When Rogue One: A Star Wars Story debuted in 2016, it became the first Star Wars movie without the trademark opening crawl. In an interview with Variety, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy explained that the narrative crawl, which was created by Dan Perri and first appeared in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, was “indicative of what those saga films are,” and that non-saga films, like Rogue One would begin “with just the title.” Perri unloaded on Kennedy for the omission and the President took note.
“Frankly, it is a huge mistake, because the image is so iconic and it’s so important to tens of millions, hundreds of millions of fans. I couldn’t imagine it starting without that. It’s foolish.”
Dan Perri on omiiting the opening crawl from Rogue One
During 2023’s Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy revealed to EW that “the crawl’s coming back” with the caveat that “the crawl is for movies.” Either Dave Filoni didn’t get the memo or he just went full honey badger because Episode 1 of Ahsoka, “Master and Apprentice”, was preceded by the traditional opening crawl, albeit with one minor difference.
The EVIL GALACTIC EMPIRE has fallen and a NEW REPUBLIC has risen to take its place. However, sinister agents are already at work to undermine the fragile peace.
A plot is underway to find the lost IMPERIAL GRAND ADMIRAL THRAWN and bring him out of exile. Once presumed dead, rumors are spreading of Thrawn’s return which would galvanize the IMPERIAL REMNANTS and start another war.
Former Jedi Knight AHSOKA TANO captured one of Thrawn’s allies and learned of a secret map which is vital to the enemy’s plan. Ahsoka now searches for the map as her prisoner, MORGAN ELSBETH, is transported to the New Republic for trial….
Albeit in red text rather than the traditional yellow, Filoni’s decision to attach the crawl to the beginning of Ahsoka–and to follow it up with the traditional shot of a ship in space–makes a strong statement about how the heir to George Lucas‘ empire feels about his new series.
