Multiverse stories have become more prominent than ever in recent years, and I have a few theories about how different franchises could connect toStar Wars. While any movie or TV show should stand on its own merit,revealing that separate stories exist within a multiverse creates countless possibilities. It makes crossover events possible and allows individual narratives to become part of something greater, allowing viewers to revisit them with new context.
Despite this potential and the growing popularity of multiverses,Star Warshas only dabbled with alternate timelines. The originalStar WarsExpanded Universe was replaced by the new official Disney canon; theStar Wars: Visionsanimated seriestells multiple non-canon stories based onStar Wars, andtheStar Wars: Infinitiescomicsexplored alternate outcomes for the original trilogy. I believeStar Warscan take this a step further and welcome other sci-fi and fantasy franchises into a larger multiverse.
10Dune
A classic sci-fi story that heavily inspired Star Wars
Frank Herbert’sDunewas one of several stories that George Lucas drew inspiration fromwhen creatingStar Wars.Story conceptsStar Warstook fromDuneinclude being set on a desert planet, a galactic empire, and a chosen one’s fall from grace. BecauseStar Warsis based on the hero’s journey, which notes the similar story structure present across cultures, I believe having Dune in the same galaxy or multiverse would be fitting.
9THX 1138
George Lucas' directorial debut
THX 1138was George Lucas' first sci-fi movie and his directorial debut, and the title has continually appeared as an easter egg in Lucas' other projects. Set in a dystopian future where humanity lives underground and suppresses all emotions,THX 1138tackles several themes that Lucas would later explore in greater depth withStar Wars.
Being created by the same man givesTHX 1138andStar Warsample justification to exist in the same multiverse.
8E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Fun easter eggs between filmmaking legends
As longtime friends and collaborators, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have included several references to each other’s films. InE.T.the Extra-Terrestrial, the little alien seems to recognize a kid dressed as Yoda on Halloween. InStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace,E.T.’s species have their own pod in the Galactic Senate Chamber. The only problem here isStar Warsbeing a movie and a real place, but I’ve noticed how another sci-fi franchise offers a possible explanation.
7Men In Black
George Lucas may have lived Star Wars before writing it
As a story about aliens living in secret on Earth, theMen in Blackfilms have a lot of fun referencing famous people. One scene in the first movie shows several recognizable figures being monitored, including George Lucas, implying thatStar Wars' creator is an alien inMen in Black. This would be a hilariously fitting explanation for howStar Warsmade its way to Earth from a galaxy far, far away, and alien species could cross between franchises.
6Lucasfilm’s Alien Chronicles
Books that could easily connect with Star Wars
A trilogy of novels written by Deborah Chester, Lucasfilms’sAlien Chronicleswas based on alien creatures fromMonsters and Aliens from George Lucas(1993) by Bob Carrau.
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While not officially connected toStar Wars,some elements fromAlien Chronicleslater appeared in officialStar Warsreference guides. The trilogy was originally conceived as humanity’s origin in theStar Warsuniverse, and while the final product only features aliens, the story would be a fascinating addition toStar Warslore.
5Willow
An official part of Star Wars lore (at least for one day)
On April Fool’s Day 2006,StarWars.Com’s Databank was updated to includeWillow, temporarily retconning Warwick Davis’s background character inStar Wars: Episode I -The Phantom Menaceas Willow Ufgood. While this was a joke, Leland Chee later confirmed thatLucas Licensing had considered incorporatingWillowand its sequel novels,The Chronicles of the Shadow Wartrilogy, intoStar Warscanon.
The character Warwick Davis actually played inThe Phantom Menace’s podrace scene, Weazel, later returned as a member of Enfys Nest’s marauders inSolo: A Star Wars Story.
MakingWillowpart of aStar Warsmultiverse would be another way to capitalize on these ideas.
