We sat down to speak with iconic writer Charles Soule to discuss bringing the Star Wars High Republic publishing initiative to a close after 4 years.
About Charles Soule & The High Republic
Few writers have left as indelible a mark on the modern Star Wars universe as Soule. He didn’t just contribute to the ambitious, multi-platform publishing project known as The High Republic. He was there at the very beginning in 2021, launching the entire initiative with his novel, “Light of the Jedi.”
The High Republic publishing initiative is a series of interconnected novels (for all ages), short stories, audio dramas, and comics. These stories all take place centuries before the Skywalker Saga and show the Jedi facing new threats. The High Republic was the “golden age” of the Jedi, seeing them at their height of power. They faced mysterious Force-eating monsters and cults. But nothing more fearsome than the Nihil—a violent anarchist group with the power to destroy the Order.
mapping new hyperspace lanes to connect the unexplored frontier of the Outer Rim to the larger Republic. The project introduced new Jedi who have taken hold of the fandom, including Jedi Master Avar Kriss—a selfless galactic hero who experienced the Force through melody.
Over years of groundbreaking storytelling, Soule helped define this uncharted era. He has established heroes, villains, and new concepts relating to the Force that are now integral to the franchise’s lore. His involvement with the initiative came full circle with the highly anticipated final novel of the 4-year multi-author multi-medium project, “The High Republic: Trial of the Jedi.” This novel closed the chapter on one of the most significant expansions of Star Wars continuity in a generation.
Interview With Charles Soule
Kicking Off a New Generation of Star Wars
Jenna Wrenn: “Trials of the Jedi” just released, bringing the High Republic publishing initiative to its conclusion. How does it feel to be the one who started this era, but also brought it to its epic close?
Charles Soule: The High Republic has been a part of my life since 2018. Though we didn’t call it that back then. It’s definitely the largest creative project I’ve ever been involved with, unlikely to be beaten any time soon. I was honored and intimidated to be asked to write the first project to arrive in the world in this setting [with] “Light of the Jedi.” And I was honored and intimidated to bring it to a close with “Trials.” I’m still pretty close to all of it, but it’s pretty clear that Lucasfilm trusted me with two huge assignments within the initiative. I did my best to not take that for granted. “Light” and “Trials” are two huge benchmarks in my career and always will be. They’ve already opened a ton of doors for me, and I’m sure they’ll continue to.
Establishing Lore in The High Republic
JW: “Light of the Jedi” was a huge launch for the High Republic, introducing so many new characters and concepts. What was the most challenging aspect of setting the foundation for an entire era of Star Wars storytelling?
CS: The thing that made it challenging was the thing that made it great. That I could (within reason) invent as I chose. Everything from Vectors to the way the Jedi in the High Republic saw the Force in unique ways was just an idea I thought would be cool. The intense thing, obviously, was that those new ideas might be outright rejected by the fanbase once the book was out. I’ve loved Star Wars since I was tiny, though, and figured that things I thought were neat might be things other fans would as well. And it seemed to work out.
The End of an Era
JW: How did that compare to bringing it to a definitive end in “Trials of the Jedi?”
CS: The beginning and the ending were vastly different projects. In “Trials,” I was working with characters and storyline with which the fanbase was already very familiar. People had opinions, sometimes very strong opinions, about how the overall story should end. I wasn’t inventing so much as finding the satisfying endings for the characters. Very difficult, not least because I had to find those endings for well over a dozen significant characters and dozens more by reference or implication. Not to mention the institutions – the Nihil, the Republic, the Jedi Order, etc. It all had to (somewhat) set up things to come later in the franchise, too. A gigantic balancing act, but I’m proud of where it landed, and happy that it’s been so well-received.
Making Canon-Altering Decisions
JW: As a writer, how do you balance the desire to tell new, groundbreaking stories with the responsibility of respecting the existing Star Wars lore and the emotional connection fans have to it?
CS: For me, I really think it’s all the same thing. I am firmly in the camp that Star Wars needs to evolve, to iterate and grow what’s come before. I realize that might sound odd coming from the guy who’s partially known for finding interesting stories within established canon. But I think the High Republic is a near-perfect example of how you can do new things while having complete respect for existing stories. Superhero comics do it all the time – maybe my background there informs my Star Wars brain a bit.
See Charles Soule At New York Comic Con
Are you attending NYCC this year and want to hear more from Charles Soule? Here’s where you can find him:
LUCASFILM PUBLISHING: Star Wars: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Sat, Oct 11, 2025
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
North-Room 406.2
LUCASFILM PUBLISHING – Post Panel Book Signing
Sat, Oct 11, 2025
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM
Hall 1A: Author Signing Tables
