Lucasfilm has announced the end of The Cartoon Network's successful series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which recently wrapped its fifth season with a dramatic cliffhanger. In a press release, Lucasfilm commented, "while the studio is no longer producing new episodes for Cartoon Network, we're continuing production on new Clone Wars story arcs that promise to be some of the most thrilling adventures ever seen."
Warner Bros., who distributes The Clone Wars animated series on Blu-ray, has declined to comment at this time, and it's unclear if the series' end will affect the Blu-ray release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Complete Season Five, which is still expected to street this Fall.
Lucasfilm also briefly touched on the future of Seth Greene's comedy series, Star Wars Detours, which is being delayed, and revealed a new animated Star Wars series is currently in development "set in a time period previously untouched in Star Wars films or television programming."
Below is the full press release issued by Lucasfilm, as well as a video message from Clone Wars supervising director Dave Filoni, which includes a clip from one of the upcoming Clone Wars story arcs mentioned in the press release:
As we enter into an exciting new era focused on the next Star Wars trilogy, Lucasfilm has decided to pursue a new direction in animated programming. We are exploring a whole new Star Wars series set in a time period previously untouched in Star Wars films or television programming. You can expect more details in the months to come.
As part of this shift, we have also made some key decisions affecting Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Detours.
After five highly successful and critically acclaimed seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, we feel the time has come to wind down the series. While the studio is no longer producing new episodes for Cartoon Network, we're continuing production on new Clone Wars story arcs that promise to be some of the most thrilling adventures ever seen. Stay tuned for more information on where fans can soon find this bonus content. In the video below, Supervising Director Dave Filoni offers a peek of what is to come in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
At Star Wars Celebration VI last year, George Lucas gave fans a glimpse at the animated comedy series Star Wars Detours from Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, and Todd Grimes. Detours was conceived and produced before we decided to move forward with the new Star Wars trilogy, and in the wake of that decision, Lucasfilm has reconsidered whether launching an animated comedy prior to the launch of Episode VII makes sense. As a result, we've decided to postpone the release of Detours until a later date.
We are incredibly proud of the teams at Lucasfilm Animation for creating some of the most amazing animation ever produced for TV.
@Dalsk I don't think people really care whether WB releases it or someone else, as long as it gets released in a timely fashion and not go into some kind of legal black hole and not get released
I maybe the only one here but The Clone wars CGI show isn't nearly as good as Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars animated shorts (when are they gonna release those on Blu-Ray?). I'm kinda ready for Star Wars to be over. Sucks for Seth Green.
Sad to hear but it had to end sometime. I just hope we get that one last season! This past season was really strong.
With no more DC nation and this gone i guess im done with CN
I bet I know what happens at the end of the Clone Wars!
I predict that Palpatine is secretly the bad guy and gets "kidnapped" by Grevious so that Anakin can murder Dooku. Then Asohka is never heard from again, nor mentioned by anyone ever again. I bet Anakin falls to the dark side and Obi Wan cuts three of his limbs off. Then I predict that Anakin has to be placed into a hyperbaric suit that sustains his vital organs and metabolic processes.
My thoughts on Star Wars The Clone Wars ending after 5 seasons. Yes I'm sad that the show is ending but is not the end of the world where still getting the remaining episodes on either DVD and Blu-Ray or online. And I'm excited for the future of Star Wars with what is to come and new films coming out with Episode 7 in 2015. The future of Disney and Star Wars is in good hands. And I will always be a Star Wars and Disney fan to the very end. Thank you to The Clone Wars cast and crew, to George Lucas, to Dave Filoni and all the rest for making an awesome five years for all of us The Clone Wars fans.
Look if this is indeed the end of The Clone Wars, then they ended it on a fantastic note. The one BIG loose end that the show need to tie up was dealt with in the season five finale (and you know who I'm talking about). I'm not terribly disappointed.
I have to be Honest- Didn't really like Season 4. Am glad this is moving on.
Only so much shoot em up you can do.....
Why not start a series after Revenge of the Sith and before a New Hope?
There are so many great story lines to choose from.
Just a thought.
@martymagicman - that was apparently the timeline of the promised (but not delivered) live action series that Lucas "started working on" in 2005. Since they appear (rightfully, IMO) to be hitting the reset button on all production, who knows what will happen to that... I suspect that will gather dust as well.
I think they'll wait to see how Ep 7-9 and the one-offs fare before committing to anything else.
As long as we get an ending it is all good. My only complaint about the series on a whole is that they never got around to giving all of the great villains enough spot light. Most of them, especially Cad Bane, just show up once in a while to do bad things. He was never developed, he just has bad ass characterization. The only characters that I feel like I got to know better because of the series are Ahsoka and Asajj Ventress.
Obviously because of the Disney purchase. A bit confusing as to whether they are making new episodes for another network, or a wrap up direct to video, or what. Could just be their roundabout way of saying they're taking it off Cartoon Network, and maybe they'll rename the follow up or something. And Disney said they weren't gonna change stuff. If it's totally cancelled, it's a shame, because the last arc was really really good.
I bet they will end up doing a few dtv movies. Then they can charge $20 for a few sets and make more money than charging $40 for a season set. Have to maximize profit from consumers... and ill end up buying it all.
No Season 6!
This better NOT turn into a comic!
DAMN YOU DISNEY!!!!........AGAIN!!!!!
First Power Rangers, then Avengers.
And they completely refuse to admit the existance of DarkWing Duck!
I actually liked this show. Always borrow the blu-rays off a friend. I haven't seen any of season 5 but I hope they make a season 6 with a proper wrap up. Hell, they could release it straight to disc and people would buy it. I think that move to Saturday mornings killed the ratings
Smh... clearly you haven't seen the show. One of the best parts of the show was that it played to both the kid and adult audiences. Was constantly surprised by what they got away with for a "kids" show on Cartoon Network
The new episodes they have been working on getting released on Youtube would be the equivalent of Disney just pi$$ing on there fans. A show like this shouldn't be unceremoniously brushed under the rug. The Clone Wars deserves a proper send off
so the sale to Disney didn't impact any current deals in place but how many of those deals are now starting to end and suddenly what was once a sure thing is now not-so-sure? I get the feeling the next few years are going to be rough for Disney and Star Wars.
The show had to end sometime, I'm glad it was before they decided to release 18 seasons, of which the SW completist in me would be forced to buy every single one. Wrap up the franchise on blu and start something else. That stiff animation was pretty horrible. Their walk cycle alone was atrocious.
No big finale for the one Star Wars product that hasn't been bashed by fanboys the world over? Not a great way to start the next chapter in the Star Wars/Disney merger.
"I bet this news is all Disney's idea" As opposed to...?
Of course it's Disney's idea. They're running the franchise now. And they're focusing on a new theatrical trilogy, not a show that's been running on a rival station for years. They'll finish up the storyline, probably release it direct to BD, and be done with it.
