Star Wars Insider (Special Edition 2019)

™ ™
T T H H E E O FF FF II C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M A
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2019 SPECIAL EDITION





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A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
™
SPECIAL EDITION 2019
TITAN EDITORIAL
Editor / Jonathan Wilkins
Senior Editor / Martin Eden
Assistant Editors / Tolly Maggs,
Jake Devine
Art Editor / Andrew Leung
WELCOME... LUCASFILM
Senior Editor / Brett Rector
Art Director / Troy Alders
Creative Director / Michael Siglain
Asset Management / Tim Mapp,
Welcome to this special edition Erik Sanchez, Bryce Pinkos,
Nicole LaCoursiere, Shahana Alam
of Star Wars Insider, now on Story Group / Pablo Hidalgo, Leland Chee,
its 10th volume! This time Matt Martin
we’ve focused on some of CONTRIBUTORS
Tricia Barr, Michael Kogge,
the great women who have Megan Crouse, Shana O’Neill, Mark Newbold,
contributed to the Star Wars Amy Ratcliffe, Janine K. Spendlove
saga, in front of the camera SPECIAL THANKS TO
Erich Schoeneweiss at Random House, Holly
and behind the scenes, and McIntosh, Joseph Taraborrelli, Andrea Towers
and Jim Nausedas at Marvel Comics, Lizzy
as creators of books, comics, Draeger, Tracy Cannobbio and Chris
and fine art. Argyropoulos at Lucasfi lm
TITAN MAGAZINES
Production Controller / Peter James
We are also paying tribute to some of the Senior Production Controller / Jackie Flook
best female characters that have captured the Art Director / Oz Browne
Senior Sales Manager / Steve Tothill
imaginations of fans across the world; characters such Circulation Executive / Frankie Hallam
Direct Sales & Marketing Manager /
as Leia Organa, Sabine Wren, Ahsoka Tano, and Rey. Ricky Claydon
Subscriptions Executive / Tony Ho
Commercial Manager / Michelle Fairlamb
From an interview with Lucasfilm’s president, Advertising & Marketing Assistant / Bella Hoy
U.S. Advertising Manager / Jeni Smith
Kathleen Kennedy, who has spearheaded the franchise Publishing Manager / Darryl Tothill
Publishing Director / Chris Teather
to even greater heights; to a look behind the scenes Operations Director / Leigh Baulch
of Marvel’s Doctor Aphra series; to writer Tricia Barr’s Executive Director / Vivian Cheung
Publisher / Nick Landau
heartfelt tribute to the much-missed Carrie Fisher,
DISTRIBUTION
this volume is a celebration of a glorious legacy that US Newsstand / Total Publisher Services, Inc.
John Dziewiatkowski 630-851-7683
only continues to get better with each passing year… US Newsstand Distribution / Curtis Circulation
Company
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For more info on advertising contact
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Jonathan Wilkins
STAR WARS INSIDER SPECIAL EDITION 2019
Editor (USPS 003-027) (ISSN 1041-5122)
Star Wars Insider is published eight times per year (January/February,
March/April, May, June/July, August, September/October,
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STAR WARS INSIDER / 3
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Contents







006 054 098
The Women of The Women of The Force Footprints in the Sand:
Star Wars Awakens Impressions of Rey
An overview of the saga’s Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher, An insightful, in-depth profile
strongest female protaginists. and Gwendoline Christie of Rey based on Star Wars:
discuss the movie. The Force Awakens.
016
The First Lady of 058 110
Star Wars Telling Tales “Inbrief”
A tribute to the late Carrie Writer/editor Elizabeth A thrilling story from the
Fisher, AKA Princess Leia. Schaefer on Star Wars stories. battlefield by acclaimed
author Janine K. Spendlove.
026 062
Aphra Takes Flight War Stories 116
No More Heroes?
An interview with the team Kathleen Kennedy and
behind Marvel Comics’ Gareth Edwards interviewed. A profile of Rogue One’s
sassy anti-heroine. heroine Jyn Erso.
068
032 The Return of Ahsoka Tano! 124
Rebel Romance Ashley Eckstein on returning Asajj Ventress: A-Typical
A profile of the love story to the Star Wars galaxy. Anti-Hero
between Hera Syndulla 076 A look at what makes one
and Kanan Jarrus. of Star Wars’ most complex
New Flames characters tick.
038 Author Christie Golden on
One to Read writing or the troops. 130
Writer Jody Houser on 080 Drawing on the Force
adapting Rogue One as An interview with Star Wars
a comic book. Phantastic Phasma artist Arantzazu Martinez.
The making of the captain’s
044 comic-book debut. 134
Moments of Destiny Fist of the Empire
Meet the creative team 086 Janina Gavankar talks about
behind the popular web- Who? What? Why? Wren! her role as Iden Versio in
series, Forces of Destiny. A profile of Mandalorian Star Wars: Battlefront II.
rebel Sabine Wren.
052 138
Red Five 092 Long Live Leia
Comic-book writer and The Early Days of the 10 moments from the
editor Jo Duffy chooses Expanded Universe ultimate Star Wars heroine.
her favorite Marvel Star Meet the women who kick-
Wars stories. started Star Wars publishing!













