Galactic Empire (Star Wars) Galactic Empire (Star Wars) The Galactic Empire is a fictional autocracy featured in the "Star Wars" franchise. It was first introduced in the 1977 film "Star Wars" and also appears in its two sequels: "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "Return of the Jedi" (1983) and is the main antagonist faction of the original trilogy. By the time of the sequel trilogy, which starts three decades following the events of the original trilogy, the government has since collapsed and has been succeeded by the First Order. The Empire's origins are depicted in the prequel "" (2005), where it replaces the
Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi with his fellow Rebel allies, while beginning to develop his Force abilities without the tutelage of the late Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi. The novel is written from the first person perspective of Luke, and is only the second "Star Wars" novel to attempt this type of narrative voice (the first being Michael A. Stackpole's 1997 "Star Wars Legends" novel, "I, Jedi"). With the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney Company, most of the licensed "Star Wars" novels and comics produced since the originating 1977 film "Star Wars" were rebranded as "Star Wars Legends" and declared non-canon to the