Lucasfilm has not missed a beat when it comes to Star Wars animation in 2026. The studio reunited fans with the charismatic but terrifying Darth Maul in Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, with a second season following Maul and Devon Izara confirmed to be in the works. Now, only a few months later, Lucasfilm and Japanese anime studio Production I.G. have enamored us once more with the visually stunning masterpiece that is The Ninth Jedi.

This eight-episode show (streaming now in its entirety on Disney Plus) comes on the heels of two animated shorts previously released in the anthology series Star Wars: Visions. Throughout this first season, we’ve followed Lah Kara, Jedi Master Margrave Juro, and several other Jedi apprentices as they search for Kara’s father, Lah Zhima. Meanwhile, they’re also searching for allies to oppose the tyrannical army oppressing the galaxy, led by General Nawaam.

Production I.G. masterfully wove a story within just eight episodes, each lasting between 20 and 25 minutes. The Ninth Jedi successfully delivers Star Wars fans a tale that perfectly encapsulates every era of the franchise that has stolen hearts and minds for nearly 50 years. By the time we reach that well-earned ending following Kara and her new Jedi Order, there’s no doubt this is a series that could only belong to Star Wars.

Yet there’s one big question that remains: what will happen next for The Ninth Jedi?

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the finale of The Ninth Jedi.

Star Wars: The Ninth Jedi's ending explained

The Ninth Jedi’s first few episodes feel like a wonderful blend of A New Hope and Rogue One as Kara, Juro, and her fellow Jedi recruit allies on planets like Bibin and Makoma Ko while grappling with the revelation that her father, Lah Zhima, killed his master, Reno Tsuba. At one point, Kara and the others are unsure whether Zhima is working with Nawaam — a mysterious, masked Kylo Ren-esque figure who plans to conquer the galaxy.

Kara and Zhima’s relationship evokes plenty of Jyn and Galen Erso vibes, particularly because, like Galen, Zhima’s misdeeds seem nefarious from an outsider’s perspective, but even his worst decisions are made for benevolent reasons. However, that’s where the similarities end. Unlike Jyn and Galen, Zhima is able to escape the clutches of Nawaam and his lackey (the Sith warrior Gennoh) with the help of another Jedi named Ethan so he can reunite with Kara later on in the series.

Fast-forward to the finale, and it’s a race against time for Kara and her allies. They’ve discovered that Nawaam was corrupted as a young Padawan after he witnessed Zhima slay his former master. Nawaam's plan is to use a giant, sacred kyber crystal on the frozen world of Hy Izlan to power a kyber cannon. This cannon is so powerful it won’t just destroy planets, but could tear the entire galaxy in two. In his quest to pursue a state of nothingness beyond Light and Dark (and subjugate everyone) Nawaam is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his dream.

Thankfully, all that time spent recruiting allies pays off. In a scene that feels eerily reminiscent of the Resistance’s allies arriving over Exegol in The Rise of Skywalker, the fleets from both Bibin and Makoma Ko arrive to help distract Nawaam’s forces while a small group — Kara, Zhima, Homen, Ethan, and Bee-Toh — deal with Nawaam and the crystal.

Zhima and Nawaam briefly clash before Kara, believing her father defeated, heads off the general while the others tackle the cannon. Both wielding silver-bladed lightsabers, Kara and Nawaam duel. While Nawaam believes he has ascended to his true purpose by forgoing emotions and focusing solely on his goal, Kara dismantles this defense by pointing out that his desire to dominate the weak and control others aligns more with the tenets of the Sith that Nawaam believes himself above. When Nawaam’s lightsaber turns red, that all but proves it. When Kara’s saber turns green, the same color as Juro’s, it shows that she too has achieved peace in who she really is — a Jedi, warts and all.

Kara, having promised herself not to kill anymore, shows Nawaam mercy. The others destroy the massive kyber crystal, rendering the cannon useless. With their weapons destroyed and Nawaam defeated, the general’s forces either surrender or retreat.

The galaxy is saved, but The Ninth Jedi makes it clear that there’s still more work to be done. Juro’s Jedi Order is finally realized under Kara, bringing in a new era of Jedi, but who knows what the future will hold?

Is Kara the new leader of the Jedi Order?

Throughout these eight episodes, The Ninth Jedi has not shied away from portraying the Jedi a little differently from what we know in the classic canon era. Anyone can apparently become a Jedi if they have a desire to protect the weak, regardless of how strong they are in the Force. We see this when Kara recruits Tafflah, Kwana, and Bee-Toh — all three openly admit they don’t have the qualifications or the strength they believe are required to become a Jedi.

Yet by the end of The Ninth Jedi, this trio, alongside Homen and Ethan, are shown igniting and wielding lightsabers. With Kara at the center of it all, seemingly wielding a lightsaber of the same color as Juro's to highlight her readiness, it seems clear that, going forward, Kara will be the one leading the way to a new Jedi Order.

Did Nawaam kill Zhima?

The very last scene of The Ninth Jedi reveals an imprisoned Nawaam, locked away in what appears to be an underground bunker. Zhima then shows up with a lightsaber, presenting it to Nawaam. There’s a look between the two men before it cuts to black, with the sound of a lightsaber igniting.

Could Nawaam simply take the saber from Zhima and ignite it? Star Wars and redemption often go hand in hand, and Zhima has shown deep regret throughout the series for how his actions inadvertently turned Nawaam into a monster. It would make sense for Nawaam to have a redemptive arc.

On the other hand, it’s also possible that Nawaam took the lightsaber from Zhima and turned it against him. As seen with characters like Kylo Ren, an offer of forgiveness isn’t always accepted at first and can even lead to fatal consequences for those involved.

Ultimately, it’s unclear what happened after that painful cliffhanger — but we suspect The Ninth Jedi season 2 will provide answers. Speaking of…

Will there be a season 2 for The Ninth Jedi?

As of this writing, it has not been confirmed whether The Ninth Jedi will receive a second season. However, as mentioned above, there are still several juicy leads worth pursuing. Now that the galaxy is at peace, where could Kara’s Jedi Order go next? If Nawaam is indeed redeemed, how could that play a part in Kara’s vision for the Order and its goals?

With so many threads to pull at, I.G. Production certainly has enough to work with for a second season of The Ninth Jedi. Whether they will or not, however, remains to be seen.