Star Wars: The Clone Wars had a satisfying final season in 2020, but it was not fully concluded. Despite having completed much of the voice work, two and a half seasons' worth of content remained unfinished after the show was initially canceled. The popularity of The Clone Wars soared after it moved away from Cartoon Network, and it took years of fan campaigning for Disney to bring the show back for a seventh season. Initially considered a minor addition to the Skywalker saga by George Lucas, The Clone Wars now plays a crucial role in connecting various elements of the franchise and setting the stage for The Mandalorian storyline.
Although Star Wars is mostly shifting away from the Clone Wars timeframe, there have been occasions, such as in the Tales of the Jedi shorts, where key moments for Ahsoka Tano have been explored alongside the main series. Lucasfilm has already found ways to tell some of the stories from the canceled episodes, particularly through the novel Dark Disciple and the Darth Maul-centric comic Son of Dathomir. Whether through publishing or expanding the Disney+ content library, Star Wars has the opportunity to bring closure to one of its most beloved projects. While it would be ideal to resolve all unfinished The Clone Wars plots, there are five in particular that deserve special attention.
Anakin And Obi-Wan's Bond Is Tested On Utapau
The "Crystal Crisis" arc, while not the most crucial unfinished storyline, significantly contributes to the development of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi's relationship, bringing them closer to the breaking point depicted in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Throughout The Clone Wars, Anakin's character undergoes substantial growth, and his experiences on Utapau would have provided another significant moment, showcasing how he coped with the loss of Ahsoka. This particular arc represents the final enjoyable adventure shared by Anakin and Obi-Wan, highlighting the Separatists' interest in Utapau while deliberately keeping Skywalker and General Grievous apart.
Should Lucasfilm decide to complete this arc, the most suitable medium to convey the story would be animation. The voice acting for the arc is already recorded, and the unfinished versions of all four episodes are available for viewing online. Given the ongoing success of Lucasfilm Animation, it would be ideal to finalize the "Crystal Crisis" arc and release it as a special addition to The Clone Wars season 7 on Disney+, effectively concluding the narrative.
The Bad Batch Has Set Up Yoda's Mission To Kashyyyk
The Clone Force 99 made their debut in the first arc of The Clone Wars season 7, and they were originally intended to play a significant role in the series. The idea of exploring the "good relations" that Yoda mentioned having with the Wookies in Revenge of the Sith was planned to be developed in an arc set on Kashyyyk, where the Jedi Grand Master would be accompanied by the Bad Batch, as mentioned in the show's title. Wookie culture was one of the earliest aspects of the Star Wars universe that Lucas explored, and it would have been depicted in detail through the bond between Tarrful, Chewbacca, and the wroshyr trees.
As Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3 comes to a close next year, creating an animated project seems like the best way to bridge the gap between the two shows. Rather than concluding the Kashyyyk storyline in the traditional four-episode arc format, Lucasfilm could take a daring step and turn it into a special animated movie exclusively for Disney+. This project wouldn't necessarily have to be part of The Clone Wars franchise, although it could certainly be included as part of season 7.
Rex & R2-D2's Top Gun Adventure Sets Up Recent Reprogrammed Battle Droids
In a unique storyline for The Clone Wars, Captain Rex and R2-D2 were set to embark on an adventure reminiscent of Top Gun, taking them to the planet Ryloth. While the specific details of their mission are not widely known, a crash landing on one of Ryloth's moons would have placed the clone and astromech in a dangerous predicament. Stranded, they would have reprogrammed a B2 super battle droid, forming a strong bond with their new companion.
Given the current direction of Star Wars in the publishing world, it would be fitting to tell this story in the form of a comic book. Although the Top Gun arc may have relatively low stakes, Marvel Comics' Dark Droids crossover event, written by Charles Soule, offers a significant storyline with impacts that span across the galaxy. Within this narrative, there will be a miniseries titled Dark Droids: D-Squad, where R2-D2 will reunite with the group of the same name, which he previously led during The Clone Wars' fifth season. This lesser-explored tale can incorporate elements from The Bad Batch, such as the clone Howser and the reprogrammed battle droids seen in Jedi: Survivor, to enhance the main duo's adventures and establish their place within the canon.
Cad Bane's Feud With Boba Fett Has Never Been Shown
There are two viable approaches to explore the untold chapter of Bane and Fett's rivalry. One possibility is to create a standalone, hour-long animated film exclusively for Disney+ that delves into their story and fills in the missing pieces. As the arc was already fully voiced before the series was canceled, this movie could seamlessly bridge the gap. The other option hinges on Lucasfilm's decision regarding a potential second season of The Book of Boba Fett. If the project gets renewed, incorporating flashbacks to narrate their backstory would align with the series' style. Given the existing evidence suggesting Bane's survival after their climactic encounter in Mos Espa, it would be fitting to showcase their falling out while the Duros recovers in bacta, paralleling Boba's own Tusken narrative.
The Clone Wars Would Have Set Up Thrawn's TRUE Enemy
Developed prior to Lucasfilm's acquisition by Disney, there was originally a plotline featuring the Yuuhzan Vong planned for The Clone Wars. However, given the current canon, it no longer aligns. Instead, the enemies of Thrawn from Legends have been reimagined as the Grysk, a species residing in the Unknown Regions who pose a threat to Chiss society. By simply replacing the Vong with the Grysks, the story can seamlessly integrate into Thrawn's existing canon narrative.
Since the Grysks have mainly appeared in published works, it would make sense for Timothy Zahn, the author of numerous Grand Admiral Thrawn novels, to tell this story. While Thrawn is Zahn's specialty, his involvement in the book is not necessarily required. Building upon the foundation set by the Vong arc, the novel can establish what lies ahead for Thrawn after his departure from the known galaxy during Star Wars Rebels. Though not essential to The Clone Wars, this unresolved plotline could have significant implications for the future of the Star Wars universe.