What scares the Jedi? That question has been at the core of the entire Star Wars: The High Republic epic, and the answer just might be the Nameless.

Teased in Claudia Gray’s Star Wars: Master and Apprentice and fully introduced in Phase II of The High Republic, the Nameless are creatures that feed on Force sensitives. As part of his plot to destroy the Jedi, Nihil leader Marchion Ro unleashes the beasts — once thought to be the stuff of legend — on the guardians of peace and justice. Unfortunately for the Jedi, the Nameless are back in Phase III.

“The Nameless are more dangerous and terrifying than ever before,” Michael Siglain, creative director of Lucasfilm Publishing, tells StarWars.com. “Ro has kept them mostly caged over the last year, so when we first see them again they look pale and slightly emaciated. But when they're let loose, we'll see them as feral, monstrous creatures that are very, very hungry. In fact, they will do whatever they need to do to feed, even if it means twisting and breaking their own bones to satiate their hunger.”

The mystery of the Nameless runs deep, as does their fierceness. Unlocking their potential as a tool in the Nihil arsenal is a driving force for the marauder boss and Baron Boolan, his twisted Minister of Advancement. “Marchion Ro is looking to further weaponize the Nameless against the Jedi, and has called upon scientist Baron Boolan for assistance. To say that the Baron's experiments are horrific would be an understatement,” Siglain says. “Baron Boolan could teach Baron Frankenstein a thing or two.”

“One of the things that is interesting about the experiments on the Nameless is their relationship with the Children of the Storm,” adds author Cavan Scott, current writer of Marvel’s Star Wars: The High Republic ongoing series. “Baron Boolan is experimenting on Force users to transform them into vicious hunters with one mission and one mission alone: to find and kidnap young Force sensitives that can add to their genetically mutated number. In doing this he has teamed most of his hunters up with one or more Nameless, a partnership that causes nothing but trouble — and pain — for the Children themselves. How do the Children cope with such trauma? Well, you'll have to keep a look out for future stories by myself and George [Mann] to find out! Needless to say, it isn't pretty.”

Phase III will send readers deeper into Boolan’s house of horrors, promises Scott. “Boolan has also been experimenting on the Nameless themselves, the corridors of his various secret laboratories lined with their preserved remains,” he says. “Only two of these experiments have borne fruit, creating Boolan's personal guard-Nameless, both of which have received numerous cybernetic 'upgrades.'” Boolan isn’t toiling away in solitary, however. Just like Dr. Frankenstein had Igor, Boolan has his own loyal assistants.

“Every scientist needs help, and Boolan is no different,” says Siglain. “Reek is his Ewok-sized, rodent-like assistant whom we'll meet in future issues of The High Republic from Marvel. Niv Drendow Apruk is Boolan’s protégé. Niv Drendow is cold and calculating and is working on his own experiments to impress the Baron. We'll meet him in Escape from Valo from Disney Lucasfilm Press.”

With the release of George Mann’s novel The Eye of Darkness earlier this month, Phase III is officially underway. The Nameless feature in the story, but it’s only a taste of their larger role in the overall narrative.

“The Nameless are one of the key mysteries of the High Republic — despite having seen them a fair amount by now, and the Jedi and Republic having a pretty decent understanding of what they’re capable of, we don’t know much about them,” says author Charles Soule. “There’s definitely a story to them, which the writers have known since the beginning, but part of the point of Phase III is to underscore that the Nihil and Marchion Ro don’t know enough about the Nameless, either. The Nameless are their own kind of storm.” That storm may be too much for even Ro to control — but it’s still a danger the Jedi must face.

“During this Phase, we'll see more Jedi come into contact with the Nameless which, needless to say, will not go well for them,” Siglain teases. “The fear brought upon by the Nameless is devastating to the Jedi. How they deal with this physical and emotional threat to themselves — and to the Force — is a big part of our upcoming storytelling.”

Nameless concept art posters by Steve Kurth (pencils and inks) and Giulia Priori (paints). Reek and Niv Drendow concept art posters by MinJi Yoon.

Visit Lucasfilm's official hub for all things Star Wars: The High Republic at StarWars.com/TheHighRepublic.

In celebration of the Gift the Galaxy product program, StarWars.com is thrilled to reveal new clone trooper figures coming to Hasbro’s popular 6-inch Star Wars: The Black Series and 3.75-inch Star Wars: The Vintage Collection lines.

Arriving Spring 2024 exclusively at Target, the Star Wars: The Black Series Clone Trooper Lieutenant & 332nd Ahsoka’s Clone Trooper Pack is based on the 501st division that pledged loyalty to Ahsoka during the siege of Mandalore. As depicted in Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ final season, the 332nd company troopers repainted their helmets in Ahsoka’s honor, and the image has become a memorable one among fans. This set is based on their appearance in the Ahsoka live-action series on Disney+, and includes an alternate Phase I clone helmet.

"These troopers are on the new clone trooper body we developed recently," Eric Franer, production designer on the Hasbro Star Wars team tells StarWars.com. "They both have removable helmets and the iconic DC-15S blaster carbine and DC-15A blaster rifles."

Planned for Summer 2024 release is the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Phase II Clone Trooper 4-Pack, coming to Hasbro Pulse and shopDisney. The set includes four figures with variations of the Phase II clone armor, including the 332nd company’s customized helmet in tribute to Ahsoka.

"We developed a unique troop builder pack for this item that offers an instant army of clone trooper designs with our new, updated and highly articulated figure body," adds Emily Cantelupe, sr. product designer on the Hasbro Star Wars team.

Look for pre-orders for the Star Wars: The Black Series Clone Trooper Lieutenant & 332nd Ahsoka’s Clone Trooper Pack and the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Phase II Clone Trooper 4-Pack will also launch tomorrow, November 29, on Target.com and HasbroPulse.com, respectively, at 1 p.m. ET; the Vintage Collection set is coming soon to shopDisney.com. The clankers will never see it coming. 

Ahsoka Tano herself, Rosario Dawson, beams in a selfie with Ashley Eckstein, who first voiced the character in Star Wars animation. Ariana Greenblatt, who portrays the younger version of Ahsoka in flashbacks to the Clone Wars, poses for a group photo with series creator Dave Filoni, executive producer Jon Favreau, and co-stars Dawson and Hayden Christensen, once again returning to Anakin Skywalker. And Natasha Liu Bordizzo, who plays Sabine Wren, and Ivanna Sakhno, who plays her foe Shin Hati, take an adorable selfie that shows the on-screen rivals are real-life friends.

With all eight episodes from the series now streaming on Disney+, the Ahsoka cast has taken to Instagram and Twitter recently to share their love of the series, moments of bonding through off-camera antics, and their pure gratitude for getting to make the journey to a galaxy far, far away.

Rosario Dawson

Series star Rosario Dawson exudes heart and humor in an Instagram gallery celebrating Ashley Eckstein’s set visit, young Ahsoka actor Ariana Greenblatt transformation into character, and the trio’s shared history telling Ahsoka’s story.

Ariana Greenblatt

Greenblatt, who helps bring Star Wars: The Clone Wars to live-action in the episode “Shadow Warrior” as young Ahsoka, took to Twitter to share her appreciation of the more than 600 cast and crew members it took to bring the episode to fruition, including co-star Rosario Dawson and series creator Dave Filoni.

Natasha Liu Bordizzo

Series breakout Natasha Liu Bordizzo gave us a 360-degree view on what it takes to inhabit the fierce Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren, with a peek at her fight choreography training, a snapshot of Bordizzo and Dawson with their stunt doubles, and selfies with Shin Hati actor Ivanna Sakhno and the late Ray Stevenson in costume as Baylan Skoll. Bordizzo was one of several cast members to pay homage to the contributions of Stevenson and the late costume designer Shawna Trpcic with her posts.

Eman Esfandi

Where’s Ezra? In addition to a playful blue-tinged photo shared by Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Eman Esfandi finally confirmed the rumors: Yes, he has been cast as Ezra Bridger. Esfandi’s clips of serious lightsaber training are interspersed with hilarious antics. Most notably, in one clip Esfandi captures Bordizzo and Ivanna Sakhno having an impromptu dance party between takes, while Ray Stevenson DJs nearby. As Esfandi elegantly put it: “To the fans… I’M HOME!!”

Ivanna Sakhno

While Eman Esfandi posted a behind-the-scenes video featuring Ivanna Sakhno flying around set at the controls of a child’s landspeeder, Sakhno herself shared a deeply reflective post. In the image, Sakhno sits on the Stagecraft set, looking out over majestic mountains.

Diana Lee Inosanto

Martial artist Diana Lee Inosanto is still in awe at the chance to play Morgan Elsbeth, first in The Mandalorian and now in Ahsoka. “Professionally, I am a late bloomer in my career as an actress, who for years was a struggling mother of a son with Autism, who was finally given the role of a lifetime,” she wrote to accompany an image in full costume. “A miracle.”

Whether the lucky recipient is a Star Wars fan, or perhaps even a Wookiee themselves, they’ll appreciate the handcrafted touch when you hand them a special Life Day gift.

What You’ll Need

• Gift box

• Brown kraft paper

• Scissors

• Tape

• Green glitter paper

• Braided jute ribbon

• Orange or yellow artificial foliage, such as a large sunflower

• Purple artificial berry stem (or other color, painted purple)

• Hot glue gun

• Two sheets of dark green scrapbook paper (12 inches by 12 inches)

• School glue

Rrarrrrrrgh! (Get Started!)

Step 1: Cover the gift box in brown kraft paper as you would typically wrap a present.

Step 2: Wrap the middle of the gift box in the green glitter paper. Cut it to fit, leaving the short sides of the box visible, and tape it together on the bottom of the box.

Step 3: Next, wrap the braided jute ribbon around the box once, lengthwise. Cut and tape it in place on the bottom of the box.

Step 4: Cut four to five pieces of the artificial sunflower petals (or other artificial fall foliage).

Step 5: Hot glue the petals or leaves around the purple berries to create a “bow.” Set aside for now.

Step 6: Next, fold one sheet of the dark green scrapbook paper in half. Cut a leaf shape from it so that the folded part is the middle line of the leaf. Repeat on the other dark green sheet.

Step 7: Carefully use the school glue to draw the veins of each leaf, starting on the folded line before branching out in V shapes. Let the glue dry completely.

Tip: Draw thin lines of glue, as thicker lines take much longer to dry.

Step 8: Tape the end of one leaf in the center of the bottom side of the box. Gently fold it over to the top side of the box without creasing and tape it in place. Repeat with the other leaf.

Step 9: Glue or tape the berry bow you made previously to the top of the box. Your Wookiee wrapping is complete!

Be sure to let loose a Wookiee roar when your present is unwrapped. Happy Life Day!

Before you and your family gather your glowing orbs, don your ankle-length red smocks, and gather at the sacred tree to recite hallowed Shyriiwook verses in celebration of Life Day, let’s look back at the holiday’s origins. Not from within the Star Wars setting, mind you; rather, let’s examine its real-world history and evolution from an obscure TV source to an annual fan tradition.

The root of Life Day is found in The Star Wars Holiday Special, a star-studded 1978 prime time broadcast that aired on CBS once on November 17, 1978. After that broadcast, it was never to be (officially) seen again in the US and instead was relegated to bizarre cultural curiosity in the years that followed. The intent of the Holiday Special was to keep Star Wars in the public eye during the long three-year stretch between movies with new entertainment, using a tried-and-true television format of the 1970s: the variety special. The central premise of the show involved Han Solo trying to get Chewbacca to his family on Kashyyyk in time for Life Day, a sacred Wookiee holiday. Guest starring Bea Arthur, Harvey Korman, Diahann Carroll, Art Carney and Jefferson Starship, it was certainly something.Though we now know it as a Wookiee tradition, Life Day started off different in an untitled early outline for the Holiday Special, dated May 31, 1978: “… for one day each year, the galaxy celebrates the spirit of life and brotherhood with a festival. This year, it is the turn of the Wookiee planet to host the celebration…” In short order, the story streamlined things so that Life Day wasn’t a traveling event, but rather a wholly Wookiee holiday, tethered to the “Tree of Life” that grows in the Kashyyyk forest.

A more detailed study of Wookiee culture, believed to be transcribed by Lucasfilm’s director of publishing Carol Wikarska Titelman from interviews with George Lucas, shows the next evolution of Life Day lore and it’s no less strange. I suppose one can chalk this up it being the 1970s, or maybe it’s a Wookiee thing:

“[Life Day] used to be a hallucinogenic experience. They used to chew a certain kind of root, and they would all freak out and experience this communal sort of hallucinatory experience. Some of the families still use that, but since it makes you sick afterward, many use the environmental transporter.*

In either case, you are taken to the Life Tree which is the tree of life where all life began in the Wookiee culture and … religion. On this tree you put a symbol of life, which is a little glowing ball. In the old days, you chewed on the root and went into this hallucinatory state and took your little glowing [ball] along with all your family. You put them on your mantel or arrange them on the wall… but when you did this you were symbolically arranging them on the tree of life.

At the tree of life, all the people you know, all your friends, appear before you and wish you well. It includes everybody you’ve ever known, dead or alive… It is a way of gathering all your friends in one particular moment…”

* The environmental transporter was an early concept for a virtual reality rig that did survive into the final airing of the Holiday Special, albeit as a way of teeing up a musical number. The Wookiee celebration was simplified, particularly due to budget, but its spirit continued.

The Holiday Special makes a point of telling us Chewbacca has never missed a Life Day, but he’d face a challenge to his record the following year in 1979. That year, Life Day was CANCELLED, or so said an untitled comic strip story by Russ Manning that ran in newspapers on Sundays from July 15 to September 9, 1979. (This story would finally gain a title in 2017 when reprinted in a collection as “The Kashyyyk Depths,” though the story itself spells the planet name “Kazhyyyk.”)

The story focuses on the lack of ceremonial orga root resulting in the cancellation, as declared by a gruff Wookiee elder. The comic strip leaves out any mention of hallucinogens, instead describing the orga as “special food.” Han, Chewie, R2-D2, and C-3PO voyage to the lower depths of the forests and discover a science team threatened by the wildlife and vegetation, and eventually find the orga, a sentient plant that comes to an agreement to supply Chewie with the needed root. This strip makes the unusual claim that Life Day happens every three years, complicating the world of early timeline-keeping fans (like myself) who tried vainly to keep everything plotted on a tidy in-universe calendar.

After these two stories, Life Day was promptly forgotten, and it’s not hard to figure out why. General interest in Star Wars went into hibernation after the release of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in 1983 and the two principal pieces of media that introduced the world to Life Day were extremely ephemeral — a TV special that was gone unless you thought to tape it when it aired, or a newspaper strip that was tossed out unless you thought to clip it for a scrapbook.

