Starwars.com has announced the beginning of production for a new animated television series entitled Star Wars Rebels, which will premiere in the Fall of 2014. The Disney Channel will air a one-hour special and Disney XD will air the continuing series.
Lucasfilm Animation will be producing Star Wars Rebels, for which casting has not yet been announced. Starwars.com has given information about when the series is set within the “Star Wars” story line, which will be between the events of Episode III and IV.
Executive Producer Dave Filoni won’t give up too many details, but he does say in an interview with Pablo Hidalgo, “This opportunity to work in the era that I grew up with […] is tremendously exciting.” Greg Weisman, who is extremely well-known among animation fans, will also serve as an Executive Producer for this project. He was one of the creators and producer of the popular Disney animated series Gargoyles.
The Telegraph reports the art director will be Kilian Plunkett, who was part of The Clone Wars series. Lucasfilm has said in a news release, “Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape.”
Art director Kilian Plunkett gives Dave Filoni some pointers
This announcement comes not long after the Cartoon Network animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars was canceled, which was this past March. According to starpulse.com, the reasoning for this cancellation was because the show aired on a network that rivals Disney.
President of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, said, “I couldn’t be more excited to explore new corners of the Star Wars universe. I think Star Wars Rebels will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about Star Wars.”