Following the recent cancellation of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Disney has announced that production is now underway on a brand new animated series entitled Star Wars Rebels, which will explore the period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope as the Empire continues to tighten its grip on the galaxy and hunts down the last of the Jedi Knights.Leading the development on the new series is screenwriter / producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class, Sherlock Holmes), who also happens to be scripting one of Disney's standalone Star Wars movies. Kinberg will pen the pilot episode as well as serving as executive producer alongside Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Greg Weisman (The Spectacular Spider-Man, Young Justice).
"I couldn't be more excited to explore new corners of the Star Wars universe," said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm and executive producer of Disney's upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII. "I think Star Wars Rebels will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about Star Wars."
Star Wars Rebels is set to premiere on the Disney Channel with a one-hour special in the fall of 2014, before being followed by a regular series on Disney XD channels around the globe. Meanwhile, fans attending Star Wars Celebration Europe will be given an exclusive first-look at the series.