4Spaceballs
The definitive Star Wars parody film
A parody of theStar Warsoriginaltrilogy,Spaceballshas an aesthetically similar structure with a comedic twist.This makesSpaceballsthe ideal story to establish as an alternate timeline in aStar Warsmultiverse, with similar characters and events that play out in different ways.
Darth Vader
Dark Helmet
TheupcomingSpaceballs 2sequelis the perfect way to not only address howStar Warshas changed since 1987 but to break the fourth wall by showing the actualStar Warsgalaxy.
3Star Trek
Star Wars' oldest sci-fi rival
Star WarsandStar Trekare two of the biggest rivals in modern sci-fi and are very different, and that’s why I find a potential crossover so fascinating.Star Warstakes place long ago in another galaxy, bringing classic mythological motifs into modern times, whereasStar Trekis about what our galaxy could become in the future.It’s no wonder that there are so many fan-made crossovers between these franchises, and aStar Warsmultiverse could make it official.
Star Trekhas repeatedly utilized the multiverse, so crossing over to theStar Warsgalaxy would be entirely possible. The canon short story “The Whills Strike Back” by Tom Angleberger, published inFrom a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back, confirms thatsome version ofStar Trekexists in Star Wars:
Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet–
Wait… “Starfleet”? Did you just say “Starfleet”? Are Kirk and Spock going to show up next?
I don’t even know what Kirk and Spock are!
While this may just be a fun reference, officially seeingStar WarsandStar Trekin the same storywould be a dream come true.
2The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
A multiverse connection is very possible
The MCU andStar Warsare the two biggest franchises owned by Disney, so ifStar Warswere to cross over with another property, this is likely where we would start. The multiverse concept is highly prominent in the MCU, especially sinceAvengers: Endgame, with Phases 4, 5, and 6 collectively dubbed “The Multiverse Saga.” Even before the MCU was conceived, Marvel Comics explored the multiverse for decades through their “What If…?” imprint.
Marvel Secretly Just Made Star Wars Part Of The MCU’s Multiverse
An iconic Star Wars location may have been featured in What If…? episode 8, secretly establishing that the space opera is part of MCU’s multiverse.
This concept was adapted as an animated MCU series, andWhat If…?season 1, episode 8 “What If… Ultron Won” possibly features Mustafaras the characters battle across the multiverse. If this does confirm thatStar Warsand the MCU are part of the same multiverse, I think it would be interesting to see teams like the Guardians of the Galaxy interact withStar Warscharacters. We could always start small, as Marvel currently publishesStar Warscomics.
1Indiana Jones
More connections to Star Wars than Harrison Ford
I believe George Lucas' second major franchise,Indiana Jones, has the most justification for fitting into aStar Warsmultiverse.Indiana Jonesis the only franchise on this list to have an officially published crossover withStar Wars(albeit a non-canon one) inStar Wars Tales#19’s “Into the Great Unknown” by W. Haden Blackman. After accidentally traveling to Earth via lightspeed, Han Solo is killed by Native Americans, and his body is eventually discovered by Indiana Jones.
Aside from this humorously dark tale, there are multipleStar Warsreferences in theIndiana Jonesmoviesand vice versa, including the hieroglyphs of R2-D2 and C-3PO inRaiders of the Lost Ark.Star Wars: The Clone Warsalso has severalIndiana Jonesreferences, most notably the Crystal Skull of Akator in the Trandoshan trophy room in season 3, episode 22 “Wookiee Hunt.” It is this easter egg that provides the most solid link between the two universes.
Genius Star Wars Theory Reveals How The Galaxy Far, Far Away Is Tied… To Indiana Jones
While Star Wars is set in a galaxy far, far away and Indiana Jones on Earth, an intriguing theory reveals how the franchises are bound together.
Near the end ofIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Harold Oxley saysthe Crystal Skull aliens are"Interdimensional beings"who went to the"space between spaces.“TheStar WarsTV shows have introduced a realm connecting space and time called the “World Between Worlds.” This seems like a solid foundation for aStar Warsmultiverse, one that could expand toIndiana Jonesand beyond.