We all know Star Wars lived on thanks to its fan community, and so too did the spirit of Life Day. In the pre-internet days of fandom, VHS recordings of the Holiday Special and photocopies of the newspaper strips circulated by mail, fanzines, and sci-fi and comic book conventions. The die-hards of the ‘80s and ‘90s kept these fading records of Life Day alive on the edges of fandom. In this era, it was not uncommon to hear The Star Wars Holiday Special referred to as the “Wookiee Christmas Special,” as its original airdate was often misremembered as being later in the year.

What brought Life Day back in a more official capacity were the needs of massively multiplayer online videogames in the early ‘00s. As these games were an ongoing, persistent engagement for its players, they had a built-in sense of the passage of time. In other words, there needed to be a way to mark the holidays, so that gamers could build their own recurring traditions in the virtual world. The holiday season welcomed Life Day incarnations in Star Wars Galaxies starting in 2003, in Clone Wars Adventures in 2010 and on, and in Star Wars: The Old Republic starting in 2011. I’m willing to bet that more fans know Life Day as a videogame tradition than as a 1970s throwback.

In more recent years, Life Day has moved beyond the virtual world and back into Star Wars storytelling. Though some would like to forget the Holiday Special altogether and strip from it any weight of lore and canon, it’s important to note that the Wookiee lore in it did come from George Lucas, as did Chewie’s family. So while some parts of the TV special will forever be hopelessly stuck in the 1970s (a charm to some, a curse to many), some parts of it are far more timeless.

Nostalgia has brought Life Day elements back to the forefront of Star Wars. The internet has made finding 1970s rarities easier than ever before, even though some of it has to be obtained through less-than-official channels. Life Day has moved beyond purely whimsical incarnations (though 2020’s The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is an instant classic) and has shown up in installments of Star Wars Adventures comics in 2021, and a dedicated Marvel Comics one-shot in 2021. Perhaps its biggest profile name-check was the Fledgling Mythrol mentioning Life Day within the first 10 minutes of the premiere episode of The Mandalorian (2019) — “I was hoping to be free for Life Day.” And in 2022, Life Day came to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort at California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida in the form of custom food, experiences, and merchandise starting on its original, recognized day of November 17.

If you had told me, back when I was watching a cruddy VHS copy of the Holiday Special ordered from a classified ad in the back of a toy trader newspaper in the ‘90s, that Life Day would continue into the modern era, that Disney Parks would take the time to celebrate it, that I could one day actually buy OFFICIALLY LICENSED glowing orbs or a Life Day Chewbacca action figure, I would have likely accused you of chewing too much orga root.

But the branches of the Tree of Life sometimes take surprising bends, and here we are. 

Centuries before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and the rise of Palpatine’s Galactic Empire, there was a true golden age of the Jedi Order. With glimmering golden robes and a hopeful Order at the precipice of change, this period of previously unexplored time in the galaxy far, far away has now been deemed as Star Wars: The High Republic. The program was constructed to have a story and a format for everyone, with tales told in adult, YA, and middle grade novels, comics, manga, and more. Each format can be read on its own or readers can check out more than one format to get more of the story.

The stories of The High Republic (sometimes abbreviated as “THR”) range around 150 to 300 years before the birth of Anakin Skywalker, and span all types of mediums and genres, from adventure to horror to romance. It has become a wide canvas for authors and creators to explore across books, comics, video games, series, and more. 

With The High Republic’s third phase beginning in November, there is no better time to catch up and immerse yourself in this wonderful and sprawling story; but if you haven’t read anything, you can still pick-up these new books and jump right in. For those curious, here’s everything you need to know about The High Republic.

The Setting

This time period of The High Republic is one of prosperity and growth for the Republic — a galactic renaissance. As such, its leaders want to expand that peace to worlds farther away from its capital of Coruscant. As part of this endeavor, they also aim to create a symbol of hope and connection to these far worlds: the Starlight Beacon, a gleaming space station.

Star Wars fans have often heard of Outer Rim worlds in the galaxy far, far away, familiar locations like Tatooine. At one time, though, these worlds were not part of the larger Galactic Republic. They were part of a near-endless frontier, somewhat akin to our historical Wild West, with the Jedi attempting to bring their light to the dark corners of the galaxy.

The technology during this time is also different than fans might remember: Hyperspace lanes are still being charted, bacta is a new medical advancement, and Jedi fly into battle in their sleek Vector starfighters.

The Story

Our story begins with the Great Disaster, in which the Jedi arrive to save the day. From there, we see the cause of that tragedy and how it impacts the Jedi, the Republic, and this particular corner of the galaxy.

While attempting to bring peace to the Outer Rim, the Jedi, typically guardians of peace and justice, discover evil that they are not prepared for: the marauding Nihil, the plant-creatures called Drengir, and the Nameless — thought to be creatures of myth that feed on Force-sensitives, and the monsters of bedtime stories to scare younglings — all start a fierce battle for control of the Force itself.

This is the start of the story of The High Republic, which has been broken into three phases, a familiar trilogy structure: Phase I: Light of the Jedi, Phase II: Quest of the Jedi, and Phase III: Trials of the Jedi.

The Characters

One of the best parts of the entire High Republic initiative has been the introduction of brand-new characters, alongside some younger versions of familiar heroes like Yoda, Maz Kanata, and Dexter Jettster. Their lives interconnect throughout multiple stories, but you can follow your favorites down their individual journeys. Here are some of the main players.

Everything in Star Wars: The High Republic has been leading to this moment; as the Nihil reign victorious and spread fear throughout the galaxy, it’s a dark time for our Jedi heroes.

We’ve seen where the Phase I characters are standing when The Eye of Darkness begins, and met new heroes including Master and apprentice Mirro Lox and Amadeo Azzazzo. Today, it’s time to pull back the curtain on their new foes. “For the most part, the color palette is darker and more subdued, which is also apparent in our black and gold logo,” says Michael Siglain, creative director for Lucasfilm Publishing. “These are dark, dangerous times and the visuals reflect that.”

With new concept art and insights from authors Tessa Gratton, Daniel José Older, and Cavan Scott, meet some of the villains sowing chaos across the stars.

Baron Boolan

Eagle-eyed fans have already connected the Ithorian scientist Boolan to one of the youngest members of the Path of the Open Hand first seen in Scott’s Path of Vengeance. The long-lived alien was just a child then, but in Phase III we’ll discover him anew.

“A long time ago, Baron Boolan walked a different Path,” Scott teases. “But since being discovered by Marchion Ro, [Boolan] has become the Nihil's new Minister of Advancement.” What could possibly help advance the Nihil’s cause? “For Advancement, read excruciatingly painful experiments that turn ordinary Force users into vicious berserkers and hunters. And that's before he started experimenting on the Nameless to make them just a little bit more terrifying.” Noted.

One of a trio of ministers replacing Marchion’s Tempest Runners, Boolan’s powers are far-reaching across the Nihil territory. “He has secret bases throughout the Occlusion Zone filled with the results of his labors and prowled by the sinister Children of the Storm, who answer only to Marchion Ro. Or, do they?”

Niv Drendow

"The first thing you should know about Niv Drendow is that his last name is not Drendow, it's Apruk,” says Older. “His first name is Niv Drendow, and I truly feel bad for the random fool who forgets this.”

One of the younger members of the Nihil’s science sector, the teenaged Niv Drendow is an all-new character for Phase III and one of Baron Boolan’s sinister students, learning everything he can about the Nameless and other experimentation. “[Niv Drendow] is unfortunately a super genius in the field of demented biological research, a fact about him that Baron Boolan immediately picked up on, taking the young Niv Drendow under his creepy wing as an apprentice back on Vrant Tarnum,” Older continues. “The good news is, Niv Drendow is pretty terrible at just about everything else in life. He's not street savvy. His charisma is in the negative tens. He's a mediocre tactician at best. But he's ruthless, sometimes cunning, and willing to do whatever it takes to get his experiments done, and that alone has taken him quite far.”

General Viess

Marvel readers met General Viess in The Blade, and in Phase III you can be sure she hasn’t forgotten about the trouble Porter Engle gave her in his younger days. “Viess is a ruthless mercenary who's haunted the Outer Rim for decades, and has a history of antagonizing Jedi,” says Gratton. With gleaming armor that hints at her many victories over the years, Viess now serves Marchion Ro. “She didn't need to be recruited to run the Ministry of Protection — she volunteered, earning her place at Ro's side by sacrificing an entire planet to the Nihil.”

Viess helps the Nihil control the Occlusion Zone, keeping the hapless denizens and Jedi trapped behind the Stormwall in check by “distributing violence in the form of scav droids and invading armies,” Gratton adds. “Surrounding herself with opulence and brutality, Viess is perfectly suited to this kind of work — and worse, she enjoys it.”

Visit Lucasfilm's official hub for all things Star Wars: The High Republic at StarWars.com/TheHighRepublic.

Celebrated in our world each November 17, in a galaxy far, far away it’s perhaps one of the greatest holidays — especially if you happen to be friends with a Wookiee. A festival full of comfy red robes, glowing orbs, and a gathering at the Tree of Life to celebrate family and friends? Count us in!

With the launch of Phase III of Star Wars: The High Republic in books and comics and new episodes of the Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures animated series now on Disney+ and Disney Junior, it’s the perfect time to take the latest StarWars.com quiz and find out which Jedi from the High Republic you should invite over for Life Day.

When Star Wars: The High Republic launched with Light of the Jedi, we were introduced to the Jedi Order in its prime. Now those same Jedi are grappling with a galaxy that’s changing as the terroristic Nihil, led by Marchion Ro, stakes its claim.

It’s always a good time to step into the larger galaxy of Star Wars books and comics. Today, the story begins with The Eye of Darkness, the first adult novel among stories set in-universe one year after the fall of Starlight Beacon, the storied Republic space station run by the marshal and Jedi Master Avar Kriss.

Last week Marvel’s Star Wars: The High Republic relaunched with writer Cavan Scott and artist Ario Anindito, starring the Jedi Master Keeve Trennis.

And earlier this year, Tales of Light and Life collected short stories from each of the High Republic authors in one anthology spanning the storytelling so far.

We are all the Republic!

Visit Lucasfilm’s official hub for all things Star Wars: The High Republic at StarWars.com/TheHighRepublic.

• Read an exclusive interview George Mann and Cavan Scott in the StarWars.com series Star Wars: The High Republic Authors on Authors.

• Step Inside Star Wars: The High Republic with first looks at concept art featuring fan-favorite characters like Bell Zettifar and Ember, Burryaga, Avar Kriss, Marchion Ro, and more!
  

Plus, stay up to date on every Star Wars: The High Republic book and comic with the official chronological reading list.

As announced last week on the Disney Parks Blog, the Stellan Gios Legacy Lightsaber Hilt will be available starting November 17 — just in time for fans to celebrate Life Day — at Disney Parks and shopDisney. It’s the first Legacy Lightsaber collectible hilt inspired by Star Wars: The High Republic, the storytelling initiative set hundreds of years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace during the prime of the Jedi Order; Stellan Gios, a Jedi Master, is a key figure in the High Republic saga.

The stunning Legacy Lightsaber hilt features a cross-saber design and gold accents befitting the time period, and is truly unique from lightsabers depicted in other eras of Star Wars. “It was so inspiring to add to the lore of the High Republic era through the design of Stellan Gios’ lightsaber,” designer Jeff Thomas tells StarWars.com. “All of the intricacies — from the colors to the filigrees, as well as the function of the cross guard, were meant to honor and celebrate the elegance of a lightsaber from a more civilized age that readers and fans can explore through the High Republic books.”  

Star Wars: The High Republic has given creators a clean slate. In dialing back the clock to the prime of the Jedi Order, The High Republic tells stories of a very different galaxy than the one we know. We’re meeting characters for the first time, going places we’ve never been, seeing creatures we never knew existed. The entire slate has had a feeling of discovery, and as Phase III of the publishing program kicks off this month, that creative spirit will remain.

“One of the most exciting aspects of this initiative is the newness of it all,” Lucasfilm Publishing creative director Michael Siglain tells StarWars.com. “We've been lucky to add new heroes, villains, planets, ships, and more to a galaxy far, far away, and our latest High Republic books and comics continue to do just that.”

Today, StarWars.com takes a look at some of the new guardians of peace and justice joining the High Republic saga in Phase III, with insights from writers Alyssa Wong, Lydia Kang, and Michael Siglain, along with concept art by Petur Antonsson, Ario Anindito, and Nicola Righi.

Mirro Lox and Amadeo Azzazzo

Lydia Kang introduced two new Jedi in “The Call of Coruscant,” her short story included in the anthology The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life: Jedi Master Mirro Lox and his Padawan, Amadeo Azzazzo. In the story, the duo is called back to Coruscant following the destruction of Starlight Beacon, and pop up in George Mann’s Phase III kickoff novel The Eye of Darkness. “Amadeo Azzazzo, as the Padawan to Jedi Master Mirro Lox, has undergone his own trial during his time on Coruscant at the time of the Jedi callback. He’s young and eager to help, but he still has a lot to learn. And when people have a lot to learn, they can sometimes make mistakes,” Kang says. “As for Jedi Master Lox, he’s lost friends and is ready to fight, knowing that battles can bring casualties of the worst kind. And yet, he’s willing to make those sacrifices.”

According to Siglain, the characters fill a story need while also moving it forward. “Because we lost so many Jedi to the Nihil, Nameless, and Drengir, we wanted to introduce some new, noble and true Jedi Knights who are not conflicted or tempted by the dark side or dead,” he says. “Enter Jedi Master Mirro Lox and Padawan Amadeo Azzazzo.”

Personality-wise, Mirro and Amadeo will stand out from their Jedi brothers and sisters. But also feel somewhat isolated from them. “These are our Optimistic Jedi — our Jedi Dynamic Duo. Mirro is charming, warm, and strong; always ready to lend a hand or an ear. Amadeo is wide-eyed and eager to learn — a more adventurous version of early Phase I Reath Silas. These Jedi are brave and true, and they’re here to help. Mirro came up through the ranks just before Avar, Elzar, and Stellan,” Siglain says. “They were acquaintances, but didn’t travel in the same circles. Amadeo has been on the other side of the galaxy and doesn’t know any of our current Padawans or Knights.” Despite this, they’re ready to fight.

“During Phase I, Mirro and his Padawan have been off on their own mission, but when the Jedi recall happens, they return to Coruscant, and Mirro volunteers himself and his Padawan to help in the conflict against the Nameless and the Nihil.”