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HEROES



























The Women



Of Star Wars




From Leia’s defiance to Jyn’s brave self-sacrifi ce

for the Rebellion, Star Wars has a proud history
of heroic female characters. Insider pays tribute...


W ORDS: TR I C IA B ARR









































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HEROES










































Padmé Amidala

Archetype: Queen
Strengths: Diplomacy, faith in people, warrior

When we meet Padmé in intellectually curious. The This faith in democracy
The Phantom Menace, chance to explore Tatooine is leads to one of the most
she is obscured by her royal an opportunity to learn more ominous moments in Star
mask as Queen Amidala. Her about the galaxy. Her encounter Wars, as Palpatine declares
planet Naboo is under siege by in Watto’s junk shop with a himself Emperor and Padmé
the Trade Federation and she young Anakin Skywalker reveals says to Senator Bail Organa, “So
refuses to capitulate. Her hard her naiveté about slavery, but this is how liberty dies… with
stance doesn’t dissuade the also her ability to connect with thunderous applause.”
Federation’s leader, Nute someone with very different life To believe in something, to
Gunray, and as his forces experiences. Later, she comforts trust in a process, requires faith
capture the capital city, Padmé Anakin as he accompanies in people. That undoubtedly
flees with her handmaidens, them to Coruscant. leaves a person vulnerable to


hoping to find a diplomatic Although diplomacy the failings or evil intentions of
solution through the Galactic ultimately fails, the Naboo others. Ultimately, Padmé never

Senate. Although her world is queen decides to fight for her stopped believing in people,
in a tenuous position, the mask planet. The Phantom Menace even her husband Anakin
remains, hiding fear in the face showcases women as warriors, Skywalker who betrayed the
of overwhelming circumstances with the handmaidens an Republic and her. Her prophetic

that find them stranded on the integral part of Nute Gunray’s words to Obi-Wan Kenobi,
backwater world of Tatooine. capture in the Throne Room. “There is still good in him,”
When Padmé poses as After the liberation of were proven true decades later
a lowly handmaiden to Naboo, Padmé returns to the by her son Luke Skywalker, who
accompany Qui-Gon Jinn in world of diplomacy, joining found a way to connect with a
search of repair parts for her the Senate. She believes in the father who had very different
Royal Starship, she exposes process of democracy, and most life experiences, and brought
her true nature. Padmé is importantly in its people. him back into the light.



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HEROES






Mon Mothma

Archetype: Leader
Strengths: Wisdom, persuasion, compassion

In 1983’s Return of the Not revealing her identity, she
Jedi, Mon Mothma stood listens as he spills the story of
before the soldiers of the Rebel his love for the Imperial pilot
Alliance to prepare them for Ciena Ree. She offers him a
one of its most important cup of water and ushers him
battles, and made an off to bed. Only later does
impression on female fans of Thane learn who she is, and
the original trilogy. she reassures him, “It's all
Those fans didn’t have a lot right if you still love someone
of women to look up to in Star on the other side of this
Wars, and though she wore war—as long as you love what
white similar to Leia Organa, you're fighting for even more.” Ahsoka Tano

