Star Wars Visions Review: “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope”
After the original short “The Ninth Jedi” made a lasting impression, the announcement of a full series in 2026 still feels almost unreal. To keep fans engaged, Production IG returns with Star Wars: Visions Vol. 3 directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani, presenting “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope.” This follow-up expands the world crafted in the short and offers a taste of what the upcoming series might deliver.
“The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope” is engaging and well-executed, but it gives the impression of being a bridge rather than a full sequel. The narrative works more like a stepping stone that connects the self-contained short to the forthcoming Star Wars: Visions Presents: The Ninth Jedi series. Some viewers may find themselves wishing it had simply been the opening episode 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 experiment isn’t without precedent. The Duel: Payback, also featured in Vol. 3, demonstrated how sequels can remain self-contained while still expanding on earlier stories. This approach shows the anthology’s flexibility, even if it sometimes leaves fans wanting a more direct continuation.
Author’s Summary
A beautifully crafted but transitional story, “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope” bridges anticipation and storytelling, offering a glimpse of what the full series may soon deliver.