and power.
In that spirit, the showrunners might even give the show a different name. Regardless, it’s more Star Wars, and these days, that’s a staple diet for any viewer. You wouldn’t want a shortage of staple diets now, would you?