Mon Mothma was a different In the Rebels episode
Archetype: Fighter
type of character. As an ally “Secret Cargo,” Mon Mothma Strengths: Athleticism, trusts
to Senators Amidala and Bail again brings nourishment to her instincts, conviction
Organa in the earliest days of a rebel, Hera Syndulla, who
resisting Palpatine’s rule, to is helping her escape after Sometimes peace can be achieved only

her brief role in Rogue One, condemning the Emperor. by fighting for it. Anakin Skywalker
which showed the diffi culty In new territory now that her believes that principle, ultimately taking it to
of leading an alliance of life as a senator has ended, an extreme that taints his soul. His
disparate, volatile rebel Mon Mothma bonds with the apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, learns many lessons
factions, we really only learn Ghost’s captain before their from her Jedi Master. At the end of The Clone
a little about what drives her. desperate escape from the Wars, though, she concludes that the Jedi are
However, stand-out character clutches of Grand Admiral going down a path she cannot follow. One of
moments from the books and Thrawn. They rendezvous the toughest decisions in life is to walk away

animation get to the heart of with other rebel factions for from something that has defined us. This
her character. a secret meeting, and Mon isn’t a female or a male moment; it is a
In the novel Lost Stars, Mothma delivers a powerful human one, and makes Ahsoka one of Star
Thane Kyrell encounters the speech that convinces them Wars’ most relatable characters.

Rebel Alliance leader after to unite to fight the tyranny Through the novel Ahsoka, fans learn
drinking too much alcohol. of the Empire. about her path to becoming Fulcrum, an
agent of the Rebel Alliance. In fi nding this
role, she builds a new pair of lightsabers
from the kyber crystals taken from a Sith
Inquisitor she defeats. She heals the crystals
that glow red and they become white, a color
that to be seen by the human eye requires
all colors to be balanced in their intensity. It
represents good, beginnings, and exactitude.
Rebels reintroduces Ahsoka in a different
role. No longer the apprentice, she is now
the mentor who balances the teaching of
the Jedi with lessons learned on the run.
Her showdown with Darth Vader refl ects
maturity, fortitude, and a continued respect
for the important lessons instilled by Anakin.

Ahsoka finds a way to be true to herself even
as she faces down an evil she knows. His
name: Darth Vader.







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HEROES



Maz Kanata

Archetype: Mentor
Strengths: Wisdom, Force
knowledge, insight

”She’s run this watering hole for
a thousand years.” It’s quite the
introduction for Finn and Rey as they
enter Maz Kanata’s lakeside castle on
Takodano alongside Han Solo. Inside,
the sights and sounds of gambling and
eclectic musicians are reminiscent of
cantinas found in previous Star Wars

films, but nothing prepares the
audience for the diminutive humanoid
who calls out the smuggler’s name and

asks after his first mate Chewbacca. It is
at Maz’s table that we see Rey and Finn
begin to become a part of something
new, to break bread with others.
It is also at this table where Maz
offers knowledge about the ways of
the galaxy and the darkness spreading
through it. She challenges Han to
go back home. Clambering atop the
Sabine Wren table, she peers into the depths of
Finn’s soul with her goggle-adjusting
Archetype: Tech Expert gaze into his eyes. Yet in the moment
Strengths: Intellect, improvisation, Mandalorian training that Rey discovers the horrifi c past
that accompanies Luke Skywalker’s
Often we think of art and don’t simply blow things up, lightsaber, the wizened space pirate
science as opposing sides but create colorful displays pulls off her goggles and speaks to
of a dichotomy, and imagine in doing so. She marks their Rey’s heart. Maz distills the essence

tough soldiers as people who missions with graffiti, and her of the Force to the frightened girl, “It

don’t have time for either. firebird logo finds a fi tting moves through and surrounds every

Sabine Wren proves these home in the Rebel Alliance. living thing. Close your eyes. Feel it.
clichés wrong, combining all When the fi ght against The light…it’s always been there. It
these elements into a kind of the Empire brings her back to will guide you.” Rey doesn’t know it
hero we haven’t seen before her Mandalorian clan, Sabine at that moment, but Maz’s lesson is
in Star Wars. faces dual challenges: proving the first step into a new extraordinary

