Community Poll: What Type of Star Wars Movie Do Fans Want Filoni to Make Next?

We asked fans — and the results are clear: what should Dave Filoni's next Star Wars movie be?

Hook: Tired of spoilers blowing the big reveals, scattered watch options, and a film slate that feels directionless? You're not alone. As Dave Filoni steps into the Lucasfilm creative helm in 2026, our community wanted to send one loud, clear message: what kind of movie should define the next chapter of the Filoni era?

We ran an interactive Star Wars poll with our readers and fans across social channels in early January 2026 to capture real-time community preferences. This feature collects the poll results, dissects what each option means creatively and commercially, and finishes with a fan-crafted wishlist for the Filoni era — practical steps fans can take to shape the franchise's future.

Topline poll results — quick take (inverted pyramid first)

Sample & timeframe: onepiece.live community poll (n ≈ 2,400), conducted Jan 8–14, 2026.

• Character-focused story: 38% — fans want intimate, emotional journeys.
• Space opera epic: 27% — the classic sweeping saga still resonates.
• Origin stories: 20% — curiosity about untold beginnings.
• Anthology/experimental: 15% — room for tone experiments and risk-taking.

Why this matters: with Kathleen Kennedy's departure and Filoni's promotion to co-president of Lucasfilm in mid-January 2026, expectations for an accelerated film slate are high — and fans are telling Lucasfilm loud and clear they want stories that prioritize character depth more than spectacle alone.

"We are now in the new Dave Filoni era of Star Wars... reportedly looking to accelerate a film slate that has been dormant since 2019's Rise of Skywalker." — Paul Tassi, Forbes (Jan 16, 2026)

What each poll option really means — and what fans voted for

We intentionally limited choices to four clear creative directions so votes could reflect meaningful priorities. Below we unpack what each option offers and how it might look under Filoni's stewardship.

1) Character-focused story (38%) — why fans favored intimate arcs

What it is: A movie centered on one or two characters' internal journeys, moral choices, and relationships rather than galaxy-spanning conflicts. Think character moments stretched into feature form — a The Mandalorian-grade intimacy but cinematic.

Why this resonates: Fans who grew attached to Filoni's TV work (Animated Rebels, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka) praise his knack for character nuance. After a decade of blockbuster-heavy direction, audiences crave emotional stakes they can feel the day after watching.

Possible examples:

• A deep dive into a secondary character elevated by TV (e.g., a longform Grogu or Bo-Katan story).
• An origin-to-present portrait of a redeemed figure — intimate scope, high emotional payoff.

Pros: Lower budget risk, stronger fan loyalty, easier to protect from spoilers and leakage if release strategies are tight.

Cons: May underperform theatrically if marketed incorrectly or if fans expect spectacle.

2) Space opera epic (27%) — the classic cinematic appetite

What it is: Large-scale politics, fleet battles, new worlds — a movie designed to be a tentpole that re-centers Star Wars as a grand saga.

Why this resonates: Many fans vote with a nostalgia for sweeping musical scores, lightsaber duels, and the emotional scale of the original trilogy. Filoni has signaled he respects franchise history; a space opera could reassure traditionalists.

Pros: Box office potential and massive event appeal.

Cons: Higher production costs, greater risk of franchise fatigue, and higher spoiler exposure due to global theatrical rollout.

3) Origin stories (20%) — exploring untold beginnings

What it is: Films that dig into the backstories of iconic locations, species, or characters — revealing why the galaxy is the way it is.

Why this resonates: Fans are ravenous for connective tissue — unexplained lore that enriches the larger mythology. Origin stories offer world-building and satisfy curiosity without necessarily altering the main timeline.

Pros: Natural tie-ins to existing IP, merchandising and transmedia potential.

Cons: Can feel derivative if origins are over-explained or reduce mystique.

4) Anthology/experimental (15%) — risk, tone-shifts, reinvention

What it is: Standalone films that experiment with genre (noir, horror, political thriller) or feature different directors and tonal approaches.

Why this resonates: A smaller but passionate group wants Lucasfilm to be bold — to court new audiences and keep the franchise artistically relevant.

Pros: Can win critical respect and reinvigorate franchise identity.

Cons: Market risk and potential fragmentation of audience expectations.

Demographic patterns we observed

Age and platform split: Younger voters (18–34) skewed slightly toward character-focused and anthology options; 35+ voters tilted toward space opera and origin stories. Fans who primarily watch on streaming favored character-focused narratives; theater-first fans preferred space opera.

Geographic notes: International voters were more open to anthology risks, while North American voters prioritized blockbuster scale. This mirrors global box office trends in late 2025 where event films still performed best in theaters outside the U.S.

Fan voices — representative quotes

"We want a movie that looks like it belongs to a character we already care about. Filoni's best beats are quiet and human — give us that on the big screen." — @JediSara, onepiece.live member

"If they're going to reboot the film slate, make it big. Let us feel the galaxy again. Give us a war movie with heart." — user: @CantinaDave

Filoni-era wishlist: what fans want (and why it matters)

Below is a prioritized, community-curated wishlist for the Filoni era — concrete asks fans repeatedly raised during and after the poll.

1. Focus on character stakes first: Make emotional arcs the anchor so spectacle serves story, not the reverse.
2. Straighten the release calendar: Avoid oversaturation. Announce clear, spaced timelines so episodes and films become events again.
3. Preserve mystery: Use origin stories sparingly to enhance, not explain away, franchise mythology.
4. Cross-platform coherence: Tie TV and film narratives in ways that reward viewers without making each mandatory.
5. Protect major plot points from leaks: Tight marketing, staggered international previews, and careful embargo strategies. Consider how predictive AI and improved security tooling narrow the window attackers use to monetize leaks.
6. Champion new voices: Give anthology slots to diverse filmmakers who can take creative risks.
7. Merch & event support: Align merchandising drops with story beats and create more community watch events and official screenings. Use a gift launch playbook model for small-batch merch and timed drops.