Gavi, Kildo, and Tep Tep

The Phase III middle-grade novel Escape from Valo arrives January 30, 2024, written by Daniel José Older and Alyssa Wong. The tale finds Padawan Ram Jomaram on a journey into the Occlusion Zone — an area of space claimed by the Nihil marauders that’s sealed off from the galaxy. The book’s summary has alluded to Ram being joined by some Jedi compatriots; they are, in fact, younglings named Gavi, Kildo, and Tep Tep from the planet Valo, and it sounds like they’re about to get a crash course in Jedi business.

“It's important for readers to see themselves in the Jedi. This is especially true of our younger readers,” says Siglain. “Our Padawans and younglings should be both relatable and apirational, and that's where our Valo younglings come in. Here are three kids who are faced with incredible challenges, and who band together to help each other and those around them.”

While Gavi is still just a youngling, his story is a layered one. “Gavi is a human youngling from the Jedi temple on Valo,” Alyssa Wong says. “And he has a secret.”

In Escape from Valo, Gavi will go on a personal journey, Wong reveals. “Gavi was once the most promising youngling of his age, but when the Nihil occupied Lonisa City and murdered every Jedi they could hunt down, he saw the Nameless kill one of the masters. Now traumatized, he's lost the ability to use the Force. He's just trying to keep his friends alive... but the Force has always been the most important thing in Gavi's life and he isn't sure who he is without it. And then there are his burgeoning romantic feelings for his friend, another youngling boy named Kildo... and his complicated feelings of guilt surrounding Driggit Parse, the non-Jedi friend he left behind.”

Every class needs a clown, and the same is true of Jedi. That’s where Kildo comes in. “Kildo is an Alcedian, an avian species that originated on Valo, and his design is inspired by a magpie: black and blue feathers and an eye for mischief,” Wong says. “Sly and irreverent, Kildo never turns down the chance to play pranks. Using the Force comes easily to him, but he struggles with focus and rules. ‘Great potential, needs to apply himself,’ is his teachers' main complaint. He's a trickster with a heart of gold.”

Finally, Tep Tep is the animal whisperer of the group — a youngling who cares deeply about all living things. “Tep Tep's design is based on a frillback pigeon — the fancy kind with curly feathers. She's a shy, soft, fluffy Alcedian girl who loves animals, especially big, carnivorous ones. There's a pack of five acklays who would die for her, and on the cover of Escape From Valo, she's holding a baby nexu,” Wong says. “Jedi don't adhere to family structures, but Tep Tep is basically everyone's little sister.”

Visit Lucasfilm's official hub for all things Star Wars: The High Republic at StarWars.com/TheHighRepublic.

In a new StarWars.com series celebrating the release of Phase III in Star Wars: The High Republic, which officially kicks off with Scott’s Star Wars: The High Republic comic relaunch from Marvel and Mann’s novel The Eye of Darkness, we listen in as the two writers reflect on being invited to join the then-codenamed Project Luminous, their latest releases, and beard envy…  

Cavan Scott: George, I think you were the first person I ever told about what became The High Republic.

George Mann: Even before [your wife] Clare?

Cavan Scott: Yeah. We were at San Diego Comic-Con and we were sharing a room. I had just gone off to breakfast with [Lucasfilm Publishing creative director] Mike [Siglain] where he first invited me onto the “All-Star Initiative,” which became Project Luminous. I couldn't tell Clare because she was in a different time zone and she wasn't up yet. And I had to tell someone because I couldn't believe what I just said yes to. So, you were like the fifth Beatle of The High Republic from day one, really. I didn't know the other writers at that point.

George Mann: I remember you saying there were some other people on it. “I don't know who they are yet.”

Cavan Scott: “And I hope I like them.” I think I said that, as well.

George Mann: I think you did. Look how that turned out. [Laughs.]

Cavan Scott: I know! And then we got you involved. Right from the off Mike said that I could mention it to you, and I think it was always there in the back of his mind and definitely the back of mine that, if it did expand, you would come on board.

George Mann: I'd already done Myths and Fables by that point. Mike talked to me early, as well, to put a Drengir story in Dark Legends. I think that was actually the first piece of High Republic fiction to be published kind of clandestinely in that Target [edition] book.

Cavan Scott: What was it like when you finally got the call? Because by that point, we'd been underway for a good while.

George Mann: Oh, it was a huge honor. I mean, I’d been following what you guys had done. I had been reading the manuscripts before they were released. I was up to speed and I was thoroughly enjoying it as a fan of Star Wars and a fan of a lot of the writers involved. I remember calling you. I had just got off the phone to Mike and it was the same conversation in reverse, wasn't it? I don't think I'd even left the computer to go and [tell my wife] Fiona what happened. I think you already had an inkling what was coming anyway, didn't you?

Cavan Scott: Nothing. [George laughs.] Nothing! I know nothing about most things, to be honest.

George Mann: Something about The High Republic felt like that expanded universe, that chance to create new characters and add something back to a story that gave me so much pleasure over the years as a Star Wars fan.

Cavan Scott: So, your first experience of a High Republic event would have been [Star Wars Celebration Europe] earlier this year in London, right?

George Mann: Yeah. I wasn't sure what to expect because, although you'd kind of told me all about the experience in Anaheim [at Celebration 2022]…I kind of thought, well, it's not going to be the same in the UK. We're not quite the same [as an] American audience. We don't show our appreciation in the same way. We tend to be sarcastic. [Laughs.]

Cavan Scott: Really?

George Mann: Yeah, exactly! But then…I couldn't get over the fact that people recognized who we were. I mean, we're authors. We're not on TV, we're not in movies. But they knew our faces. They were seeking us out. And then the audience for the panel when we first announced The Eye of Darkness and the titles for the Phase III books. And the cheering. You couldn't hear! It was kind of Beatlemania for Star Wars.

Cavan Scott: Which Beatle are you in this scenario? And please don't say I'm Ringo. Although, to be honest, I love Ringo.

George Mann: George [and] Paul.

Cavan Scott: Of course. It’s your names, isn’t it?

George Mann: I'm two of the Beatles. So that leaves you as Ringo, I'm afraid.

Cavan Scott: Well, everyone loves Ringo.

George Mann: Now you've got [Marvel’s Star Wars: The High Republic] comic launching a week before [The Eye of Darkness] novel hits. So, we're kind of going in hand-in-hand, as it were.

Cavan Scott: Literally. We are going to do it hand-in-hand. It’s the only way. [George laughs.]

George Mann: I mean, there's a certain amount of pressure involved. You want it to be a great platform for everyone else's stories that come afterwards. And you want the fans to respond well and enjoy the stories. That's certainly how I feel. What about you with the comic? Presumably you're happy to be getting back to some of these characters.

Cavan Scott: It is great to come back to not just Keeve and the bond twins [Terec and Ceret] and some of the other characters we had from the original [Star Wars] Insider stories, but …for me, the thing I think I'm most excited about for [Eye] is seeing Avar. Obviously, I was involved heavily in her arc in the first phase and seeing where she started, where she sort of left Light of the Jedi and ended up at the end of the first phase of Marvel, a very different character. A broken character, by that point. So, to see what you're doing, it's a weird feeling because you do sort of get a little bit protective over some of these characters, you know? And I mean, I think across all the writers now, we obviously all trust each other. But I was particularly glad that you were handling that storyline and I'm very excited for people to see where she's going and where she is at the beginning of that book because, you know, I did leave her in a pretty bad state for you.

George Mann: Yeah. And she continues in that state for a while. It's been interesting seeing some of the early reactions. One of the things that people are saying is how dark the book is, how somber the tone is, initially. It's still an adventure story and there's hope running through it because Star Wars is about hope. But it's dark.

Cavan Scott: The first few stories of the phase are dark. You know, Starlight is gone, [Marchion] Ro is triumphant, and these Jedi have to earn that hope again. I think that's the interesting thing. When I launched the Marvel comic originally with the dedication of Starlight Beacon, the Jedi…had no one to push against them. Everyone respected them because of what they stood for. But now we’re seeing them have to learn what that means. For some of the Jedi, they're questioning, and for other Jedi, they're seeing it as the opportunity to go, “No, this is a chance to show the light because we're in darkness. So we need to be lighter than ever.” I think that's where we see Keeve at the beginning of this series. She spent the entire first phase plagued with doubts about herself. This is a girl — now a woman — who questioned her right to be a Jedi and then has found herself promoted. She didn't think she should have been a Knight, let alone a Master. And she's always got Avar in the back of her mind. Avar was a hero. Avar was the person she looked up to and she saw what happened to her. [Keeve] doesn't want it to happen to herself, as well. So, yeah, it's really exciting to be back at the beginning, but I think it was tough writing those first couple of issues because Keeve is not the Keeve we know. She has been under the cosh for a year now and she's struggling.

George Mann: Well, I think that's the thing. The Jedi have been properly challenged in a way that they're not used to. Like Avar…at this point, she's thinking about how far she's fallen. But she starts Eye of Darkness and it's almost the opposite journey to Keeve. It's all the way back from that doubt. And realizing, actually, I need to be a part of something bigger. That's what the Jedi are, you know?

Cavan Scott: Their arcs have always mirrored each other and been inverted from each other. That was always the plan with them.

George Mann: There's a kind of a trajectory there for the whole of the Jedi at the start of this phase, which is, you know, that they're not as together as they were both individually and as a unit, as an Order. That's what they have to learn; to push and pull in the same direction and recognize that there is hope and they have to carry that hope forward into the future.

Cavan Scott: So far, so bleak. Let's talk about fun stuff. What did you have the most fun with in writing either Phase II or especially Phase III?

George Mann: Well, I'll give you an answer to both. Because the difference, I think, with Phase III, is getting my hands on those characters from Phase I, and being able to get really under the skin of Avar and Elzar, Bell and Burry, and Marchion Ro and Ghirra, and explore what this has done to them. [I] feel like I'm adding something to the character, deepening the characters as the story progresses. It's playing with the toys out of the toy box and it's like you're a kid again with the action figures. What was different about Phase II was it was more about invention, from my point of view, adding characters and situations and story elements and being a bit more inventive. How about you? Flip the question.

Cavan Scott: I wrote a scene today for something and it was one of those moments of joy because I was writing Elzar. I love writing Elzar Mann. He's in a very different place at the beginning of this phase, but I got to write a scene with him today where he's enjoying banter with someone that he's very close to. And, of course, that's how I started writing Elzar in The Rising Storm when you saw him and Stellan. It’s seeing these people starting to form new relationships and getting past what they've been through. I think from Phase II, the joy was the Jedha crew and Tey and Vildar and, again, you know, the banter and the back and forth and the snarky comments. I definitely didn't want to give them up and leave those two behind. And Matty either.

George Mann: That's how I feel about the Pathfinders. I don’t want to leave them behind. But there are some characters that have carried through like Porter [Engle] from both phases. And Azlin [Rell] is another one. He's a dream character to write.

Cavan Scott: Another character that I managed to have a hand in ruining. [Laughs.] People seem to think it's something I choose to do, but it's the jobs I'm given. It's like I'm a hit man for these characters and I have to pull them apart so that people can put them back together.

George Mann: People are starting to say the same thing [to me]. “Oh, what are you doing?” We're not wantonly putting them through terror and danger. The story demands that the characters go through this to be the story that we want it to be, to come out the other end — or not, as the case may be.

Cavan Scott: What's the most lighthearted part of Eye of Darkness you want people to look forward to?

George Mann: I think it's probably Porter's reintroduction to the story. He brings a lot of fun with it and a lot of great action sequences. Some good banter, I think. And KC the droid is back as well, traveling with Avar. And Elzar, he's having a hard time with things, [but] he's still bantering with people. He's still Elzar. And one of the things that people do, certainly my experience is [they] either hide or get relief from the darkest moments through humor. So, I think it's always important to try and capture that. What about you?

Cavan Scott: We have a returning Hutt from Phase I, from Daniel [José Older]'s run of High Republic Adventures. I've loved writing her. She's in charge of the sector and she's been a joy to write. An absolute joy. She has her own little band of ne'er do wells and a very scary enforcer.

George Mann: I've seen some of the pages you've written and you can tell…just the joy in the pages, it’s clearly from the joy you feel as you wrote those characters. People see that.

Cavan Scott: I wrote it split into a slightly different structure. Every four months you get a big epic with [artist] Ario [Anindito] coming in and those moments are huge and it always is amazing. But [artist] Jim [Towe] is bringing something very different, as well, and the dynamic of the team on the page has been lifted by the newcomers. And we definitely felt that with the art team as well. It's what I love about comics. I've already got the team in The High Republic story architects and writers, but then I have my own little team within the comic as well. And it's always what they bring — surprises you never know are going to come, ideas that come in from someone else that totally changed the course. There's going to be a lot to love.

George Mann: I felt like that working on The High Republic comic as well, The Nameless Terror. Collaboration has been a big part of what we've done, you know, particularly entering into Phase III. A big part of what I was doing with Eye of Darkness was helping set up stories that play out over other people's books. There’s a lot of back and forth with the rest of the team….I can't remember what our first collaboration was. We met in 2010, didn't we?

Cavan Scott: Mhm.

George Mann: On the Doctor Who forum, for those who don't know the backstory.

Cavan Scott: We were helping each other with each other's projects. It's quite a lonely job being a writer sometimes and one of the worst things for me is getting to that point where I'm stuck and I've got no one to talk to because I come from a background of script writing and comics and audiobooks and things like that. Quite often I would get stuck and I'd say, “George, can we have a call?” And what would actually happen is that I would solve the problem just by talking at you for a bit. And I think it works the other way as well. It's a sounding board. Because you usually know what you've got to do. And sometimes you need a little push and a question. “Why are you doing that?” Because usually that question is what you don't want to ask yourself.

George Mann: It's either asking the difficult question or it's encouraging you to trust your gut, And, yeah, it goes both ways. But that very much became us referencing the same sort of influences, weren’t we? Films and TV and books and different media.

Cavan Scott: We were literally separated at birth, I think. I mean, George is obviously not younger than me in any way whatsoever…We grew up on the same things, the same mythology and folklore of monsters. I don't think we've written anything together in the High Republic.

George Mann: Not yet.

Cavan Scott: Actually, talking about not yet: what can we tease people about that you're up to now? I mean, specifically, in The High Republic not generally in your life.

George Mann: [Laughs.] Yeah, drinking tea and writing Tears of the Nameless, which we announced early on at Celebration. That's been my deep-dive recently. Just before the call, I was worried about coming on the video because I'd made myself cry writing the final pages.

Cavan Scott: That bad, eh?

George Mann: Pretty much. [Laughs.]

George Mann: I mean, I'm not going to lie. It's quite a dark book, but in a different way to Eye of Darkness. It is starting to move more towards the end game. So, it's knocking down a few of those things that have been set up. But I can't really say much more than that at this stage. How about you? You're working on the comic, obviously.