Her upbringing brings that she deserves to wield the world for her as a Force user.
together Mandalorian heritage ancient Darksaber retrieved
and the rigorous training of from Darth Maul’s lair, and
an Imperial academy cadet. convincing her family to
She learns to fight, but also accept her for who she is,

excels in intellectual pursuits. artist and all.
In Season Three of Rebels we That she succeeds in
learn that her scientifi c prowess both of these endeavors is a
was exploited by the Empire testament to her strength of
to develop a terrible weapon character as a person, and the
that was turned against the skillfulness of her character
Mandalorians, leading to her design in Rebels.
exile. Finding a new family By the Battle of Atollon,
among the Ghost crew, Sabine Sabine has matured from a
puts her knowledge of the vigilante teenager tagging
Empire to good use in fi ghting along in clashes with
back, while also letting her stormtroopers to a confi dent
own personality shine for warrior willing to lead a strike

the first time. Her explosions force against the Imperial fl eet.


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HEROES














































Leia Organa

Archetype: Rebel
Strengths: Persistence, courage, wit

From a young age, Leia Leia and her friends
Organa knows what she suffer setbacks:
wants to achieve for the galaxy: her capture by
the toppling of the evil Empire Darth Vader and
and the restoration of the imprisonment on
Republic’s democracy. For a the Death Star; the
moment, this meant covert loss of Echo Base;
resistance using the diplomatic betrayal by Lando;
cover of her service in the a rescue mission gone awry galaxy far, far away does not
Imperial Senate, such as the at Jabba the Hutt’s palace; the promise a happily ever after
ruse to deliver three cruisers to unanticipated interference of fairy tale ending. The rise of the
a rebel cell on Lothal. When Ewoks in the mission to the First Order and betrayal by her
she absconds from the Battle of Endor moon. Each time, Leia’s son cannot break Leia’s spirit.
Scarif with the stolen Death Star persistence never falters. When Again she stands fi rm, despite
plans, however, open rebellion others are hesitant, she takes the personal toll, leading the
is unavoidable. Then Leia shifts charge and leads the way; even Resistance as a bulwark against
from a diplomat to a military when they aren’t, they fi nd it a new attempt to bring tyranny

leader, overseeing the clashes at difficult to dissuade the princess to the galaxy. Leia has been a
Yavin, Hoth, and Endor until from her path. role model to so many for so
the tide is turned in the The years after the victories long because she represents the
Galactic Civil War. at Endor and Jakku see much power of standing up for what
But the Rebellion does not of Leia’s dream fulfi lled. Like you believe in, and never, ever
triumph easily. Time and again the real world, though, the giving up.



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HEROES




Jyn Erso
Archetype: Loner
Strengths: Survivor, hope, discipline

Sometimes before a person chooses
to become a hero to others, she
must have the inner fortitude simply to
survive, no matter how diffi cult the
circumstances. Jyn Erso endures hardship
upon hardship in her short life before
making the ultimate selfl ess sacrifi ce for
the Rebellion.

As a child, Jyn finds a life of luxury
on Coruscant exchanged for a desolate
farm on Lah’mu and a constant fear of
discovery by the Empire. After watching
Krennic murder her mother and abduct
her father, Jyn is retrieved by her new
guardian, the extremist rebel Saw Gerrera.
Though she learns much from him about

how to fight, his gruff demeanor and
protectiveness of the secret of her identity
as the daughter of an Imperial weapons
scientist leaves the teenager with very
little opportunity to trust anyone, much
less make friends. When Saw abandons
Jyn after a mission to spy on an Imperial
factory is disastrously exposed, she is
completely on her own.
Instead of succumbing to despair, Jyn
relies upon her ingenuity to turn her skills
into ways to survive. In the coming years
she negotiates with pilots, smugglers,
rebels, and Imperials to exchange her
talents for the funds, transportation, or
food and shelter she needs to make her
way in an unforgiving galaxy. Even a
lengthy imprisonment by the Empire,
shielded by the alias Lianna Hallik, does
not crack her will. Unlike other inmates,
Jyn’s self-discipline allows her to keep her
head down through the daily torments.
Despite the seemingly inevitable doom
of her situation, Jyn endures. When she
is unexpectedly retrieved by agents of the
Rebel Alliance, it is their appeal to her
long-honed instincts of self-preservation
that provides a reason to tentatively
cooperate with their mission to contact
Saw and investigate her father’s work.
When she realizes the stakes and fi nds
true camaraderie in her team, Jyn has
the courage to think beyond herself and
sacrifice herself for others.









