Fan-Made STAR WARS Documentary Series Explores The NEW JEDI ORDER
The Star Wars galaxy has been explored in a variety of ways over the years with not only films but books, comics, shows, and games.
There was one ambitious project that took Star Wars and pushed the boundaries of its storytelling… the 19-book New Jedi Order series. From 1999 to 2004, this literary experiment redefined the franchise’s storytelling.
Now, a fan-made documentary is diving in to explore the creation of this book series, and it’s titled: Crafting An Epic: The Making of the New Jedi Order. This is a seven-part series on YouTube takes fans deep into the origins, challenges, and legacy of this project.
The doc launched on January 8th and it’s the product of 25 years of work, featuring over 120 interviews with authors, editors, and other key figures. Using never-before-seen material, it examines how this series broke new ground for Star Wars novels and delivered a darker, more mature narrative that polarized fans and reshaped the Star Wars galaxy.
The New Jedi Order series was conceived during planning sessions at Skywalker Ranch in 1997 and 1998. Representatives from Del Rey, Lucasfilm, and Dark Horse Comics envisioned a unified, multi-author epic that spanned four in-universe years.
The result was the longest continuous storyline in Star Wars literature, chronicling an invasion by the religiously zealous Yuuzhan Vong.
Author Troy Denning says in the documentary: “It was unlike anything attempted before. As many pages as we wrote in manuscript, we probably wrote that many pages again in emails” to ensure continuity between the 12 contributing authors.
Each novel hit the New York Times Best Seller List, selling over 4 million copies by 2005. But with high-stakes storytelling came controversy.
The New Jedi Order killed off beloved characters like Chewbacca in the opening novel, Vector Prime. The decision, mandated by George Lucas himself, was so contentious that author R.A. Salvatore received death threats.
Yet, as Salvatore shared at the 2015 Salt Lake Comic Con, the backlash was balanced by overwhelmingly positive reader responses: “Fans came around when they saw the stakes we were setting.”
The documentary’s first episode, titled “Creation,” dives into the inception of the New Jedi Order, with segments like “Dreaming of an Epic” and “Creating the Yuuzhan Vong.”
Future episodes promise to dissect individual novels, exploring how authors navigated creative challenges while adhering to a shared vision.
The New Jedi Order’s darker tone and willingness to challenge the status quo sparked debate among fans. However, time has reframed its legacy. What was once criticized as too grim is now often celebrated for its ambitious scope and mature themes.
“The New Jedi Order showed that Star Wars could evolve,” says one interviewee in the documentary. Its influence is clear in modern Star Wars stories, which embrace complex narratives and character development.
As Crafting An Epic releases new episodes weekly, it offers an fascinating look at this pivotal chapter in Star Wars publishing history. By spotlighting the creative processes, the documentary not only highlights the series’ groundbreaking nature but also rekindles appreciation for its lasting impact on the franchise.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering the New Jedi Order for the first time, this documentary is a must-watch for anyone who loves the galaxy far, far away.