Cavan Scott: Yes, I am. I'm working on a couple of other projects in The High Republic, one of which is more of an adventure. It's darker, more dramatic, but it's fun. And I had so much fun writing that. And it does encapsulate some of the scenes that I've been waiting to write ever since we started this. And that's actually one of the things I think I'm most excited about now this minute, because obviously the stuff that's coming out [this month] we wrote a while ago, you know. But when I write some stuff that's nearing the end of the phase and I'm writing scenes for Keeve that I've had in my head from the moment we first created her and the things that I've been writing towards all this time, you know, deeply impactful things about her life and her future and just her character…It's far more emotional. And like you, I mean, obviously I was joking about crying about the state of the writing, but because these characters do affect you, and I found myself doing it the other day, you know, you're writing this and you're so into it that you inhabit those characters for a minute.

George Mann: Absolutely.

Cavan Scott: I think that's the job.

George Mann: That is the job. And it's part of the joy of writing them.

Cavan Scott: And I can't wait — I can't wait! — for people to see Phil Noto's cover for issue five. I can't talk about it because it's so spoilery. But I shared it on the writer’s Slack and it is one of those images that I've been waiting to see. Every day I was checking my inbox going “Has Phil done it yet? Has Phil done it yet? PHIL! Do it now!” And then when it arrived, it was everything I wanted and more. I think people are going to go wild.

George Mann: You know, I can't wait to shave this beard off. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have a superstition when I'm writing the end stages of a novel, I grow a book beard. I don't shave while I'm writing and then once the book’s handed in, I let myself shave. I don't know why that is now, but I've done it for years. So, I am looking forward to it.

Cavan Scott: The funny thing is, George, I’m the same about The High Republic. I've been growing a beard since 2018. [George laughs.] And as you can see, it's growing ever so well. So 2025, it's coming off! I'm going to look so fresh faced and young. I'm always jealous of beards. There's a lot of beards in The High Republic. You know, Charles [Soule] has now got one. Daniel [José Older] has got one. You…

George Mann: Elzar’s got a good one!

Cavan Scott: Yeah! And I'm sitting here still, you know, with a face as smooth as a baby. Ridiculous. Ridiculous!

George Mann: No comment.

This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

“From the beginning, The High Republic was all about giving people different entry points depending on their age and what they're into,” Cavan Scott, one of the primary High Republic story architects, tells StarWars.com. He penned the first eponymous comic series as well as the game-changing novel The Rising Storm. Scott was thrilled to work with the Young Jedi Adventures team for one of the new episodes. “So to see these characters appear in a show as precious and delightful as Young Jedi Adventures, knowing that Bell and Ember will be there for a new generation of kids who are first discovering the Jedi, it's just humbling and wonderful.”

Michael Olson, Young Jedi Adventures showrunner, is also delighted to help that generation feel at home in the galaxy far, far away. “It's been heartwarming to hear from parents whose children initially weren't showing interest in Star Wars, but after watching our show, became fans,” he tells StarWars.com.

“Charhound Chase” brings book characters Loden Greatstorm, Bell Zettifar, and the charhound Ember to Tenoo for a special lesson, and the younglings aren’t the only ones who are excited to see them there. Scott wrote the episode, and he joins High Republic fans in their enthusiasm for seeing the trio in a new medium. “It was so good to be able to tell a story for Bell and Ember when they're not in the middle of chaos,” Scott says. “I get to tell a story of Bell where he is the mentor. He's the one who has experiences that the kids look up to, especially Kai.”

Like Bell, High Republic fans will appreciate seeing the venerable Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm during a quiet respite. He brings wisdom and serenity to the Jedi Temple on Tenoo. “I've only had one experience with Loden Greatstorm before this, and that was quite traumatic for everyone involved,” Scott jokes. “It was great to be able to tell a story of him when he is the Master Loden and everyone knows and respects and loves.”

In “Stuck in the Muck,” Kai, Lys, and Nubs are invited to tour the new space station Starlight Beacon. Pilot Nash Durango is happy to take them there, but the trip there doesn’t go exactly as planned. Katie Kaniewski — a proud member of #NubsNation — wrote the delightful episode about the importance of learning from our mistakes.

“Perfectionism [and] that fear of messing up is something that I’ve struggled with my entire life,” Kaniewski says. “My hope is that our young audience (and our not-so-young audience, too) can be heartened by the idea that this is a very real and very human thing that everyone deals with… If Kai, Lys, and Nubs can realize that messing up is okay, that life will go on and they will keep learning, then maybe we can, too.”

When the younglings and their friends finally arrive at Starlight Beacon, very late but for a good reason, they meet their tour guide: Estala Maru. Scott, who created the character of Maru for the 2021 Marvel Comics series, was pleased to see the cranky-but-lovable Jedi have one more opportunity to stand in the spotlight. “One of the things we planned for the comic series, and we never had time to do, was explore Maru’s character where he has relationships with younglings and Padawans, and he's a mentor to them,” says Scott. “[This episode] explored that part of his life that I didn't get chance to do myself.”

As for Starlight Beacon, which is practically a High Republic character itself, the Young Jedi Adventures team began with its look in the comic artwork and built out the design of the storied station. “My designers, led by Madi Hodges, are some of the biggest Star Wars fans I know,” says Olson. “Madi and Bill brought their fandom and their knowledge to the table when they crafted the interior of Starlight Beacon.

“Additionally, we wanted to have subtle nods to the Death Star, because in our conversations with Lucasfilm and the High Republic team, Starlight Beacon is meant to be sort of the anti-Death Star. We very intentionally were looking for ways to, as George Lucas might say, ‘rhyme’ with the visual design language of the Death Star but keep it distinct and truthful to the books and comics as well.”

Kaniewski vividly recalls writing the scene where the younglings enter the station. “Even just writing the words ‘Starlight Beacon’ made me say ‘WHOA,’” she says. “I had to take a second to just sit in the weight of that. I knew the moment had to be full of awe and wonder and majesty, and it was so fun to envision such an iconic location through the eyes of our younglings.”

And if you’re a fan of The High Republic and you know the fate that befalls the glittering space station, Olson says you don’t have to worry about the younglings getting caught up in any grownup adventures. “We were intentional in setting the show around the time of Starlight Beacon’s construction and dedication,” he says. “Our kids are living in a corner of the galaxy that's somewhat removed from the bigger events happening in the High Republic.”

Bringing the High Republic characters to life was a thrill for the Young Jedi Adventures team, and a challenge they took very seriously. “Early on, we knew we wanted Marcus Scribner to play Bell Zettifar,” Olson recalls. “He has an incredible range, great timing, and a sense of warmth to his performances and to who he is as a person, so he felt like a natural fit for Bell. For Loden Greatstorm, we cast Matt Yang King, who is not only a fantastic actor, but he’s also an incredibly versatile and talented voice actor. He was able to capture the confidence and poise of Loden while also being incredibly friendly.”

Scott agrees. “My background is in drama and radio drama, so I'm used to hearing that moment where an actor performs your words and brings something to them that you never thought of yourself. That's how I felt when I heard Bell and Loden for the first time.”

Estala Maru, an integral figure on Starlight Beacon, welcomes the younglings to the station with a kind voice. “I’m a fan of Critical Role and the incredible talent of all the actors on that show,” says Olson, “and Liam O'Brien seemed to be a perfect fit. He found a distinct voice for Master Maru that’s unique, inviting, and absolutely charming.”

Olson is excited for the other brand-new stories we’ll see this season. “While we're delving into characters from The High Republic and getting to see Starlight Beacon, we've also got a standout episode where our young characters embark on a journey with Master Yoda,” he teases. “Additionally, our Life Day episode was intimidating to make yet incredibly rewarding, and we can’t wait for fans to see it. We also have an episode that’s our take on a Fall Festival episode, reminiscent of a Thanksgiving theme — it's a heartwarming tale of family and community.

“This batch of episodes also has some of the most spectacular visuals we’ve done so far. Our design team and Icon Creative, our CG studio, have knocked it out of the park. Overall, it’s a fantastic mix of episodes, featuring some fun, recurring villains fans might recognize, and we're also introducing a few new faces to the mix. Some of the stories also tee up exciting developments for the remainder of Season 1’s episodes, which release next year.

“Lastly, I’ll say that there may or may not be a couple High Republic Easter eggs sprinkled throughout this batch and the next, so keep an eye out!”

As for Scott, he hopes viewers young and old take away one very important message from his episode: Ember is a good girl. “I want a spin-off series: The Adventures of Ember,” he says. “I'd write it for free. Don't tell them that... but I would.”

“George was usually pretty loose with his direction,” Tippett tells StarWars.com. “He said, ‘I need a big monster for the Jabba's Palace scene.’” At that point, there wasn’t a complete script, just Lucas’ vision of Luke Skywalker falling into a pit beneath Jabba’s throne room and having to fight the beast within. “I came up with that design thinking that it was going to be a stop-motion or go-motion deal,” Tippett continues. “And then George said, 'We're going to make the best Godzilla suit ever!' At which point Dennis [Muren] and I kind of went like, ‘Uh oh.’”

Ultimately, the rancor was realized as a hand and rod puppet, and the design was executed largely unchanged from Tippett’s maquette, which was sculpted over about three days in ILM’s monster shop. And soon, collectors can bring the maquette home. Today, StarWars.com is thrilled to reveal the first look at a new Regal Robot collectible version of the rancor, a 1:1 scale replica of the design that started it all: the Rancor Maquette. Part of the Archive Collection that launched in 2022 with another Tippett creation, the Max Rebo maquette, the rancor is something of Tippett’s King Kong for the Star Wars galaxy, a hulking, muscled, and misunderstood beast. “I usually have to orbit some kind of a concept,” Tippett says. “So, it was like the power of a bear and the brain of a potato.”

Recently, StarWars.com sat down with Tippett and Regal Robot’s Tom Spina to talk about making the limited-edition maquette, including a 150-piece Signature Edition with a plaque signed by the sculptor and a 100-piece Legacy Edition, which includes a framed, one-of-a-kind hand drawn sketch from Tippett depicting the rancor scene.

StarWars.com: Tom, when you and your team are unearthing these maquettes at the Skywalker Ranch archive, you're scanning them and looking at every inch of them. For this one in particular, was there anything that really stood out to you in the process of recreating it?

Tom Spina: It is very interesting and it reveals more to you the more you look at it, which I think is true for any good monster sculpt. The first thing that grabbed me about it is that it has a really wonderful weight and center of gravity to it. He looks like he's just taken a step forward and he just landed on that foot. You can really feel that. The sculpt on the rancor might be the most refined of all of the maquettes. Do you feel you put extra time and care into this one versus the other ones?

Phil Tippett: I don't actually remember it very well. My memory is that it was just the same as everything else. You know, bang it together in two or three days. And what I generally do, because we were on the clock, was I would get a telephoto lens. And I would shoot front, side, and rear of things so I had a guide [for the final sculpt]. I'd have calipers, and that allowed me to kind of speed things along because I could figure out how big is the wrist? And how far is it from the elbow? It just expedited things.

Tom Spina: The thing that really surprised me… everybody thinks of rancor and they think he's just a brown blob. And this has a paint job where the more you look at it, the more you start to wonder what the heck was Phil doing? Because it's got lots of brown and lots of dark spots of umber; it's very blotchy, which is wonderful. It gives you a monkey skin effect. It feels real and it feels like it's got depth and then there's purples and greens on top of it in random places. It doesn't show up in every photo, but when we started doing color matches and turnaround shots in good lighting, all these cool colors started to jump out. It was one of the more challenging things in recreating it. You know, how do we maintain that and not make it look too garish?

StarWars.com: Phil, any idea why you chose that color palette? Would it have just been what was close at hand at the shop?

Phil Tippett: No, that's what I would do to add more [depth]. What you want to do is have contrast. You don't want to get the spray paint out and just spray it. You have to work at it.

Tom Spina: It's one of the things I like about this whole series of maquettes is they're almost all brush painted rather than spray painted or airbrushed. You can do really amazing things with a brush and certainly the Return of the Jedi crew and Phil in particular did amazing things with brushes. Personally, that's my favorite thing when I'm sculpting a monster or painting. Just give me an old chip brush or a couple of filberts. That's life. That's what makes things look real.

Phil Tippett: And spray paint nozzles are such a pain in the ass. They're always gumming up. One of the things that George was really adamant about was that he really wanted to see the face. He was into more of a conventional face, a face that was clear. He wanted the eyes to be bright. So, we put fiber optics in the eyes, but it just looked ridiculous. Then we got stainless steel ball bearings and a black Sharpie and painted them black. And the Sharpie ink had a certain level of thinness that the light would penetrate the black and hit the ball bearings and we created a tiny little speck of light so you could see the eyes.

Tom Spina: On the maquette, I actually think the face reads pretty well. I mean, not to contrast with George on that one, but at the end of the day, it's probably one of the coolest pit beast type monsters that's ever been made.

Phil Tippett: [Laughing] How many pit beasts are there?

Tom Spina: I don't know. But it's something that, just from a strictly design point of view, it feels dangerous. It feels lumbering and heavy.

Phil Tippett: Well, the mouth, too. I wanted to put all the power in the jaws, so once the teeth came down, you know, you didn't stand a chance.

StarWars.com: I like that contrast with the little beady eyes and the big mouth, because without that mouth you don't have the snarling, fearsome thing that’s going to take your head off. Can you talk a little bit about the collaborative process behind the scenes between the two of you?

Tom Spina: It started with the tauntaun maquette. [Tippett] Studio was able to get us a master casting out of that and that was the first collaboration. I'm just grateful that Phil kept so much of what he did and has been so willing to dive into these. In previous editions, we did some stuff using old molds he had and we'd be bringing Phil in for a Signature Series. With the rancor, we've got 150 pieces that are going to be done with a signature. But because this is such a special creature and people are always asking us about it, we wanted to do something really, really special, something that really directly connected the artist to the artwork. We're calling it the Legacy Edition. It comes with a frame beautifully matted with a metal plaque that Phil has signed, a vintage photo of Phil with the rancor maquette, and a three-by-three hand drawn sketch. It will be an edition of 100 pieces, and every single one will have a completely unique sketch by Phil. Every one of them is going to be different.We've got everything from full body shots, headshots, there's some looking down, there are some where it's just his foot and Luke with the bone. Phil really pushed it to the max by coming up with this idea of making them all unique like that.

Phil Tippett: Well, the trick is trying to figure out how not to be bored, you know? If it was the same thing, it would have been torture.

StarWars.com: So, you're just amusing yourself?

Phil Tippett: That’s all I ever do.

Tom Spina: You amusing yourself, I think, has led to a lot of joy for a lot of people and, honestly, probably put a lot of people in the business, too, by getting inspired by what you did.

