Star Wars Visions Review: “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope”
After the original short “The Ninth Jedi” left such a lasting impact, the news of a full series coming in 2026 still feels surreal. To offer fans something in the meantime, Production IG returns with “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope,” directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani. This follow-up enriches the world of the first short and hints at what the upcoming series might explore, though it makes one wish it were already part of that series.
“To my last point, don’t get me wrong, I really did like ‘The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope,’ but given how it’s more a halfway point to get us from a self-contained short to what might come in the limited series Star Wars: Visions Presents: The Ninth Jedi, I’d rather this had been an opening episode for the series itself.”
The reviewer notes that while “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope” stands well on its own, it bridges the gap between the original short and the forthcoming series rather than fully embodying a standalone story as some earlier Visions episodes did. The comparison to “The Duel: Payback” illustrates this shift, since that sequel maintained self-containment while effectively building on previous material.
“‘The Duel: Payback’ was our first experience (and a later episode will be the final sequel in Vol. 3) of how a sequel episode would be handled, and it was self-contained again while building off what came before.”
Ultimately, “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope” succeeds in deepening the mythos and emotional tone of its universe, even if it feels like an interlude before the main event.
Author’s Summary
A thoughtful continuation that bridges the gap between the acclaimed short and its anticipated 2026 series, enhancing the lore while leaving viewers eager for more.