It was officially announced today that Star Wars: The Clone Wars is coming back in honor of the 10th anniversary of the beloved series. Dave Filoni made the surprise announcement at San Diego Comic-Con, much to the shock of everyone in attendance who believed that It was just going to be a celebration of the anniversary. Filoni revealed that the show is coming back with 12 brand-new episodes that will be available exclusively on Disney's direct-to-consumer streaming platform.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars was unceremoniously canceled back in 2013, and Dave Filoni admits that he never thought that the show would ever be coming back. However, it seems that the relentless support from fans was one of the major reasons that the show will be making its way back on the air. The director also mentioned the famous hashtag Save the Clone Wars. He had this to say about support from Star Wars fans.

"Well, thankfully, their enthusiasm is relentless. Their love of these characters and stories hasn't diminished. I actually think their voice has gotten louder as the years have gone by. It's been very humbling to have their support and to have people continue to hashtag me, #SaveTheCloneWars."

Star Wars: The Clone Wars was never finished, which never sat well with hardcore fans or even Dave Filoni. The director is very happy to bring some closure to the project after all of these years, especially since he never thought it would ever happen. Filoni says that the announcement has given him time to reflect on what he learned from George Lucas. He explains.

"Personally, it's very rewarding. Any opportunity to put the final pieces of the story in place is meaningful as a storyteller. I'm happy for the opportunity to define these things and the end of this part of the Clone War. It also makes me reflect on all the people that I got to work with over the years. It reinforces the things I learned from George. It reminds me of the important elements that go into making Star Wars. So, it's nice on several levels, and I think for the crew that's still here that worked on Clone Wars, they feel that, as well."

When asked about why fans were so enamored with [Star Wars: The Clone Wars}, he noted that a lot of fans had grown up with the series. He also stated that it never really got the respect that it deserved because it was animated. There are learning experiences for kids to tap into as well as adults in the series, which contributed to its continued success after it was canceled. Filoni says.

"I think the variety of stories was a big part of it. You also can't underestimate how important it was that so many people grew up with the show. Clone Wars was a piece of Star Wars that older fans might have, initially, not taken seriously because it was animated, but that wasn't a barrier for kids. They loved the clones and identified with them. Ahsoka gave kids a character that was like them - someone their age that was experiencing life's challenges and learning along the way. Plus, having a new episode each week really allowed us to explore what was going on with the new and legacy characters in a dynamic way, including Anakin and Obi-Wan. I think the stories left an indelible impression and, of course, George knew it would. He always knew."

As with a lot of things, from books, to movies, to TV shows, some of them aren't appreciated while they're around. Star Wars: The Clone Wars fits into the category of being ahead of its time. It wasn't appreciated by the masses when it originally aired, but has gained a cult audience over time, who will now be able to see how it all ends. It's truly a happy day for hardcore fans of the [Star Wars} universe. You can check out the trailer for the upcoming new episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars below, thanks to the Star Wars YouTube channel. A release date is expected to be announced soon.