Actionable advice — what fans can do now to influence the Filoni era

Your votes and engagement matter — studios watch behavior metrics closely. Here are practical steps to help shape the kind of film Lucasfilm prioritizes.

• Vote and comment in official channels: Participate in Lucasfilm and Disney feedback opportunities and verified polls; keep responses constructive and specific (title, tone, character, reason). If you run community broadcasts, learn from a platform-agnostic live show template.
• Support intentional viewing: When a movie or series you like premieres, stream or buy through official platforms, and attend in-theater openings to show box office demand.
• Attend conventions and town halls: Fan panels and Q&As matter; organized, respectful questions from large groups get noticed. Use event playbooks like the pop-up launch kit model when organizing local panels.
• Back creators who embody the tone you want: Promote directors, writers, and actors who champion the character-focused storytelling you prefer.
• Organize watch parties and grassroots events: Demonstrate passionate, active fandom that values story-driven properties — even small technical investments like smart lighting and good audio make a better communal viewing experience (watch-party setup).
• Use data-driven arguments: When campaigning for a story type, cite viewership trends, box office precedents, and engagement metrics — studios respond to measurable demand.

What Filoni & Lucasfilm should consider — practical studio-facing recommendations

If we had a seat inside the Lucasfilm creative meeting, here are the pragmatic strategies we'd present — grounded in 2026 industry trends.

1. Lean into transmedia arcs: Use TV to develop characters; deploy films as emotional payoffs. This reduces risk while maximizing reach.
2. Stagger global releases intelligently: Shorten embargo windows and coordinate premieres to limit spoiler churn. Hybrid premiere strategies and curated local events (see experiential showroom playbooks) can help.
3. Adopt a mixed slate: Combine character-focused films with one big space-opera event every few years to maintain both depth and spectacle.
4. Prioritize creative continuity: Make sure showrunners and film directors share narrative bibles to avoid contradictory beats.
5. Invest in community moderation and spoiler-safe zones: Official platforms and watch parties should include moderated threads where fans can discuss without accidental leaks — product and moderation roadmaps (industry predictions) are useful for planning tooling.
6. Use limited theatrical runs for experimental projects: Test anthology or indie-spirited films in festival circuits and select theaters before wide rollouts; lightweight field setups and festival rigs can keep costs down (field rig playbook).

2026 trends shaping the franchise future

Late 2025 and early 2026 gave us pivotal signs: the Lucasfilm leadership change, growing appetite for streaming-first narrative worlds, and audience fatigue with continuous blockbuster noise. Here’s how those trends should guide the Filoni era.

• Eventization is back: Post-pandemic audiences still treat theatrical releases as communal events — staggered, hyped, and curated releases win.
• Streaming-first storytelling: Serialized character development continues to be the best way to build audience investment before film payoffs. Consider how streaming footprints intersect with community signals (digital footprint and live streaming lessons).
• AI-era protection: With deepfake risks rising, embargo controls and creative watermarks are increasingly important in 2026; fans and studios alike should study how to spot manipulated media.
• Global box office matters for tentpoles: Epic space operas will still be judged by their international draw; character pieces can recoup via streaming and merch.

Predictions: What the immediate Filoni-era film slate might look like

Based on the poll and industry reading, here's a realistic five-point forecast for 2026–2029:

1. A character-focused film (2026–2027) tied to TV canon — likely low-to-mid budget but high emotional payoff.
2. An anthology or experimental film slotted into a festival circuit to signal creative ambition.
3. A major space-opera event (2028–2029) designed as the theatrical tentpole to reunite global audiences.
4. Smaller origin-story films interspersed between bigger releases to fill world-building gaps.
5. Ongoing cross-platform arcs linking Lucasfilm TV series and films to create narrative synergy.

Final analysis — what the poll tells Lucasfilm

Our community poll sends a clear signal: fans want the Filoni era to prioritize character and cohesion. They value emotional stakes over empty spectacle, but they still want the occasional big-screen epic that unifies the fanbase. The sweet spot is a balanced slate — character-first films that can scale up to event-level storytelling when narrative stakes demand it.

Practical takeaway: If Filoni centers character-driven narratives and preserves mystery while maintaining a thoughtful release cadence, Lucasfilm can re-win trust and excitement across its fractured audience.

Join the conversation — your voice matters

We want to keep this interactive. Vote in our ongoing poll on onepiece.live if you haven't already, add your wishlist in the comments, and sign up for our Filoni-era watch parties and moderated reading rooms. We'll keep sending the data forward — studios listen to sustained, organized fan input.

How to participate right now:

• Cast your vote in the embedded poll on this page.
• Share your top three film ideas in the comments — be specific (lead, tone, one key scene).
• Join our weekly podcast where we break down submissions and interview fan creators shaping the conversation. If you run live events, a hybrid events playbook will help scale watch parties and premieres.

Spoiler policy: Keep threads marked — our moderated channels include spoiler-free and spoiler-friendly sections so fans at every stage can participate without being spoiled.

Closing call-to-action

Dave Filoni has a rare chance to reshape Star Wars for a new generation. If you care about the franchise's future, don't just hope for the right movie — help make it happen. Vote, organize, and engage thoughtfully. We'll keep amplifying the community voice to Lucasfilm — and we'll be here to analyze every announcement, premiere, and plot twist along the way.

Vote now, add your wishlist, and rally your fandom — the Filoni era starts with what we, the community, demand.

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