StarWars.com: Phil, were you kind of telling yourself a story through the sketches?

Phil Tippett: I was just trying to remember the scene, you know? There are only so many angles that you can get in a tiny, little cave.

StarWars.com: When it comes to the rancor, why do you think this particular design has so much resonance for people 40 years on?

Phil Tippett: That was a good scene. It didn't really linger on anything for too long and luckily the puppet worked and the approach worked. But that was really all experimental. We had no idea, shot for shot, how they were going to come out.

Tom Spina: I think that's why the rancor endures. He had a really great scene. He did cool stuff. He told an important part of the story of Luke's growth as a character and all of that. And when you got the old Kenner toy, you got to relive something you saw in the movie. It's a beautiful design. It definitely has King Kong vibes. But it doesn't look like anything that came before it.

Phil Tippett: Imagine that.

Tom Spina: [Laughing] You did! 

Visit StarWars.com/GiftTheGalaxy every Tuesday through December 19 for the latest products featured and join the conversation on social media using #GiftTheGalaxy and #StarWars.

The fall of Starlight Beacon at the end of Phase I of Star Wars: The High Republic changed the galaxy. The Nihil attack established the villains of the era as a formidable foe against not just the Galactic Republic, but even the peacekeeping, Force-wielding Jedi Order. And the destruction of the space station, coupled with the threat of Marchion Ro’s Great Leveler, was enough to leave anyone — even a Jedi — consumed by fear.

When The Eye of Darkness arrives later this month, the new novel by George Mann will reunite fans of The High Republic with some of their favorite heroes and villains. “Our story picks up one year after the fall of Starlight Beacon, and the characters — and their appearances — have to reflect that,” says Michael Siglain, creative director for Lucasfilm Publishing. “The Chancellor’s shining symbol of hope has been destroyed. The Jedi have lost and the Nihil have won. Our heroes are dealing with fear and trauma, and are struggling to find a way to bring back light and hope.”

“When we started developing the character concept art for Phase III, I spent a lot of time thinking about the heroes and how the destruction of the Starlight Beacon might affect them,” adds Kurt Hartman, design manager. “Tragic events transform people, so how could that be shown in their outward appearance?”

Today, StarWars.com has the answer. With new concept art and insights from Mann, as well as concept artists MinJi Yoon and Ario Anindito, get reacquainted with some of the beloved characters we first met in Phase I…

Avar Kriss

Avar Kiss is one of the galaxy’s most respected and recognizable Jedi Masters. The Hero of Hetzal is now trapped behind enemy lines, and her new look helps establish how much things have changed since she took her post as the marshal of Starlight. “When we meet Avar at the beginning of Phase III, she’s operating alone and undercover in the Occlusion Zone,” says Mann. “She’s struggling with guilt over what happened to Starlight Beacon, blaming herself for Stellan’s death, and ultimately, trying to make amends.”

“Avar still holds her presence, her posture as the Master Jedi that we all know,” adds Anindito. “But she's trying her best to hide it.” Shedding the robes of the Jedi Order, Kriss’ look ensures she won’t be easily recognized. “She is in disguise, laying low while fighting back,” Anindito says, “trying to hide her identity and her pain.”

Porter Engle

Another famed Jedi Master, Porter Engle AKA the Blade of Bardotta, is also back. After reading about his younger days in Marvel’s The Blade during Phase II, the latest incarnation plays more off the jovial cook we first met in Phase I. “Porter is also stuck inside the Occlusion Zone when Phase III begins, but he’s taking a slightly different approach to Avar,” Mann says. “He’s traveling from place-to-place, seeking bits of old technology that he’s figured might be able to help him breach the Stormwall. He’s determined, but also hopeful.”

Engle’s work in the shadows helped determine the colors used on his newest design. “He is wearing civilian clothing and trying to go unnoticed,” Yoon says. “The goal was to make him feel less jovial and fun with a darker and more low-key palette.”

Bell Zettifar and Ember

Loden Greatstorm’s former apprentice has experienced so much loss and trauma since we met the bright-eyed Padawan in Phase I’s Light of the Jedi. But Bell and his charhound, Ember, are focused on the mission, ready to take back the Republic, with additional armor to help him protect himself on the edge of the galaxy.

“Bell is furious with the Nihil, and a little with himself, too,” says Mann. “He’s counting the Jedi’s failures as his own. He’s spending more and more time out on the edge of the Occlusion Zone, patrolling for Nihil raiders. And he’s set his sights on one Nihil in particular, named Melis Shryke, who typifies everything about the Nihil that he wants to stop.”

Burryaga

We spent a lot of time worried over the fate of Burryaga, the Wookiee Jedi who went missing at the end of Phase I’s The Fallen Star. But now we know Bell Zettifar was able to rescue his friend. “After being trapped beneath Eiram’s ocean, Burry is just glad to be alive and able to be amongst his friends, making a difference,” Mann says.

Now a Jedi Knight, Yoon worked on evolving Burryaga’s design to show how much he’s changed as a result of his ordeal and his character growth. “Burry's design has him in the classic High Republic Jedi leathers,” Yoon says. “He is older and a little thinner than last time we saw him, and is now fully equipped to be out in the field.”

Vernestra Rwoh

A precocious Jedi who was the youngest in a generation to be knighted, Vernestra is taking her new responsibilities during a difficult time quite seriously. And that determination is reflected in her new look. “Vern is more mature. She's no longer the young Jedi Padawan that we knew,” says Anindito. To reflect that evolution, the artist incorporated elements to give her a more rugged look. “When we see her, we know she is now capable of holding her ground on her own. She's basically a badass, now more than she ever was.”

Ghirra Starros

Once a senator for the Galactic Republic, Ghirra Starros is firmly, and publicly, aligned with the Nihil. But her transformation is less-jarring than some who join the Nihil ranks, with the Eye logo crudely scrawled on their armor. “As a representative for the Nihil, Ghirra needed to have the classic gas mask, but I still kept it a little decorative to show her status,” Yoon says, along with adding a gleaming pendant showing the Eye. Classic Starros sophistication. But the colors of her apparel have become more muted, as she falls in line.

Despite her allegiance to the anarchists, Ghirra is still looking for some semblance of order. “Ghirra knows that for the Nihil to survive, they have to become something different,” Mann says. “They have to stabilize and organize and become more like a government, overseeing the worlds now under their jurisdiction.”

Marchion Ro

Still leading the Nihil, the Eye of the Storm himself, Marchion Ro, has only grown more arrogant in his victories. “He feels like a king,” Anindito says. “He is now at the top, feeling all powerful and untouchable!” Those emotions played into his Phase III design. “I want him to look both victorious and cunning at the same time, elegant yet dangerous.”

But just because he’s won doesn’t mean he’s happy about it. “Marchion Ro is in a difficult spot,” Mann says. “He’s got everything he wanted. And it feels hollow. The crown is resting very uneasily on his head, and that makes him a very dangerous person to be around.”

Visit Lucasfilm's official hub for all things Star Wars: The High Republic at StarWars.com/TheHighRepublic.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, the Lucasfilm animated series for preschool audiences, has been honored with five nominations in the 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Preschool Animated Series. Set 200 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and during the High Republic era, Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Check out the full list of nominations below.

• Outstanding Pre-School Animated Series

• Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for an Animated Program

• Outstanding Main Title

• Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program

• Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program

"We are honored to be nominated by our peers for five Children's and Family Emmy Awards," says James Waugh, SVP, franchise content and strategy. "The team behind this series always believed that the universal myths and aspirational lessons of the Star Wars galaxy could spark the imaginations of even the youngest of audiences; that somehow we could pass back a little of that awe-inspiring cinematic magic that so many of us were shown by George Lucas as we were growing up with Star Wars. We were able to make that a reality in large thanks to Michael Olson whose heart, depth, and love of the franchise is found in every frame of the show! We owe these amazing nominations to all of our amazing cast and crew who poured their hearts and souls into this project that meant so much to all of us. Thank you Disney Junior, Wild Canary, Icon, and everyone at Lucasfilm. And most importantly to the fans, the Force is strong with you!"

New episodes of Young Jedi Adventures arrive November 8 on Disney+ and Disney Junior. Among the upcoming installments is a Life Day special, which finds series stars Kai, Lys, and Nubs, along with Masters Yoda and Zia, on a trip to Kashyyyk to celebrate and learn more about the Wookiees’ holiday traditions. In addition, more new episodes for Season 1 are on the way in 2024.

No date has been set for the Children’s & Family Emmys. Stay tuned to Star Wars.com for more on Young Jedi Adventures.

And don’t miss Ember in action in a new episode of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures on Disney+ and Disney Junior, coming soon!

What You’ll Need

• Printed Ember template

• Scissors

• Black, yellow, and orange cardstock paper

• Glue

• Two gold enamel dot stickers, approximately 1/8 inch in diameter

• White gel pen

• White paper

Get Started!

The activities in this article should only be done with adult supervision.

Step 1: Begin by printing the template for the bookmark. Cut out the gray shapes with the scissors.

Step 2: Next, trace the head shape on the black cardstock paper and cut it out. Trace the ear piece twice and cut them out as well.

Step 3: Trace Ember’s V-shaped stripes on the orange cardstock paper and cut out.

Step 4: Cut a strip of black paper, approximately 1.25 inches wide by 6 inches long.

Step 5: Fold over the top edge of the black strip to make a flap about half an inch in length.

Step 6: Glue the two ears on the top side of the flap at an angle pointing up.

Step 7: Next, stick the two gold enamel dots near the top of Ember’s head to make her eyes.

Step 8: Use the white gel pen to draw two small circles for nostrils on the face.

Step 9: Glue Ember’s head to top side of the folded flap, covering part of the ears. Let dry.

Step 10: Trace the flame shape on the yellow cardstock paper. Cut a second flame shape from the orange paper, smaller than the yellow shape, and glue it in the middle of the flame. Let dry.

Step 11: Cut two small triangles from the white paper to make Ember’s tiny fangs.

Step 12: Glue the orange stripes in the center of the black strip of paper, far enough down so that Ember’s face won’t cover them. Let dry.

Step 13: Glue the white triangle teeth on the underneath side of Ember’s “snout.”

Step 14: Glue the flames on the folded flap, the underside of Ember’s head. Let all glue dry.

Step 15: Use the scissors to cut small notches on the bottom side of the ears and on the edges of the bottom half of the bookmark. Gently fold up the notches to make it look like fur.

Step 15: Gently fold Ember’s ears to make them curl up, and your good girl is complete!

Slide the bookmark flap over the page you’re on to hold your place. And get more of Ember, her companion Bell Zettifar, and all your favorite High Republic characters as Phase III kicks off this month with The Eye of Darkness!

Columbia, a longtime Lucasfilm collaborator, has released Star Wars-themed collections every year since 2016, bringing in-universe looks to its famous outerwear. The company landed on Luke Skywalker’s X-wing flight suit as the inspiration for 2023’s range (launching December 1), which unexpectedly led to another collaboration — and one that hearkens back to the saga’s racing roots, as it's with NASCAR. “We've had a relationship with Bubba Wallace, who races for [team] 23XI since 2020, and Columbia is one of the primary sponsors of the team,” Matt Merriman, VP of Columbia brand development tells StarWars.com. “But this year, creating the orange Star Wars flight suit collection, we were thinking, Luke and his orange pilot suit getting into his X-wing was very similar to Bubba in his race suit climbing into his rocket ship of a car. We thought, how fun would it be if we used that similarity as a way to promote the Star Wars collaboration?”

When it comes to car sponsorships, that often results in nothing more than a logo on a car. But Columbia felt they could go deeper. “We wanted to take a different approach to not wanting to necessarily put a poster on the NASCAR, so it wasn't going to be a billboard or an advertisement,” says Columbia designer Chris Araujo. “We wanted Bubba to feel like he was in an X-wing and flying around the track.” The question was, how do you take the elongated, angular X-wing and transfer it to a boxcar? “I decided that, ‘Hey, what if we translated all the elements of an X-wing to a NASCAR, almost as if the NASCAR was built out of X-wing parts?” says Araujo.

Araujo decided that all the core elements of an X-wing had to come over to the car. The paneling, the scoring, the red stripe, the patina, even the thrusters. Columbia was able to get access to original physical models from the Star Wars films as well as 3D renders for reference. “I had to take lots of detailed photos — taking into mind where the proportions of the car were, where the door was hitting, where the windows were hitting, where the driver would sit — and translate all those paneling details to the side of the vehicle,” he says. Wallace’s racing suit and helmet, made to look like Luke Skywalker’s, also had to meet certain regulations. “There's a lot of standards, as you can imagine,” Araujo says. “So we partnered very closely with Alpinestars, who's the builder of Bubba's suits, and we tried to figure out, ‘Okay, how do we translate some of those details?’ We had to be very mindful of the elements we were going to extract and then translate to the driver's suit.”

But this being Star Wars, there’s always a light and dark side. So Columbia pushed to make another car wrap — one that fans of the Empire will no doubt appreciate. “We thought, ‘What would be better than an X-wing going around the track, but that X-wing being chased or in a battle with a TIE fighter?” Araujo says. “So we were able to secure the other teammate on the 23XI team, which is Tyler Reddick in the 45 car, to be in a TIE fighter-based vehicle design.” Look for the TIE fighter car and driving suit to be revealed trackside.

The entire initiative has received a stamp of approval from a Star Wars legend who knows a thing or two about flying X-wings: Columbia brought Mark Hamill and Bubba Wallace together for a special meeting at the actor’s home, where both got to see the finished work in person. Hamill seemed to enjoy one aspect in particular. “He got to interact a little bit with Bubba's orange suit and the helmet, which he got a kick out of, especially when Bubba was in the full setup,” Araujo says.

And of course, there’s the limited-edition collection that inspired the whole NASCAR project. Taking Luke’s X-wing flight gear as a starting point, Columbia is offering a full ski suit, as well as a ski jacket and a lightweight insulated jacket based on the original pilot look. Plus, there are tee shirts, pullovers, and accessories, including goggles and a crossbody bag that look like items you’d be issued when joining the Rebel Alliance. And as usual, there are plenty of Easter eggs and surprises for fans to discover on every item. “It's always about trying to dive in with the Lucasfilm team to find something with an interesting story and also that might be a little bit unexpected. It’s great when Columbia can advance that story and tell a different side of it,” says Merriman. “And we're really excited about where we ended up this year and where we're going next year, which we can't talk about yet.”

While the wrap and suit had their challenges, they were welcome ones for Araujo. A Star Wars fan himself, he relished the project, which took six months start to finish, and combined Star Wars and automotive design. “One of the things that drew me to Star Wars as a young designer was their vehicle design,” he says. “So I've always appreciated that level of detail with the carbon scoring on say, the Millennium Falcon or the X-wing, where they look like they've been lived in, used, and in battle. I thought that directly translated very well to NASCAR, or the racing world. Getting to interact and work on both of those worlds together, was a dream come true.” 

