Lucasfilm Publishing is shifting its approach to Star Wars tie-in novels, moving away from a massive, interconnected saga toward specific genre-driven stories, according to a report from Polygon.
The initiative aims to address long-standing criticisms that the franchise feels small and repetitive due to a reliance on recurring characters across various projects.
Michael Siglain, the creative director for Lucasfilm Publishing, revealed the new strategy to Polygon, stating that the publisher intends to use the existing elements of the franchise to build specific narratives.
"Lucasfilm Publishing and our partners are taking the various genre building blocks of Star Wars — fantasy stories, samurai stories, war stories, etc. — and are focusing on those elements in very specific and deliberate ways," Siglain said.
He added that these upcoming projects are "genre stories first, Starters stories second," with the goal of attracting both established Star Wars enthusiasts and fans of specific genres.
New horror entries lead the way
The first project under this new direction is the horror novel Hiding from the Dark, written by New York Times bestseller Kiersten White.
White, known for Hide and Lucy Undying, will see her work published by Random House on Sept. 1.
This pivot mirrors recent successes in the television division, such as the spy-thriller tone of Andor and the coming-of-age focus of Skeleton Crew, as reported by Polygon.
While some fans debate if shows like Andor represent "real" Star Wars due to their lack of Jedi or Sith-centric plots, the outlet notes that these stories succeed by using the established universe as a backdrop for different narrative styles.
Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy has stated he does not care much for the Star Wars universe as a whole, yet the series functions as a gritty spy-thriller or war story in the same vein as the 2016 film Rogue One.
By focusing on standalone genre elements, Lucasfilm Publishing hopes to attract new audiences who may not typically engage with the broader Star Wars mythos.