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HEROES



Shmi Skywalker

Archetype: Mother
Strengths: Love of her child,
kindness, selfl essness

Not all strength is physical, and not
every act of heroism involves
triumph over an evil adversary. One of the
hardest transitions in a parent’s life is to
watch a child grow up and move on to an
adulthood of their own. To cut that
process short, at a younger age, is all the
more emotionally fraught. Yet Shmi
Skywalker has the willpower to say
goodbye to her nine-year-old son,
recognizing that she may never see him
again, to grant to him an opportunity in
life that she could never provide.
That act of selfless love in the dusty

Hera Syndulla streets of Mos Espa is the culmination of
a lifetime of sacrifices Shmi has made for

Archetype: General
Strengths: Incredible pilot, nurturing spirit, team-builder Anakin. Living in slavery, Shmi does her
best to protect her son from the corruption
Don’t let initial to back down. Instead, she around them. Though he understands
appearances fool you: leads the Ghost crew to fi ght that an explosive chip prevents escape,
Hera Syndulla is much more even harder, which draws Anakin finds joy in racing for Watto and

than the highly skilled pilot notice from another faction, constructing his own podracer.
of the Ghost. The traditions as well. Though Kanan is When a Jedi unexpectedly arrives,
of Star Wars might suggest skeptical of committing to Anakin offers to help them get the parts
that Kanan Jarrus, a Jedi, is the Rebel Alliance, Hera they need to leave without requesting
the leader of their team of knows that the resources anything in return, and Shmi tells Qui-
rebels, but it is Hera who is and opportunities accessible Gon Jinn that her son “knows nothing
not only captain of the ship as part of the larger fi ght of greed.” It was not biology or midi-
but also in charge of their against the Empire will allow chlorians but her guidance in raising
operations. Over time her them to do more good for Anakin that taught him those values.

talent at leadership takes her more people. This persuades When Qui-Gon confirms what she has
from managing her small the reluctant Kanan—and always believed, that Anakin is special—
crew to commanding a quickly impresses their new gifted with supernatural abilities that offer
squadron in the Rebel allies, as well. the prospect of training to become a Jedi
Alliance military. As the struggle against Knight—Shmi does not hesitate to make
Hera’s interpersonal skills the Empire transitions the choice to let her son leave her behind
and firm sense of justice are from isolated acts of local and cross the stars to fulfill his destiny.


honed in a childhood of war resistance to a civil war
on Ryloth. Her father Cham fought by military units, Hera
fought alongside the Jedi adapts her role in turn. A
to liberate Ryloth from the faceoff with Grand Admiral
Separatist droid army during Thrawn at Atollon is a long
the Clone Wars, only to see journey from stealing crates
the Empire rise from the in the streets of Lothal, but
supposed peace. Taking to Hera proves she is ready for
the stars to oppose tyranny, it every step of the way. From
Hera gradually gathers her delivering Mon Mothma to a
crew and hones them into top secret meeting to fl ying
a fierce team of vigilantes in the Battle of Scarif, Hera

on Lothal. When they draw earned her rank of General by
attention from stronger getting the tough jobs done
Imperial forces, Hera refuses when it counted the most.






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HEROES
























































Rey

Archetype: Prodigy
Strengths: Compassion, quick refl exes, fortitude

Our introduction to Rey, is one of the finest moments in Star Wars. Storytelling is about creating

something new out of elements that are familiar, and here it’s done with images rather than
words. A lithe form glides down a rope into the depths of a manufactured cavern. After her slide down
a sand dune, her physical strength is displayed as she drags scavenged loot to her speeder. A look
inside Rey’s AT-AT home reveals a doll in the form of an X-wing pilot and a solitary meal. A moment

of amusement, an imagined dogfight in a starfighter helmet, is interrupted by the cries of captive BB-8.

