Marvel Comics has released new preview art for the upcoming Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles crossover, scheduled for January 2027. The artwork addresses a key question about the series: whether Marvel's characters are aware of the existence of the Star Wars franchise.
The preview art indicates that most of the Marvel heroes are familiar with Star Wars, a nod to the tradition of in-universe references to the franchise that has appeared in Marvel comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the context of the story, Star Wars has transitioned from a fictional property to a tangible reality for the Avengers, who appear surprised to find themselves in the opening scene of Episode IV.
This development suggests that writer Kevin Smith may be employing a self-aware, fourth-wall-breaking approach to the crossover. The series is poised to explore whether the lines between fiction and reality are blurring or if the Star Wars movies will ultimately be depicted as factual accounts of past events.
This marks one of several major crossovers announced this year, including Judge Dredd/Biker Mice From Mars, G.I. Joe/Tomb Raider, and Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World's Weirdest.