Star Warshas confirmed a thrilling link between the canonImperial Inquisitors and Galen Marek, Darth Vader’s secret apprentice from Legends. Code-named Starkiller, Galen Marek - Darth Vader’s secret apprentice - is one of the most important characters in the oldStar WarsExpanded Universe. He’s the main character in the popularStar Wars: The Force Unleashedgames, and he has so many fans desperate to see him brought into canon.
A new article byLucasfilmconfirms a delightful link between Galen Marek and the Imperial Inquisitors, Darth Vader’s Jedi-hunting agents who made their debut inStar Wars Rebels. The Inquisitors are noted for their unusual ringed lightsaber hilts, and concept artist Amy Beth Christenson reveals these are inspired by concept art fromThe Force Unleashed.
“I was assigned the lightsaber for the [Grand] Inquisitor, and then they pulled out this concept that was never used before. I looked andit was actually a lightsaber that we had designed forThe Force Unleashed, which I was lead concept artist on. I was like, ‘Um, yeah, I could totally do that!’”
What The Inquisitors' Inspiration Means For Star Wars
A vocal part of theStar Warsfandom has always longed to see Starkiller brought into cann, although his story would have to play out slightly differently to Legends - there’s no real room for him in the story of the founding of the Rebel Alliance anymore. An unlikelyEaster egg inAndormade Starkiller’s armor canon, but that’s the closestStar Warshas gone so far.It’s long seemed as though theImperial Inquisitorshad functionally replaced Starkiller, and this strange connection simply reinforces the idea.
What is pleasing, though, is that it’s clear nothing is wasted inStar Wars- even concept art. The Fifth Brother was an unused design for Kylo Ren, while Leia’sRebelsdesign is lifted from unused Ralph McQuarrie concept art for the original trilogy. This surely suggests a canon version of Starkiller can’t be ruled out, because his popularity remains; beloved characters likeGrand Admiral Thrawnhave made the jump to canon, and Starkiller can’t be ruled out.
Our Take On The Inquisitors & Starkiller
That idea would be perfectly in keeping with Lucas' interpretation ofStar Warshistory. In Lucas' view, when Darth Vader tempted Luke to the dark side inThe Empire Strikes Back, he was simply doing what Sith always do; trying to find a way to claim his master’s power. That’s a story canon hasn’t really explored, and Starkiller offers a way to do so.
Star Wars Rebels
Cast
Set between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars film franchise, Star Wars Rebels is a canon animated series that follows a group of ragtag heroes who band together to face the Empire. In an age where the Galactic Empire is hunting down the last of the Jedi, a teenage outcast named Ezra Bridger is discovered to be force sensitive by a surviving Jedi known as Kanan Jarrus. Agreeing to join them and accept Jedi training, Ezra becomes a part of a small but growing crew of rebels determined to destroy the empire covertly.