Rey answers her “Call to Adventure” and quickly gathers allies, much like Dorothy in The Wizard
of Oz (1939). Fleeing the First Order troopers, defector Finn says they need a pilot. “We’ve got one,”
she responds, and they escape in the battered Millennium Falcon. Rey may be capable of running
without someone holding her hand, but the appearance of Han Solo suggests her adventure will be
grander than she could possibly have imagined.
Everything about Rey’s introduction tells us that she is capable of surviving her capture by Kylo
Ren. She has been surviving on her own, and everything she needs to resist the fallen Jedi exists
inside her. Yes, she is afraid, but Leia, Ahsoka, Sabine, and all the Star Wars heroines that have come
before have taught us that fear is something that can be faced and conquered. Star Wars: Forces of
Destiny and The Last Jedi will explore new obstacles in her journey of heroism.



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CARRIE









FISHER












THE FIRST LADY





OF STAR WARS







TRICIA BARR PAYS TRIBUTE TO CARRIE FISHER,
WHO PASSED AWAY DECEMBER 27, 2016.






can recall the day Carrie Fisher came far beyond her appearances as Leia Organa in the Rain (1952); Eddie Fisher had 35
into my life; and also the day she left all in the Star Wars movies. As I prepared to songs in the top 40 between 1950 and
of ours. Many people of my generation write about a woman who inspired me in so 1956. Eddie’s affair with another acting

I vividly remember the first time we saw many ways, I felt an immense burden, that superstar and close mutual friend of the
Star Wars. I was eight years old. Carrie I might not be able to do her life justice. couple, Elizabeth Taylor, precipitated a
Fisher, playing Princess Leia, appeared in I was afraid. As on many topics, though, 1959 divorce that was as highly publicized
a hallway with the Death Star plans and put Carrie had thoughts. Here’s what she and scandalous in its day as any
them into a droid. The crawl had set up the said about fear in her book Wishful contemporary equivalent. Both of her
context—this was her ship and her goal was Drinking: “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.” parents remained fully in the public
to “save her people and restore freedom to So I’m kicking my shoes off, sprinkling eye throughout Carrie’s childhood and
the galaxy.” In 1977 that was high stakes for some glitter in the air—one of Carrie’s adolescence, inevitably exposing their
any character, but for a young girl watching, touches of good cheer—and doing this. daughter to the media spotlight along
Princess Leia was extraordinary. She spat with them. For years she resented the long
zingers at uber-villain Darth Vader, rescued shadow of her mother’s fame in particular.
Han Solo and Luke Skywalker when their A STAR IS BORN Formative years spent at the feet of
plan to free her went awry, and instinctively entertainment titans, though, gave Carrie
knew their escape from the Death Star was Honoring her death on social media, the L.A. Fisher a firm foundation for her own

too easy. As countless fans have attested Times tweeted a picture of the morning stellar career. At 16 she performed with
since Carrie Fisher’s death, our introduction edition for Tuesday, March 27, 1956, and her mother in the Broadway revival of

to her by way of Princess Leia was packed remarked, “Carrie Fisher had the rare Irene; at 18 she made her film debut in
with emotion and nostalgia. Powerful distinction of making our front page Shampoo (1975) opposite Warren Beatty
feelings etch things in our memory—forever. before she was even born.” The pertinent and Goldie Hawn. Her starring role as
From the swell of tributes across the headline reads: “Debbie, Eddie Expect Princess Leia in Star Wars (1977) was

internet and the lightsabers raised in unison Baby in November.” (Carrie’s birthday was filmed when she was 19, the same age
at fan-organized vigils, it is obvious that October 21.) Debbie Reynolds had danced as her mother during the production of
Carrie Fisher made an impact on many lives to stardom alongside Gene Kelly in Singin’ Singin’ in the Rain.

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In The Princess Diarist (2016), Carrie
shares her reaction to hearing the news
from her agent that she got the role in
Star Wars:

“I laughed and dropped the phone
and ran out into the front yard… It was
raining. It didn’t rain in L.A. It was raining
in L.A. and I was Princess Leia. I had
never been Princess Leia before and now
I would be her forever.
I would never not be Princess Leia.
I had no idea how profoundly
true that was and how long
forever was.”