1. Dance with the Dianoga (Star Wars: A New Hope)

"There's something alive in here." Our heroes’ situation goes from bad to worse as they find themselves in a Death Star trash compactor — and they’re not alone. Luke and audiences soon meet the dianoga, Star Wars’ first monster, as it drags him into murky, garbage-filled water. The young rebel survives, but we learn that in Star Wars, one never knows what lurks beneath.

2. Don’t Look Outside (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

With the Millennium Falcon docked inside a large asteroid, Leia sits quietly in the cockpit. Then she catches something in the corner of her eye as it glides past the window. The princess gets up, leans forward for a closer look. Seemingly out of nowhere, a winged creature jumps onto the glass, suctioning on and letting out a high-pitched squeal. Leia justifiably screams, and we get one of the all-time great jump scares.

3. We Would Be Honored If You Would Join Us (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

Leia could totally say “I told you so.” Lando Calrissian, who the princess doesn’t completely trust, invites Han, Leia, and Chewie for “some refreshment,” and leads them to a dining room. Lando opens the door to reveal a seated Darth Vader, who rises to greet them and blocks Solo’s blaster shots with his hands. Boba Fett emerges, and we realize that Lando has betrayed his friends. It’s a shocking moment that builds quickly, and as the door closes hard, cutting the audience off from whatever conversation is to follow, an uneasy feeling sets in.

4. Journey in the Cave (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

In an essential Empire sequence, Luke discovers a cave strong with the dark side on Dagobah. What's in there? "Only what you take with you," Yoda tells him. He brings his weapons (against the wishes of his master) and creeps inside. The mist seems to grow thicker, and the visuals slow down as Luke turns a corner to meet, impossibly, Darth Vader. It plays like a nightmare, but the scene truly haunts from what the young Jedi finds underneath Vader's mask.

5. Oh No, the Rancor! (Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)

Teased earlier in the Jabba’s palace sequence, we finally find out what the Hutt keeps downstairs. The slug-like crime lord sends Luke hurtling through a trap door and into his dungeon, and a large gate rises to unleash the rancor: a gargantuan, roaring creature (that could only come from the mind of Phil Tippett). It gobbles up a Gamorrean Guard like spaghetti and turns its attention to the Jedi, leading to an unforgettable battle and scene. Today, the rancor stands as possibly Star Wars’ most iconic monster.

6. The Turn (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)

Palpatine’s plan to destroy the Jedi kicks into high gear with Anakin’s betrayal of Mace Windu, as he slices the Jedi Master’s hand off in order to save the Chancellor. It’s an irreversible act, and a disturbing one — as a viewer, you feel helpless watching a good man turn to evil, and powerless to stop him. As Revenge of the Sith continues, Anakin only falls further, creating horror and tragedy, but it’s this moment that infuses the movie with a sense of dread.

7. The End of Anakin (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)

Fully turned to the dark side, Anakin — now Darth Vader — faces Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar. It's an epic, operatic sequence as the former friends fight to the death. When it's over, Kenobi leaves his old student beaten and burning on the banks of a lava river, screaming with hatred. Anakin's suffering is difficult to watch, as is the end of his bond with Kenobi; it was an awesome fight, but no one was going to win.

8. Attack of the Brain Worms (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Star Wars goes full B-movie in this gloriously icky Season 2 episode of the beloved animated series. A brain worm parasite hatches near resting clone troopers, slithering its way up the nasal passage of one unlucky soldier. Soon, it's controlling him like a marionette; when the clone boards a ship, more worms hatch, leading to an infestation. It comes down to Ahsoka Tano to figure out how to stop them, and as you can see in the image above, it ain't pretty.

9. Nightsister Spirits Strike (Star Wars Rebels)

Even in death, the Nightsisters wield great power. In "Visions and Voices" from Season 3 of Star Wars Rebels, Kanan, Ezra, and Sabine encounter the green-hued spirits of Dathomir's famous witches. They swirl and swarm with wicked glee, eventually possessing Kanan and Sabine. This is peak Nightsisters, creepy and mysterious.

10. Rolling Rathtars (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

This one is more in the fun-scary category — a rollercoaster ride of a scene. With Han and Chewie facing down multiple gangs on their freighter and out of options, Rey accidentally opens the cages to several rathtars: huge creatures that are, basically, rolling balls of teeth and tentacles. They gobble up the baddies, chase our heroes, and we're jumping in our seats the whole time. 

11. Vader Unleashed (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

We've seen Darth Vader in action, but never like this. The rebels have stolen the plans to the Death Star, and the Emperor's enforcer is determined to get them back. The Sith Lord boards a dark tunnel leading to the rebel blockade runner, and a squad of rebels wait, blasters drawn at the nothingness before them. Vader ignites his lightsaber, turning the corridor red. He stalks forward, unleashing a ferocious attack and slaughtering the soldiers before him with chilling ease. The rebels scream as this unstoppable force keeps coming, and Darth Vader has never been more frightening.

12. Ice Spider Swarm (The Mandalorian)

No, no, no, no, no. Mando, Grogu, and Frog Lady are marooned on a frigid planet, and the ever-curious and hungry Adorable One stumbles upon a nest of some sort. He rips into an egg and munches on what's inside, but then the others start to move with life. Soon, near-countless white ice spiders begin to crawl forward, their spindly legs going clickety-clack in the worst way as they approach our trio. It's terrifying...and then we see the mama ice spider. Mando and company have to run for their lives from a very real threat, resulting in a sequence that could be in a horror movie. 

13. The Dead Rise (Ahsoka)

Star Wars meets Night of the Living Dead, and it's ghoulishly great. After Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra defeat Thrawn's night troopers, the Grand Admiral's witch allies have a backup plan: Chanting a spell, they raise the troopers from the dead. The armored soldiers' eyes seem to glow green as they lurch forward, groaning and relentless as they attack once more. For those who love weird and scary Star Wars, zombie troopers are a welcome addition to the saga.

The former contractors helped build the Starlight Beacon, and bravely helped in the fallout from its destruction. Now members of the Republic Defense Corps, the husband-and-wife team must face real galactic threats. In StarWars.com’s exclusive excerpt of “No Big Deal” by Lydia Kang, an original Star Wars: The High Republic short story included in Star Wars Insider #222, we find the duo headed for a meeting on their next adventure…

Being on solid ground is supposed to be a comforting thing, especially on a planet like Eriadu. Here, everything on the planet was inviting – from the tavern-laden streets of the various cities, to snow-dusted mountains hiding their inner riches of lommite ore. The place begged you to keep your feet planted and stay.

For Joss Adren, feet solidly on the ground and with a foaming ale before him, he was nonetheless anxious to get back to the Aurora III, the Longbeam cruiser he and Pikka piloted for the Republic Defence Corps. Pikka and ship – that was comfort. That was home. She’d always patted the Aurie, as they’d nicknamed it, thanking it for saving their lives so many times. Speaking of Pikka, where was she?

He glanced around the commissary, busy with species from across the Mid Rim and Outer Rim territories. Two Ugnaughts, arguing over bowls of stew, another group of RDC officers rubbing their chins and occasionally glancing at Joss. He didn’t know them. There were more and more RDC personnel on the planet these days, but they were trying not to stick out too much. Eriadu wasn’t a place that enjoyed having a lot of off-world military muscle about. So it was no surprise that heads turned his way when Admiral Kronara and a young ensign at his side parted the crowds by the door and sat before Joss at his tiny table.

Joss was slowly growing accustomed to the rank and files formalities now that he and Pikka had been in the RDC since the fall of Starlight Beacon. But as soon as Joss began to stand, Admiral Kronara barely shook his head. Joss understood. This was not a time to bring attention to themselves.

“Good to see you again,” Kronara said in his gruff voice. “This is Ensign Ebbe Casset. New to the RDC, after working in the Malastare-Sullust Joint Task Force for a few years. Ensign, this is Captain Adren.”

“Oh!” Joss tried to rein in his surprise. “Casset… as in…”

“Yes, Hedda Casset was my aunt,” she said crisply. Not a sign of sadness on her unlined face. More like resolve. She probably got this response all the time.

“Wow. That must have been… wow,” Joss said. The young woman nodded with slight irritation, or perhaps sadness, before the steely resolve returned. Joss turned his head this way and that, looking for Pikka. Where was she? He was not good with being face to face with the discomfort of what had befallen Hedda Casset. If not for her, more would have died during the Great Hyperspace Disaster. She was a true hero. But she was also a reminder of how many lives had been lost in the last two years. Sometimes, Joss shivered at the thought that he and Pikka could have easily been on Starlight Beacon when it was destroyed a little more than a year ago.

“Where is Pikka? The other Captain Adren, that is,” Admiral Kronara said. “I believe she was going to be in this meeting?” He waved for a service droid.

Pikka had excused herself to wash up before sitting down, but it had been more than fifteen minutes. What was she doing? Pikka wasn’t the type of person to preen before a mirror. More likely, she had found a poorly constructed electrical circuit and was telling someone to get it fixed before they had a wire-fire on their hands.

“Right here.”

A slim hand squeezed Joss’s shoulder and Pikka Adren slipped into the chair beside him. Joss tried not to beam, as he was wont to do whenever Pikka entered the room. He was terrifically proud of his wife. If it weren’t for Pikka, they wouldn’t have been able to change the operational code of their Longbeam when fighting the impossibly fast Nihil ships during the Battle of Kur. She pushed her wavy, deep brown hair away from her temples, her blue eyes glancing at Ebbe. Of late, there were dark circles under them. She’d been working too hard, but as always, Pikka never complained. She nodded to the admiral. Of course, she knew to play it casual so as not to bring attention to their group.

Pikka and Ebbe introduced themselves. Pikka’s eyebrows went up slightly at hearing Ebbe’s surname.

“Thank you for joining the RDC. It means a lot to many people,” Pikka said quietly. Unlike Joss, she always knew the right thing to say. Ebbe nodded, her eyes glazing for a moment with moisture. The wait staff droid arrived.

“We’re technically on duty, but I wouldn’t say no to an ale myself,” Admiral Kronara said, running a hand through his silver-streaked hair. “A round for the table?”

“Not during work,” Ebbe said, eyeing Admiral Kronara.

“In that case, two jogan juices,” Pikka said. She waved at the departing droid. “And some salted wuli nuts! I’m starving. So.” She leaned in close. “I take it you’re not telling us we have a well-deserved holiday coming. You have a mission to discuss?”

No one’s ever really gone, but in Star Wars — as in real life — sometimes a farewell has more finality than we at first realize.

We thought Ahsoka Tano and her Master Anakin Skywalker may have parted ways for good when Tano decided to leave the Jedi Order at the end of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5. Falsely accused of a brutal bombing at the Jedi Temple, Anakin’s faith in his Padawan never faltered, but we can’t say the same for her belief in the Jedi Order, or the Council’s support of one of their own. At the end of the ordeal, the Jedi apologized, but Ahsoka still decided to walk away, leaving her lightsabers and her friends behind.

That is, until The Clone Wars was saved and Season 7 brought the Siege of Mandalore to the screen. In “Old Friends Not Forgotten,” Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi-Wan Kenobi are brought together for a bittersweet reunion with Bo-Katan Kryze. While out on her own, Ahsoka has been working with the Mandalorian and gathering intel on the renegade Maul, the former Sith Lord who killed the Duchess Satine and stole the throne of Mandalore away from the rightful rulers. Everyone around that table has a personal vibro axe to grind with Maul, but it’s not the Jedi way to spend your days plotting revenge, so some of them hide their anger better than others.

From the start, the reunion of Ahsoka and Anakin is uneasy and awkward. In a reversal of roles from when they first met amid the Battle of Christophsis, it’s Anakin who seems eager and a bit flustered, while Ahsoka is cool, calm, and collected. Her focus is on the task at hand, not her personal feelings about being back with Skywalker and the 501st Legion, even if she’s only a guest. While Skywalker rationalizes that her path has led her exactly where she needed to be, once again showing that unwavering faith in his former student, Obi-Wan is skeptical. Or as he puts it, “cautiously optimistic.”

Clearly Ahsoka has been missed. Artoo rushes to greet her enthusiastically and Anakin can barely contain his excitement. After a tense exchange — Ahsoka is, after all, there to ask the Republic to lend a hand on yet another battlefront, waging war on Mandalore — Skywalker finally gets the chance to show his former student her surprise.

Captain Rex and the boys have painted their helmets to match Ahsoka’s facial markings, a line-up of loyal soldiers who still insist on calling her “Commander” even though she’s no longer a part of the Jedi Order and thus a general for the Republic. This small act of solidarity is a touching reminder that Ahsoka has fought alongside the clones for years, and their respect for her remains. But it’s also a chilling reminder of events to come. The clones have eked out their own identities with uniquely painted armor. Although they cannot know it yet, when the Empire takes hold they will be forced to give up those pieces of individuality for good.

Almost sheepishly, Anakin presents Ahsoka with a plain box, a gift for his friend. But the tender moment is interrupted by the blaring of an alarm, as word reaches Kenobi that General Grievous has attacked Coruscant and kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine. In a moment, everything changes. All resources are immediately diverted away from any potential help for Mandalore and its people.

But as a parting gift, the 501st is divided at Anakin’s suggestion, so half the soldiers can aid Ahsoka on her mission to capture Maul for the Republic, while the rest travel to the galaxy’s heart and ensure the end of the Clone Wars. “Thanks for the support, as always,” Tano tells Skywalker, an echo of every time he’s had her back in the three years they’ve fought together on the battlefield. He may not have wanted a Padawan when she got assigned to him, but he clearly sees her as much more than a student and apprentice. “That’s what friends are for,” he says.

The real present is Ahsoka’s lightsabers, now glowing a brilliant blue. “I took care of them. They’re good as new,” Anakin tells her. “Maybe a little better.” With the support of the troopers and her lightsabers returned to her, Ahsoka is ready to face Maul and join the Siege of Mandalore. But she can’t know that this will be the last time she’ll see her friend, Anakin Skywalker, before he is turned to the darkness.

The last thing she says is simple. “Good luck!” Kenobi may believe there’s no such thing, but Anakin and Ahsoka know otherwise. And then the two friends part ways.

It’s a bittersweet goodbye when we know where fate will take them. Ahsoka succeeds in capturing Maul, but even in the glow of hyperspace, the turmoil on Coruscant reaches her. Through the Force, she senses something terribly wrong as he falls to the dark side just before Order 66 is swiftly declared. And the next time they meet, the former Jedi Master and his grown-up apprentice, it will not be the same Anakin who stands before Ahsoka Tano. It will be Darth Vader, the man who effectively killed Skywalker. Although it will not be the last time Ahsoka must confront her past and Anakin's role in it, as fans see in Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka.

