Star Warshas completely ignored one side ofthe Skywalker family tree. The Skywalkers are undoubtedly some of the most critical characters inStar Warsmovies and TV shows. In fact, although the Skywalker Saga was meant to end inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which also saw the death of Ben Solo, the last member of the bloodline, the Skywalkers have continued to definetheStar Warstimeline.
However,Star Warshas primarily focused on the stories of Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, and Leia Organa in this family lineage. While all three are undoubtedly key players in theStar Warsfranchise, they are far from the only members of the Skywalker family. Rather,Star Warshas almost entirely neglected one branch of the Skywalker family tree: the Naberries.
Why Didn’t Princess Leia Ever Take The “Skywalker” Name?
Leia is every bit as much a Skywalker as her brother Luke, but for some reason, she refuses to take the Skywalker name, remaining an Organa.
The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Also Introduced Padme’s Side Of The Family
Although Anakin Skywalker and his mother, Shmi, are seen as the beginning of the Skywalker line inStar Wars, for Luke and Leia, there is an entirely separate side of the family. While Luke and Leia may sadly have never known their mother, Padmé Amidala nevertheless comprises half their genetics—as does her family. In fact,Padmé’s family did appear in theStar Warsprequel trilogy.
Unfortunately, Padmé’s family had a much more significant role inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clonesinitially, but those scenes were ultimately cut. In the deleted scenes, Padmé and Anakin visited Padmé's family home on Naboo, during which time Anakin met Padmé’s mother, father, sister Sola, and two nieces, Pooja and Ryoo. Even with these scenes being cut, though, the family did make an appearance in the prequels. Tragically, the family members can be seen trailing Padmé’s casket at the end ofStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
Star Wars Gave Pooja Naberrie A Haunting Story
Although the connections between the Naberries and the Skywalkers may not have been shown on screen,Star Warshas revealed more about the Naberrie family, Padmé’s niece Pooja in particular. In fact, in one short story in the bookStar Wars:Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force, written by Ryder Windham, Pooja describes not only her experience realizing that Leia Organa is her first cousin but also meeting Anakin Skywalker on Naboo. Even more devastating, Pooja discusses how it felt to learn the truth about Darth Vader.
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Specifically, Pooja recalls the events of the very scene that was cut fromAttack of the Clones, wherein the family met Anakin and R2-D2, and Pooja and Ryoo took a liking to Anakin, thinking of him as a hero. However, Pooja also reveals that Anakin and Padmé visited the family one more time. Although she didn’t know it, this trip took place when Anakin and Padmé had returned to Naboo for their wedding. What Pooja best remembers, though, is Anakin’s artificial hand and his anger.
What Pooja best remembers, though, is Anakin’s artificial hand and his anger.
Ultimately, Pooja had a series of earth-shattering revelations. Of course, she learned that her beloved aunt was dead, although she never truly learnedhow Padmé died(which remains a bit vague even in the franchise). However,she also learned what had become of Anakin Skywalker, which chillingly left her reflecting on how she had once held Darth Vader’s hand, before he had become Darth Vader. More happily, she learned that Leia was really her first cousin, although that information came on the heels of so much heartbreak.
Star Wars Canon Has Forgotten Padmé’s Family
Sadly,Star Warshasn’t depicted these fascinating stories on screen, nor has the franchise paid much attention to Padmé’s family in general. This truly is a shame, not only because they seem interesting in their own right, but also because they would further flesh out Padmé's story and potentially bridge Padmé, Luke, and Leia further. After all, the canonStar WarsbookStar Wars: Bloodline, written by Claudia Gray, confirmed that Leia knew who her mother was, including her history as a senator and queen.
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Connecting Luke and Leia with additional blood relatives, particularly those on their mother’s side, would be a beautiful thing forStar Warsto do, although, at this point, it seems somewhat unlikely. Such a story would likely require re-casting in live-action or the story being told in an animated series. While these are possibilities, they don’t seem like particularly strong possibilities. Nevertheless,Star Warshas the opportunity to flesh out the Skywalker family even more by revealing new stories about the Naberries.
