In an exclusive report published on That Park Place May 3, Hollywood scooper WDW Pro claimed that Lucasfilm is considering massive changes to the Star Wars continuity. The report was based on information from inside sources, observations at Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge park, and analysis of streaming data for Star Wars-related projects.
Sources indicated that a storyline could be used to splinter the controversial sequel films into their own timeline, which many attributed to the “World Between Worlds” from Ahsoka and Rebels. At the same time, scripts for cast members at Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge reportedly appear to have been revised in preparation for the shift. If true, the move would mark a historic pivot not just for the franchise, but for large-scale franchise storytelling in general.
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The rumor quickly spread online through fan forums, social media, and coverage from major entertainment outlets. Many of the reactions were negative and sparked widespread debate. However, not every outlet appears to be giving credit where credit is due.
The Rumor Rapidly Spread Across Online Fandom
Discussion on Reddit began almost immediately, alongside links to the Geeks + Gamers article sourcing the original That Park Place report. Over the following days, the story spread rapidly across online fandom spaces.
In a May 5 article, Tom Bacon at ComicBook.com referenced the Geeks. + Gamers article but made no reference to That Park Place or WDW Pro, while calling the rumors of a Star Wars reset “YouTube ragebait.” He argued that the sequel films were financially successful and claimed Lucasfilm appears prepared to “double down on the sequels.”
Leslye Headland, Dave Filoni, and Kathleen Kennedy – Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
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Much of the article directly criticized both Geeks + Gamers and interpretations of the information. However, it stopped short of addressing the original source of the rumor itself. The following day, Corey Chichizola at CinemaBlend published a response citing ComicBook “and more outlets,” which began obscuring the rumor’s original source even more.
Larger Outlets Begin Exploring Similar Themes
Coverage of the Star Wars rumor shifted noticeably over the following days. A May 12 report from CBR by Nicholas Brooks noted, much like the original That Park Place article, that story expansions at Galaxy’s Edge could signal that “the Sequel Trilogy is no longer a primary or even secondary focus” for the broader franchise.
The following day, Tom Phillips at IGN published an article speculating that the second season of Ahsoka may further explore the “World Between Worlds.” He wrote that “fans are wondering how Ahsoka might introduce new kinds of storytelling opportunities in future for the franchise.”
Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka in Ahsoka – Disney, Lucasfilm
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While the interconnected structure of the Star Wars universe means that one project generally affects the others, the timing of these reports so close to WDW Pro’s reporting is raising eyebrows.
In WDW Pro’s original report, he claimed that cast members at Galaxy’s Edge are telling guests the “World Between Worlds” has been shattered. According to the report, this explains why legacy characters appear alongside Mandoverse and sequel trilogy characters.
WDW Pro further reported that “Disney executives have impressed upon Dave Filoni that the Sequel Trilogy needs to be ‘branched off.’” He suggested that Ahsoka and the “World Between Worlds” could provide a narrative path allowing the Kathleen Kennedy-era sequel trilogy to exist in its own separate timeline.
Questions About Attribution And Media Gatekeeping
Ultimately, the issue is less about the rumors, analysis, or speculation themselves. The broader debate centers on who is allowed to report entertainment rumors and who is viewed as having the authority to analyze them. More importantly, as the rumor gained traction, the original sourcing became increasingly difficult for readers to trace.
A screencap from The Mandalorian and Grogu – YouTube, Star Wars
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Regardless of where readers stand on the claims, journalistic integrity still requires outlets to cite their sources when drawing from previously published reporting. Modern entertainment journalism increasingly depends on engagement not only between publishers and audiences, but also between publishers themselves.
Do you feel that this is a case of media gatekeeping? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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