"Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025: Key Highlights and Major Announcements"

Star Wars Celebration 2025 delivered an unforgettable experience for fans, packed with major reveals and exciting new projects from a galaxy far, far away. Among the highlights were announcements such as Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling; a brand-new Darth Maul animated series; the first look at Rory McCann’s Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka; and the fun news that players will get to interact with Grogu in the updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction.

There was no shortage of groundbreaking updates, and we’ve compiled all the biggest reveals below. We’d love to hear which one has you most excited about the future of the Star Wars universe!

Star Wars Celebration's Ahsoka Panel Featured the First Look at Rory McCann's Baylan Skoll, the News of Anakin's Return, and More

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration brought exciting details and exclusive visuals for Season 2 of the acclaimed series, including the first official look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll.

McCann steps into the role following the passing of Ray Stevenson, and the panel shared a sneak peek image of his character, now fully immersed in the Star Wars universe. Additionally, it was officially confirmed that Hayden Christensen would reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2.

As for what’s ahead in Season 2, fans can expect the return of beloved characters like Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper. The season will also feature Admiral Ackbar going head-to-head with Grand Admiral Thrawn, adorable Loth-Kittens, and a tease from Dave Filoni about "X-Wings, A-Wings, and Wings I can't tell you about."

Hayden Christensen on Returning to Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka and Liking When 'Star Wars Goes Dark'

Following the big reveal of his return in Ahsoka Season 2, Hayden Christensen sat down to discuss stepping back into the boots of Anakin Skywalker after nearly two decades. He shared his thoughts on revisiting the character, his appreciation for when Star Wars explores darker themes, and even revealed his favorite Anakin meme.

Rosario Dawson Had No Idea Mark Hamill Was Returning as Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian Until He Walked On Set

In a behind-the-scenes story from The Book of Boba Fett, Rosario Dawson, Dave Filoni, and Jon Favreau recounted the moment she discovered Mark Hamill had secretly returned as Luke Skywalker. It turns out, even Dawson was surprised—she originally believed Plo Koon would be the Jedi making the appearance, as Filoni and Favreau used him as a script decoy.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Panel, Everything Revealed

The film The Mandalorian & Grogu is set to debut in theaters on May 22, 2026—the first Star Wars movie to hit the big screen since The Rise of Skywalker. This announcement opened the entire Star Wars Celebration event and included footage showing Mando battling Flame Troopers, AT-ATs falling in snowy terrain, and a surprise reveal of the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter film starring Ryan Gosling, scheduled for release on May 28, 2027.

Exclusive footage featured an Imperial ship deployment, Grogu causing chaos while levitating objects, and his first on-screen swim session.

The Mandalorian & Grogu's Sigourney Weaver on Grogu Stealing Her Heart and More

Image Credit: Disney and Lucasfilm

Sigourney Weaver joined the celebration to talk about her casting in The Mandalorian & Grogu, how she hadn’t seen any episodes before joining the show, how Grogu completely won her over, and whether she believes he could take on a Xenomorph in a fight.

Star Wars: Starfighter Is a New Film Starring Ryan Gosling That's Arriving in Theaters in May 2027

At Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars: Starfighter was officially announced with Ryan Gosling set to star. The film takes place five years after The Rise of Skywalker, and while plot details remain scarce, Gosling will portray a brand-new character. This film joins other upcoming Star Wars projects including those by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and a trilogy from Simon Kinberg.

Bringing Star Wars Experiences to Life With Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Live Entertainment

Disney Imagineering's Asa Kalama and Disney Live Entertainment's Michael Serna provided insight into the future of immersive Star Wars experiences. Highlights included the Mandalorian & Grogu-inspired update coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the adorable BDX droids arriving at Disney Parks, and how they bring the magic of Star Wars to life for fans around the world.

The Mandalorian and Grogu-Themed Update to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Will Let Engineers Take Care of Grogu

Coinciding with the theatrical release of The Mandalorian & Grogu on May 22, 2026, Din Djarin and Grogu will appear in a new story-driven mission aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Hondo Ohnaka catches wind of a shady deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and pirates, setting off a high-stakes chase across the galaxy. Guests will team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and claim a bounty in a dynamic adventure.

Engineers on board will not only get to care for Grogu during the ride but also choose where the journey goes—options include Bespin, the Death Star wreckage above Endor, or the newly introduced Coruscant.

Everything Announced at the Andor Panel

Andor’s second and final season will premiere on April 22 exclusively on Disney