Disney & Lucasfilm Team for New Star Wars Initiative

Disney and Lucasfilm have partnered for Star Wars Forces of Destiny, a campaign celebrating the stories of heroes from the Star Wars universe that includes an original series of animated shorts.

The 2- to 3-minute shorts will follow the adventures of Rey, Jyn Erso, Sabine Wren, Princess Leia and Ahsoka Tano, among other characters. The micro-series will become available on Disney YouTube in July ahead of a two-part TV special featuring eight additional shorts on Disney Channel in the fall. There will also be the release of such merchandise as books, apparel and toys, including a line of Hasbro Adventure Figures this summer.

“Star Wars Forces of Destiny is for anyone who has been inspired by Leia’s heroism, Rey’s courage or Ahsoka’s tenacity,” said Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm. “We’re thrilled that so many of the original actors are reprising their roles in these shorts, which capture the small moments and everyday decisions that shape who these characters are. It is a fun new way for people to experience Star Wars.”

“From Princess Leia to Sabine Wren, Star Wars heroines are unique and we wanted to represent that in the product line for Star Wars Forces of Destiny,” noted Jimmy Pitaro, Disney’s chairman of consumer products and interactive media. “The result is the creation of our new Adventure Figures that celebrate the power and stories of these incredible characters and allow kids to recreate their most heroic moments at home.”

John Frascotti, the president of Hasbro, added: “As the Star Wars fan base has broadened over the last 40 years, we have continued to add new and exciting play experiences to the Star Wars brand to engage fans across generations. We’ve worked closely with Disney to bring the storytelling from Star Wars Forces of Destiny to life through this innovative toy line to help connect with new audiences as well as appeal to existing fans.”