The Star Wars sequel trilogy has been a bone of contention for countless fans since its inception with The Force Awakens in 2015. While that film was praised by many for introducing fresh faces like Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) into the mix, it was also criticized for its near-identical structural resemblance to George Lucas’ A New Hope (1977).Nevertheless, JJ Abrams’ trilogy-opener left fans excited for the next two films. But all of that hope was squandered when Rian Johnson’s hugely divisive The Last Jedi hit theaters in 2017. The Rise of Skywalker, which saw Abrams return to the helm, did nothing to weather the storm in 2019, by which point it was already too late. To this day, the sequel trilogy is still widely hated.Credit: LucasfilmSo much, in fact, that Star Wars fans have been practically begging Lucasfilm to somehow erase it from canon. Rumors involving such plans tend to surface every few years, but it’s unlikely to happen. Now, “a new hope” has emerged: a major Star Wars project that’s set in a new timeline.When looking at the future of a post-sequel galaxy, most eyes are naturally fixed on the upcoming theatrical blockbuster, Star Wars: Starfighter (2027).Directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) and starring Ryan Gosling (Project Hail Mary), that film is confirmed to take place just five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.Credit: LucasfilmRumors are swirling that it could feature Rey Skywalker, whose own untitled solo film (which is said to be set 15 years after the final sequel trilogy film) seemingly remains stuck in development.Meanwhile, however, Lucasfilm has quietly allowed a parallel, more daring post-Episode IX timeline to take root in the world of animation with Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi.Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi, the first major expansion of the critically acclaimed Visions anthology, is heading to Disney+ this summer. Watch the trailer below:Related: Mando and Grogu May Be Replaced in Season 4 of Disney+ Series, as ‘Mandalorian’ Film StrugglesWhat Is The Ninth Jedi?The Ninth Jedi follows Lah Kara and her journey across a fractured galaxy where Jedi Order remnants attempt to rebuild after the fall of the Sith (a plot that’s very similar to that of Rey’s untitled solo movie).The expansion into a full series marks a significant step in Lucasfilm’s animation strategy, with Production I.G. and Lucasfilm collaborating closely on the project.The series picks up directly after the events of the original Visions short and the Volume 3 continuation, “Child of Hope,” tracking Lah Kara as she gathers a crew to fight a dark side warlord.Credit: LucasfilmRelated: ‘Star Wars’ Quietly Buries Beloved Jedi Character From Non-Canon SeriesIs Star Wars Visions Canon?Does The Ninth Jedi Overwrite Mainline Canon?According to the director, the story is set roughly 1,000 years after The Rise of Skywalker. “This is the future after Episode IX,” he told IGN back in 2021 while promoting the Volume 1 episode.“I wondered, after Episode IX, has the galaxy settled into peace? We all love stories of the Jedi and lightsabers, but what became of the Jedi Knights after the movie series? My story is about that.”But with that said, none of Visions is believed to be canon with the main Star Wars timeline, with Lucasfilm executives having previously stated that allowing the anthology series to exist separately allows creators total artistic freedom without the constraints of mainline continuity.Credit: LucasfilmIn the case of The Ninth Jedi in particular, as yet there is no major storyline that’s set after The Rise of Skywalker. The first to do that will be the theatrical film, Star Wars: Starfighter.Nevertheless, this creates the perfect illusion of a timeline reset, especially now that The Ninth Jedi has been expanded into a full series. While it might not be the clean slate many Star Wars fans have been hoping for, Visions has yet to openly acknowledge the events of the sequel trilogy.Unlike Shawn Levy’s film, which hugs close to the timeline we know, The Ninth Jedi acts as a complete, uncompromising clean slate.While Starfighter might try to salvage what is left of the New Republic, The Ninth Jedi forces us to ask a much harsher question: What if everything Rey fought for was ultimately for nothing?Many fans already consider Rey to be a pointless character, with much of their criticism centered on how she seems to “level up” her Force abilities throughout the films despite very little training.Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi streams on Disney+ and Hulu on August 5.Other established stories from the series are expected to follow under Visions Presents.Are you excited for The Ninth Jedi? Is Visions your preferred Star Wars timeline? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!The post Lucasfilm Launches New Post-Sequel ‘Star Wars’ Timeline, Makes Rey’s Journey Even More Pointless appeared first on Inside the Magic.