All episodes of Ahsoka are now streaming, only on Disney+.

What You’ll Need

• Nubs pumpkin template

• Scissors

• Large pumpkin

• Pumpkin carving tools (large spoon and small carving tool)

• Masking tape

• Pushpin

• Candle or battery-powered tea light

Get Started!

The activities in this article should only be done with adult supervision.

Step 1: Print the Nubs pumpkin template and cut around it in a large circle. Set aside for now.

Step 2: Hollow out the large pumpkin, using a large spoon to scrape the inside, making it as smooth as possible.

Step 3: Choose the side of the pumpkin you’d like to use for Nubs' face. Use the masking tape to attach the stencil to that side, slightly creasing the paper so that it’s pressed against the pumpkin as close as possible.

Tip: When adjusting and folding the stencil, avoid creasing the paper on the gray shapes.

Step 4: Trace every line of the stencil by pressing the pushpin through the paper and into the pumpkin. The more holes you poke, the easier it will be to connect the dots when carving!

Step 5: Remove the template. You should see the stencil traced in dots on the surface of the pumpkin.

Step 6: Start carving! Carefully cut out each shape you traced with the small carving tool. Take extra care when carving the two eye shapes; you’re going to need them for later. Set aside and continue carving.

Tip: If the eye shapes break when you push them out of the pumpkin, you can stick the broken pieces together with a toothpick.

Step 7: Once all shapes are cut out, take one of the semi-circle eye pieces you saved. Place it inside one of the cut-out ears, gently bending the ends to fit inside. Repeat with the other eye piece and ear.

Note: It should be a snug fit; toothpicks aren’t needed to attach the ears.

Your Nubs-o’-lantern is complete! This happy Pooba pumpkin will keep you smiling all season.

1. Malachor

Malachor is quite literally a dark planet with an equally dark history to match. Home to a large, ancient Sith temple, Malachor is a world that young Jedi have always been taught to avoid. As seen in Star Wars Rebels, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, and Ahsoka Tano travel to the planet in search of a way to defeat the Inquisitors. During their investigation, they come face to face with the remnants of the ancient battle and the evil hidden within the Sith structure.

2. Exegol

Outer Rim worlds are pretty far out in space, but we can’t forget the Unknown Regions, either. In this part of the galaxy we find Exegol, one of the oldest Sith worlds. Exegol is hauntingly barren and plays host to ongoing electrical strikes, giving it a nightmarish feel. The planet hosts an ancient and massive Sith citadel, which a very active collective of cultists still call home following Darth Sidious’ death in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, and it’s where Palpatine would make his return. Exegol is a truly terrifying setting for the final face-off with Darth Sidious and the high cost that comes with his defeat.

3. Dathomir

Nothing is quite as unwelcoming as blood-red light bathing an entire planet. That’s what you’ll find on Dathomir, a mysterious world that is desolate and covered in overrun vegetation and craggly rocks. The infamous witch clan known as the Nightsisters can be found living in large stone fortresses on Dathomir, where they rule unchallenged. Wielding dark magicks, the sisters primarily keep to themselves, preferring to remain out of galactic affairs for the most part. Elsewhere on the planet are the Nightbrothers, a tattooed clan of male Zabrak warriors governed by the Nightsisters. Dathomir isn’t a planet to find yourself on for too long, with twisting swamplands and dark secrets abound — including the occasional rise of the dead.

4. Mortis

Mortis, first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, is a mountainous world that defies almost any traditional description. Drawing visitors in for unexplained reasons with an ethereal air about the entire planet, Mortis is inhabited by Force-strong entities simply known as the Father, the Daughter, and the Son. During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano find themselves mysteriously transported to the dream-like world after following an ancient Jedi distress code in an unrelated star system. Caught between the Force wielders’ confrontation, the three Jedi experience a horrifying time, including possession and death brought on by the battle between good and evil.

5. Mustafar

The Outer Rim is home to more than one scary planet. Mustafar, a molten planet that's covered in lava and volcanoes, is a true hotbed of terrifying moments in the history of Star Wars. Once a green and lively place, Mustafar has long been mined by the Tech Union for all of its rich minerals. But mining isn't what makes Mustafar a no-go on your galactic trip list. It's the planet where Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi duel at the end of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith — an epic battle that would have major ramifications. And Mustafar sees its fair share of additional horror during the time of the Empire, as captured Jedi are brought to the planet to face interrogation and execution. Darth Vader's own base of operations, Fortress Vader, can be found on top of a Sith cave on Mustafar, as well. All of these moments make the volcanic planet the perfect scary setting for LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales, where Poe Dameron faces further creepy adventures — including an ancient evil inside of Fortress Vader. 

6. Maldo Kreis

Things are getting chilly on this last planet. Maldo Kreis first appears in The Mandalorian when Din Djarin crashes after being chased by New Republic pilots. A world made up of icy wastelands, Maldo Kreis isn’t for the faint of heart. Ice, snow, and all manner of caverns fill up the surface of the world. This makes it a great place to hide for a crash-landed Mandalorian — though Din Djarin isn't alone. Creepy crawlies known as ice spiders call Maldo Kreis home; some are small, some are very big, and together they can easily overwhelm their prey. Unfortunately for Din, he and Grogu get to experience a swarm themselves after they disturb an entire nest. If there’s anything worse than spiders, it’s ice spiders.

While you’ll need some patience for this DIY, you can rewatch some of your favorite Ahsoka episodes while you’re waiting for everything to dry. Let’s get to it!

What You’ll Need

• 6.5” foam craft pumpkin, white

• Pencil

• Foam clay (sometimes called modeling foam)

• Armature wire

• Wire cutters

• Pushpin

• Aluminum foil

• Dark brown acrylic paint

• Paint brush

• Light brown acrylic paint

• Black acrylic paint

• Clear gloss varnish

• School glue

• Dark brown yarn, light brown or tan yarn, and white yarn

• Three small bowls or plastic baggies

• Scissors

• Craft knife

• Black or dark brown pastel (optional)

• Fishing line

Get Started!

The activities in this article should only be done with adult supervision.

Step 1: Use the Loth-cat seen in the first two episodes of Ahsoka as a guide to roughly sketch its face on the craft pumpkin.

Step 2: Use the foam clay to make two round eyes, each about an inch in length. Set aside to dry.

Step 3: Next, use the wire cutters to cut two pieces of armature wire about 4” in length.

Step 4: Gently pierce the pumpkin with the pushpin on either side of the stem where you’d like the center of the ears to be. Push the armature wire pieces into those holes. Add glue if necessary for a solid hold.

Tip: Armature wire bends easily, so you may need to hold the bottom end of the wire with pliers to push it through.

Step 5: Tear a medium-sized piece of aluminum foil from the roll. Wrap it around the armature wire and sculpt it to make a slightly curved Loth-cat ear shape. Repeat on the other wire.

Step 6: Cover the entire ear with the foam clay until none of the foil is visible. Repeat on the other ear. Let the foam clay dry, preferably overnight.

Tip: Foam clay isn’t blended or smoothed easily, but don’t worry about it. It will be covered in later steps.

Step 7: Paint the two ears with the dark brown acrylic paint and let dry.

Step 8: Paint the face you sketched with the light brown acrylic paint. Let dry.

Step 9: Paint the two eyes and the Loth-cat’s nose and mouth with the black acrylic paint. Let dry.

Step 10: Add one or two coats of the clear gloss varnish to both eyes. Let dry.

Step 11: Glue the two eyes in place on the Loth-cat’s face and let dry.

Step 12: Working on one yarn color at a time, use the scissors to snip tiny pieces off the end of the yarn string to make fuzzy flocking. Work over a small bowl or workspace and collect the pieces into a plastic baggie. Cut enough dark brown pieces to completely cover both ears, and a couple of handfuls of the light brown and white pieces for the face.

Tip: Your hand will get tired from using scissors, so be sure to take breaks and rest!

Step 13: Cover one ear in a layer of school glue and gently press the brown flocking on top. Pieces will fall off as you add fluff — this is a messy process! Continue until the entire ear is covered in glue and fur, then repeat on the other ear. Let dry.

Step 14: Once dry, you can run a dry paint brush over the ears to remove flocking that isn’t secured. Additional fluff can be glued on top of previously glued fluff to fill any patches.

Step 15: Repeat with the light brown fur on the top half of the face and the white fur on the lower half. Leave the nostrils and mouth uncovered. Let all glue dry and fill in any patches as needed.

Step 16: Take two small pieces of the foam clay and roll them with one pointed end. Let dry, and then use a craft knife to cut the rounded tops off so the teeth are the same length (about ¼ inch).

Step 17: Glue the two teeth in place and let dry.

Step 18: If you’d like to add more colors to the pumpkin, use black and brown pastels and a dry paint brush to dab the pastel powder on to the fur.

Step 19: Finally, use the pushpin to make six holes in the pumpkin, three on either side of the Loth-cat’s cheeks.

Tip: If you’re having trouble getting the pushpin through the pumpkin, you can heat it with a candle or lighter first.

Step 20: Cut six pieces of fishing line, each a few inches in length. Push a piece into each of the holes you made to finish the Loth-cat’s whiskers. You can add glue and more fur on top of the hole if needed.

You’ve done it! You have your very own Loth-cat!

Your fuzzy friend makes a perfect scary season decoration. We won’t tell anyone if you decide to leave it on display year-round.

Starlight Beacon is no more. Now the Jedi left behind must grapple with a galaxy on the brink of war.

As Phase III of Star Wars: The High Republic begins, the aftermath of the Nihil attack on Starlight remains fresh as the one-year anniversary looms. In the upcoming novel, The Eye of Darkness by George Mann, fans will reunite with favorite characters from Phase I of the multimedia initiative, including Jedi Master Elzar Mann. In StarWars.com's exclusive excerpt from the book, which arrives November 14, return to Coruscant where we find Elzar considering his place in the galaxy, the Republic, and the brewing conflict while he grieves the absence of his two best friends…

***

High above the soaring spires of Coruscant, the stars turned in their firmament as they always had, as they always would. Pinpricks of light denoting distant suns, distant worlds, distant peoples, mirrored by the glittering lights of the city far below.

It should have been beautiful.

Yet to Elzar Mann, the stars looked wrong. No matter how hard or how long he peered up at them from his vantage point on the grand balcony outside the chancellor’s office, they just seemed somehow off kilter, out of sorts. As if the galaxy had become kinked, twisted, changed. As if everything he’d once relied upon — every still point in a chaotic galaxy — had been suddenly yanked away, pulled out roughly from under him while he tried to remain standing.

It had been the same ever since the fall of Starlight Beacon and . . .

. . . and Stellan.

Elzar closed his eyes and allowed the breeze to ruffle his unkempt hair, as if hoping that the chill wind could somehow sweep away the memories, carry them off into the streaming lanes of traffic and away through the spires and domes until they were gone. He’d noticed that a few gray strands had appeared around his temples in recent months. He’d lost weight, too, and while he was still toned — he’d taken to practicing lightsaber drills late into the night, most nights — he’d grown thin. He’d tried to convince himself that it was a result of the work, of keeping himself so busy trying to figure out a solution to the Nihil problem, but he knew he was allowing things to worry away at him.

How Stellan would have laughed at him. Nudged him in the ribs and told him to cease dwelling on things that were done. To focus on the here and now. To do what needed to be done, and accept that the Force guided his hand, now as it always had.

But Stellan was gone. He was one with the Force. He had been for a year. Elzar knew that his old friend had found peace. And yet his absence was still marked. Not just a hole in the Jedi’s hearts and minds, but in their leadership, too. Especially now that the Nihil had won, had shattered Starlight Beacon and subsequently annexed dozens of worlds, an entire sector of the Outer Rim, from the rest of the galaxy. This area was being called the Nihil Occlusion Zone, and was separated by an invisible barrier that made it all possible.

The Stormwall: a vast web that disrupted hyperspace travel, causing any vessel that attempted to cross it to be wrenched violently back out of hyperspace, either destroying it immediately or causing it to disappear without a trace. There’d been much debate about what exactly happened to those missing ships, given that communication across the Stormwall was also impeded, but the assumption was that any ships that weren’t destroyed in the attempt were being corralled by Nihil patrols on the other side, and deposited into so-called kill zones. Certainly, they were never heard from again.

Worse, the network of relays and buoys — or “stormseeds” — that powered the Stormwall was so large that traveling across it without lightspeed was equally out of the question. Any ship trying to breach such a vast gulf of space at sublight speeds would have to travel for a hundred years before reaching its destination. Not only that, but any attempt at sublight ingress was being met and destroyed by Nihil patrols or swarms of scav droids, alerted by the automated systems that controlled the Stormwall technology. Patrols that could traverse the Stormwall and deliver a killing blow before the target was even aware it had happened.

It was ingenious, in its own way, and it had so far frustrated all Jedi or Republic attempts to bypass it, usually with disastrous results. Ships flown by droids. Electromagnetic pulses. Data slicing. Sustained attack on the well-shielded stormseeds. Nothing had worked. Nothing at all.

With the Stormwall, the Nihil had carved out their own domain, challenging the Republic at every turn. And with the Nameless — or “Force Eaters,” as they were also known — they had unleashed a weapon that even the Jedi could not stop. A weapon that targeted the very essence of who the Jedi were. A weapon designed to obliterate them.

Elzar exhaled.

This would all have been so much easier if Avar were by his side. Instead, she was somewhere deep in the Occlusion Zone, as distant to him as Stellan was.

They’d stood together on Eiram, watching the last vestiges of the Beacon slip beneath the cold, crushing waves, carrying all the Republic’s hopes and dreams down with it. It had been a symbol of strength and unity, of light in the dark, of hope. And the Nihil, led by Marchion Ro, had turned that symbol against them. Now it was a symbol of nothing but failure and loss.

Elzar had allowed Avar to take his hand in that moment, to lend him strength. He’d taken comfort from that; a shared understanding, a silent acknowledgment that they still had each other, despite everything. Despite the galaxy turning to chaos around them. But he cursed himself now that, lost in his own shock and grief, his own shame at what he had done, he had failed to ask Avar how she had felt. Had failed to offer her the comfort that she had offered him. And that pain she’d been carrying, that sense of loss and failure, had driven her away.

Unless it was him that had driven her away. That was the notion that haunted him, that plagued him with uncertainty and shame. He’d finally worked up the courage to confide in her about what had happened in the final moments of Starlight Beacon. How he’d acted without thought, murdering the Nihil woman, Chancey Yarrow, as she’d tried to save them all. He hadn’t known it at the time, of course. He’d assumed she was just another Nihil trying to sabotage the Jedi’s attempts to save the station. But the results were the same: He’d ended their last chance at saving Starlight, and in doing so had taken the life of someone who’d been trying to help.

