Star Wars Retcons The Most Fundamental Part Of George Lucas' Story, 46 Years Later (2024)

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ahsoka episode 6.

Star Wars completely changes the meaning of "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" in Ahsoka episode 6, expanding upon George Lucas' original vision. Ahsoka had already introduced the concept of another galaxy outside the main one Star Wars takes place in, establishing that Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger had been taken there in Star Wars Rebels' ending. However, as Star Wars actually visits this other galaxy, it takes things even further.

Ahsoka episode 6 begins with Ahsoka Tano and Huyang traveling to said galaxy, and specifically the planet Peridea. What's particularly interesting, though, is that on the way there Huyang begins to tell a story set "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." Although at first this seems like little more than a fun, if rather on-the-nose, Easter egg, it's actually a major retcon of Star Wars history, dating all the way back to 1977.

Star Wars' Story Begins "A Long Time Ago" In ANOTHER "Galaxy, Far Far Away"

Huyang recalls memorizing A History of the Galaxy: Parts 1, 2, 3, with Ahsoka noting that part one is the best. This is seemingly the story Huyang then begins to tell, surprisingly stating that it begins long ago, and in a different galaxy. The implication, then, is that it's the other galaxy that was the true beginning of the Star Wars universe, not the one that is home to the Skywalkers et al. Ahsoka episode 6's title being "Far, Far Away" only adds to this sense, making the world in which Peridea exists the true galaxy at the heart of Star Wars.

Related:

This is further supported by the reveal of Dathomir's origins on Star Wars' other galaxy. Peridea was home to the Witch-Kingdom of the Dathomiri, an ancient civilization that ostensibly pre-dates those seen in the "main" Star Wars galaxy. Since the Dathomiri eventually made their way from one galaxy to another, then it suggests this world was very important for the creation of the one most of Star Wars has thus far existed in. With Baylan Skoll's plans also seemingly connected to the past of this galaxy, then it does likely run even deeper than the prime galaxy (which itself dates back tens of thousands of years).

What matters is very much still "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away," but the phrase has been given a whole new context, the time period and the galaxy in question both irrevocably changed from what George Lucas envisioned when first creating Star Wars. It's a radical move, but one that could be vital to the future of the franchise, and not just for Ahsoka's remaining episodes.

How "A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away"'s New Meaning Could Define Star Wars' Future

The apparently not-so-new galaxy in Ahsoka is obviously very important to the story being told here, which will likely continue in The Mandalorian movie too. Grand Admiral Thrawn may wish to leave it, but there's a great power on that world, which Baylan and Shin Hati, at least, are looking to tap into, and it wouldn't be a surprise if that becomes an increasingly key piece of the puzzle. However, that doesn't explain the emphasis on "a long time ago" given by Huyang in Ahsoka episode 6, but another upcoming Star Wars movie could do so.

James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi movie, which will take place around 25,000 years before Ahsoka's own place in the Star Wars timeline, is expected to explore the origins of both the Force and the Jedi Order. Huyang, too, could even appear, as he has previously been confirmed to have been around for approximately that same length of time. But what Ahsoka's retcon does is make that potentially an even bigger story.

If the story Huyang is telling connects to the one Mangold's movie will cover - and since it's "the best one," it would make sense - then it suggests that will be partially set in this other galaxy, and explore what happened to it and the very beginnings of the one most of Star Wars takes place in. That could make for a compelling story in its own right, as well as the kind of connective tissue that Lucasfilm would presumably like to have between its projects. With just one line that's been seen multiple times over the past 46 years, Ahsoka has massively altered Star Wars' past, present, and future.

Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.