Everything that had come afterward was now partly his fault. He had to make amends, to try to embody even a tiny sliver of the good that Stellan had gifted to the galaxy. To somehow try to fill the hole that Stellan had left behind. He’d told Avar all of this, the words spilling from his mouth on the shores of Eiram.

Avar had said all the right things, of course. All the platitudes and reassurances, repeating all the tenets of the Force and the reminders that everything happened for a reason, that he wasn’t to blame. That only the Nihil carried that weight upon their shoulders. She’d shown him all the mercy and understanding for which he’d hoped.

And yet . . . Elzar couldn’t help but wonder if it had also been part of the reason she’d gone, accepting a mission to try to get closer to the Nihil, to discover their intentions in the aftermath of their victory. Intentions that none of them could have anticipated.

Now she, too, was lost. Trapped behind the Stormwall, deep in Nihil space. He didn’t even know if she was still alive.

No, Elzar. You’d know. She’s still out there.

She has to be.

He would bring her back. Avar and the others who shared her fate. He would find a way. The threat of the Nihil would be ended. The Stormwall would fall, and peace would be returned to the galaxy.

There was no choice. He would do what Stellan would have done. No matter that they’d already tried everything they could think of. No matter that the Nihil had defeated them at every turn.

He would find a way.

He had to.

It was the only way to make things right.

Star Wars: The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness arrives November 14 and is available for pre-order now from Random House Worlds.

Visit Lucasfilm’s official hub for all things Star Wars: The High Republic on StarWars.com.

Announced this week, “Gift the Galaxy” is a 10-week celebration revealing and highlighting Star Wars toys, apparel, and more, helping fans find a gift for everyone on their list. Or if you’re a fan, maybe you’ll find something new for your own wishlist! Just visit StarWars.com/GiftTheGalaxy every Tuesday through December 19 to see the latest products featured and join the conversation on social media using #GiftTheGalaxy and #StarWars.

On October 20, Good Morning America welcomed Lucasfilm for a special segment on Gift the Galaxy, opening a larger-than-life present to unveil a stunning Star Wars-themed set and a varied collection of gifts.

See below for some of our favorite items featured on Good Morning America and from the launch of Gift the Galaxy. Happy (bounty) hunting!

Good Morning America Spotlight

The Mandalorian Aprons by Hedley & Bennett

Your clan of two will be ready for any culinary mission with these adorable aprons inspired by the Mandalorian and Grogu.

Grogu’s Snack Attack Complete 6-in-1 Carrier by LÍLLÉbaby

Carry your Grogu-sized little Jedi and a galaxy of snacks with this Mandalorian-themed carrier, featuring a zip-down front panel that doubles as a large pocket with breathable mesh.

Star Wars Ewok Pet Accessories by Loungefly

Bring some cute Ewok flair to your own furry companion with this new collection featuring collars, harnesses, and more.

Star Wars Holiday Family Matching Sleepwear Collection by shopDisney

The Force and holidays run strong in your family with these matching Star Wars PJs, featuring the Skywalkers gathered ‘round the tree.

Millennium Falcon 26oz 3-Wick Candle by Homesick

This iconic Star Wars ship joins Homesick’s Star Wars collection on November 26, with notes of leather, brushed suede, santal, rusted steel, and cashmere musk. When fall and winter nights get chilly, this candle’s got it where it counts.

For writer Cavan Scott, there’s no mystery as to why Halloween and Star Wars go so well together.

“Ask anyone who has gone trick or treating as Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker!” he tells StarWars.com. “Star Wars has been scary from the start. I mean, there’s a werewolf in the cantina. And that’s before you get to wampas, witches, and brain worms!”

He would know. Scott has turned spine-tingling Star Wars stories into an annual Halloween tradition, writing several all-ages comic book anthologies over the last few years. And he has returned from the depths (of his busy schedule) for a new creepy collection.

Star Wars: Tales from the Death Star, available now, features several short scary tales, all set in the Empire’s technological terror. There are monsters, ghosts, and more fun frights — but all with a Star Wars twist, and perfect for younglings and Jedi Masters alike. To mark the giant-size comic’s release today, Scott spoke with StarWars.com about why he chose the Death Star for this year’s setting, the surprising inspirations for “The Creature from the Trash Compactor,” and a new ghost he’s very excited about introducing to the saga. “Horror just works in a galaxy far, far away,” he adds. “Maybe because it’s a universe built on hope, the two going hand in most-likely-dismembered hand.” 

StarWars.com: You've taken readers to Vader's castle and the rancor pit for Halloweens past. Your latest is called Tales from the Death Star. How did you decide upon this creepy setting?

Cavan Scott: I mean, is anywhere scarier than the Death Star? For this collection, I was keen to do something different. In past anthologies, the individual stories haven’t had much to do with the location, other than maybe a few stories set in Vader’s castle. For this, I wanted to tell only stories that related to the Death Star…or rather, Death Stars! The battle station became the most important character.

StarWars.com: This collection is a new series of short stories. They're really fun, because each puts a Star Wars spin on a horror trope. Was that the goal from the outset?

Cavan Scott: Absolutely. The original idea for the Halloween specials came from a lunch with [Lucasfilm Publishing creative director] Mike Siglain way back in, I think it was 2017? We talked about the links between the horror films we loved and Star Wars, the biggest being the two grandmasters of Hammer Horror, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. We started riffing on creepy Star Wars stories we could create for their galaxy far, far away characters. Grand Moff Tarkin as Baron Frankenstein? Yes, please. Count Dooku as Dracula? I mean, it wrote itself. And the Halloween anthologies were born.

StarWars.com: The tales are all connected through a creepy framing story, with a mysterious figure "advising" a young boy on Kef Bir. What can you tell us about the inspiration for this, and the hooded storyteller?

Cavan Scott: One of the things I was most excited about the Death Star was that it allowed us to start telling stories set in the sequel trilogy, which the previous framing stories had never allowed. The original Tales from Vader’s Castle was going to be set around the time of The Force Awakens, but then was shifted back to around Rogue One. That meant that the Poe story we’d been planning became a Han story instead, and the sequel era was a no-go. The same went with Rancor’s Pit, but here we see the Death Star in its final resting place as seen in Rise of Skywalker — and a character introduced in that film as well — all beautifully realized by artist Soo Lee!

StarWars.com: "The Creature from the Trash Compactor" is the monster story of the bunch, which, spoiler, is about the dianoga. That's a benefit of setting your stories in the Death Star — you have instant access to an iconic Star Wars creature.

Cavan Scott: Yup. And it proves why the Death Star is instantly scary too. It comes with its own monsters!

StarWars.com: Without spoiling it, I felt that this was something of a tribute to Alien. Would you say that's true?

Cavan Scott: Oh, absolutely. And countless Doctor Who stories as well, when the TARDIS team are trapped on a space station swarming with terrors. Artist Vincenzo Riccardi does such a good job on all those claustrophobic corridors. I’d previously worked with Vincenzo on a British Dracula, comic so I knew his unique style would be just right for our creature feature.

StarWars.com: With "We Shall Double Our Efforts," you put a really fun twist on the Empire's push to finish the second Death Star — which is that they used zombies! It really walks the line between horror and comedy. Was that easy to pull off, or more of a challenge?

Cavan Scott: It was fun, that’s what it was! We often talk about these anthologies being a tribute to Hammer horror, but they’re actually nearer the output of Amicus, Hammer’s main rival that put out portmanteau features in the 1970s. Each had a framing story containing a number of shorts told by the framing story’s characters, films like Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors, The House that Dripped Blood, and my personal favorites: Vault of Evil and the wonderful From Beyond the Grave. All of them included a more comedic story and I wanted to continue that tradition here, while of course keeping things a little bit scary! I think [artist] Juan Samu, returning from his story in Tales from the Rancor Pit, got the balance just right!

StarWars.com: "Wild Squadron" is the ghost story, focusing on a fighter unit that has possibly returned from beyond the grave. How did you come up with that concept?

Cavan Scott: So for this one, I have to tip my hat to my pal (and fellow High Republic scribe) George Mann. “Wild Squadron” started life as a tale for our Life Day Treasury book. Ghost stories are a staple of Christmas in the UK, and so we were keen to bring a spectral midwinter chill to our holiday collection. However, Lucasfilm opted for another of our ghostly ideas, “The Spirit of Life Day.” “Wild Squadron” just wouldn’t go away, though, so I asked George if I could write it for Tales From the Death Star. Luckily, he said yes, or I would have haunted him for all eternity.

It also meant I could add another Ewok to my catalogue. In the past we’ve had an Ewok Wicker Man, I’ve sent Wicket hunting demons in the snow, and even teamed up the murder bears with a certain green-furred smuggler. Now we get an Ewok ghost! And a terrifying one thanks to artist Fico Ossio, who I’ve been working with on Hawkman and Hawkwoman for DC. Although the true horror for Fico was how many different kinds of ships I made him draw for this story! TIE fighters. X-wings. Jedi Vectors. And that’s just for starters. Fico, I’m so, so sorry.

StarWars.com: "The Haunting of Grand Moff Tarkin" flips the script on Tarkin. And obviously with Peter Cushing's legacy in the Hammer horror films, it just feels right seeing him in a scary story. Was that on your mind?

Cavan Scott: Always. Writing Tarkin is forever a joy and it was fantastic to be given a chance to build on his family, while also delving deeper into the man’s fears. Because even Governor Tarkin is scared of something, right?

And the real joy here is working with Ingo Römling, who I met at German Star Wars convention, Noris Force Con 6. I was tabling next to Ingo and fell in love with his art. I texted Mike Siglain and said we had to get Ingo in for the Tarkin story, as I knew he’d nail the likenesses while also adding the creepy sheen a haunted Death Star needs. He replied immediately with “Yes, please,” and proceeded to tell me how much he adored Ingo’s art. So I leant over, pitched the story to Ingo and “The Haunting of Grand Moff Tarkin” is the result.

StarWars.com: Finally, any ideas for next Halloween?

Cavan Scott: I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you…or at least throw you into the Dark Lands. I’m not sure which fate would be worse. 

Now through November 13, watch specially curated videos from @StarWars, including a closer look at the lineage of Masters and Padawans that led from Master Yoda to Sabine Wren, Thrawn’s return in live-action, and footage of Hayden Christensen reminiscing about his first day on set wielding a lightsaber.

With over 48 handles participating, you can also check out the latest from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, ESPN, National Geographic, Disney Parks, and more, create your own clips with official music and effects, test your knowledge with daily trivia, and collect and trade character cards — like the Darth Vader below! — to win unique profile frames on TikTok.

Check out #Disney100 for more!

Minecraft Star Wars: Path of the Jedi DLC is now available. Enjoy your block-filled Jedi adventure, and check out a brand-new launch trailer and screenshot gallery below!

At the New York Comic-Con 2023 Lucasfilm Publishing panel today, assembled authors Megan Crouse, Claudia Gray, Marc Guggenheim, E.K. Johnston, John Jackson Miller, Greg Pak, Ethan Saks, Charles Soule, Rosemary Soule, and Alyssa Wong joined host and Lucasfilm Publishing creative director Michael Siglain to give fans a glimpse at never-before-seen cover art, upcoming titles, and other news from books and comics. Among the announcements was a new Marvel adaptation that will explore Grand Admiral Thrawn’s alliance with Darth Vader, and a first look at a new lightsaber hilt that will give fans the chance to wield the blade of Stellan Gios. Check out all the highlights below.

1. The party is just getting started with Star Wars: Mace Windu.

Mace Windu is getting his own Marvel miniseries in January, just in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. The series, written by Marc Bernardin, was announced along with this cover by Mateus Manhanini.

2. Ethan Sacks is sticking with bounty hunting with Star Wars: Jango Fett.

The writer behind the Bounty Hunters series, which it was revealed will soon come to an end, will helm the Marvel miniseries that debuts in March. A cover by Leinil Francis Yu was also revealed.

3. Grand Admiral Thrawn returns in Thrawn: Alliances.

The newest Marvel adaptation written by Thrawn creator (and author of the novel by the same name) Timothy Zahn and Jody Houser debuts in January with this stunning cover by Rod Reis.

4. Make the jump to Hyperspace Stories with new Dark Horse original graphic novels.

A new line of original graphic novels kicks off with new tales featuring a beloved Jedi duo. Qui-Gon written by George Mann and illustrated by Andrea Mutti and Obi-Wan written by Cecil Castelucci with art by Lucas Marangon were announced with covers by Michael Cho.

5. With the start of Phase III of Star Wars: The High Republic, the Trials of the Jedi are just beginning...

The covers of Shadows of Starlight issue #4 and The High Republic #3, both by Phil Noto were revealed. The first, written by Charles Soule, features Marchion Ro holding the lightsaber of Loden Greatstorm. Meanwhile, Cavan Scott will continue to pen the flagship comic, with a story that involves Keeve Trennis battling Lourna Dee. (We never trusted her!) Both issues arrive in January.

6. And the Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures continue!

Cover art from Dark Horse’s The High Republic Adventures #3 shows the return of Kantam Sy leaping into the fray against Tartak Vil. The cover by Harvey Tolibao and Kevin Tolibao accompanies the ongoing series written by Daniel José Older. That issue will debut in February.

7. You can collect all the High Republic's finest lightsabers like you’re a part of the Nihil with Star Wars: The High Republic - The Lightsaber Collection.

A new book from Insight Editions will celebrate the unique hilts of the Jedi in their prime with full-color illustrations of each weapon and new portraits of those who carried them. 

8. Or get your hands on the blade of Stellan Gios when it comes to shopDisney and Disney Parks later this year.

The special edition lightsaber is the first to be crafted from the era of the High Republic as part of the official line of lightsabers available at shopDisney, Disneyland resort, and Walt Disney World resort. Limited to 5,000 pieces globally, it arrives this fall.

9. A new book on Star Wars: Return of the Jedi celebrates the visuals from the film.

Make like an Ewok and celebrate the film that turned 40 this year with a new Visual Archive debuting in March. With a cover by Ise Ananphada, writers Kelly Knox, Clayton Sandell, and S.T. Bende and Insight Editions pay homage to the final film in the original trilogy that saw Luke Skywalker triumph over evil and help his father, Darth Vader, return to the light.

10. No, this is your dad joke.

Speaking of everyone’s favorite Sith Lord/father Darth Vader, Chronicle Books revealed a new book of hilarious jokes and puns for fans of all ages, Star Wars: Dad Jokes, written by Kelly Knox with cover art and illustrations by Johnny Sampson.