It’s difficult to comprehend what Princess
Leia will represent decades from today. Star
Wars is imbued in our daily lives. Famous
lines are spouted on television and referenced
throughout pop culture. In suggesting a
battle tactic in Captain America: Civil War, the
youthful Spider-Man says, “Hey guys, you ever
see that really old movie, The Empire Strikes
Back?” Star Wars is our mythology now; it will
be the mythology that is studied in the future.
It is what storytellers strive to emulate and
also a representation of society’s values at
the time it was made.
Over the years Carrie made light of the
fact that she was the “only girl in an all-boy
fantasy,” and she was candid about her
struggles with being objectifi ed.Nevertheless,
it’s undeniable that she had an affi nity for
her character from the beginning. In a recent
interview with National Public Radio she
told Terry Gross, “I like how she handles
things. I like how she treats people.”
Princess Leia came to life the same year
women, feeling undervalued and
underrepresented, gathered in Houston
for the National Women’s Conference.

On screen, Leia wasn’t fighting for an
opportunity to be equal; she led the
everyman characters of Han and Luke
down into the trash compactor, then
ultimately to the rebel base on Yavin 4. In
handling authority, Leia found time to stop
and console a farmboy who had lost a mentor. Previous spread:
While Carrie played a brash, brave new Carrie Fisher as
kind of heroine in Star Wars, The Princess Princess Leia Organa.
Diarist reveals a young woman who was in Star Wars: A New
very alone and who recorded the demons
of her daily life on the 1976 set. Those diary Hope (1977).
pages memorialize a woman who was
desperate for approval, but also terrifi ed This spread: On set
of it. One day her entry might be a series with director Irvin
of thoughts, another a scene of dialogue Kershner during the
or a poem that showcased a genius way
with words. Despite her pain, 19-year-old shooting of The
Carrie already had begun to perceive what Empire Strikes Back
made people tick and what drove her own (1980).


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choices and the choices infiltrating the gangster’s palace It’s hard to imagine most

of others. This understanding of in disguise for the rescue mission, Hollywood stars delivering such
motivations later served her well volunteering for the dangerous work in secret, never seeking credit
as a storyteller known for having strike team mission to the forest for these accomplishments. But that,
a keen eye for characters. moon, unhesitatingly hopping aboard too, was part of who Carrie became

Many filmmakers and fans a speeder bike to chase down scout as her career developed. Sometimes
list The Empire Strikes Back as troopers, and forging a key alliance the private successes matter as
the high bar for Star Wars. It’s with the Ewoks. Carrie understood much, or more, than the public ones.
a slower-paced movie than the how much more there is to Leia than In notable interviews with AV Club
special-effects spectacles that a metal bikini, just as there was so and Newsweek, she talked about why
followed in its footsteps. The fi lm much more to her than Princess Leia. she stopped script-doctoring: the
took a moment to let all three of the Long after the conclusion of the tendency shifted to studios soliciting
original trilogy’s main characters original trilogy in 1983, even as she notes from numerous script doctors,
breathe. Irvin Kershner’s movie joked about the overly merchandised and then using the ideas without
diverges from the B-movie, fate of Leia—including a hilarious hiring them. “That’s free work, and
monomythic format of A New Hope and bawdy roast of George Lucas that’s what I always call life-wasting
and channels a fairy tale, bringing at the 2005 presentation of his events,” said Fisher, a woman who
Leia to the fore in a romance with Lifetime Achievement Award from obviously knew her worth.
scoundrel Han while Luke is off the American Film Institute—Carrie The other dominant theme
learning the ways of the Jedi. As a maintained her fi erce protectiveness in Carrie Fisher’s journey beyond
young actress, Carrie thrived when of Leia and her importance. After Star Wars was her unfl inching
given the opportunity to showcase appearing onstage at Celebration commitment to candor and realism
the character’s vulnerability and Anaheim in April 2015, she told about the challenges of mental
compassion, and her performance Entertainment Weekly’s Anthony illness and addiction in her life.
elevates Leia Organa above most Breznican, “I’m the custodian Though sometimes played for
other badass takes on strong of Leia.” humor, as in Postcards from the Edge
female characters that emerged If many fans might most and Wishful Drinking, she used that
in the Princess’s wake. In my associate Carrie Fisher with her storytelling tool not to minimize or
2011 post at FANgirl Blog, I called acting role as Princess Leia, in the distract from the seriousness of the
Leia the “gold standard for strong hero’s journey of her life’s work she topic, but rather to create a feeling
female heroines.” It takes a writer found a passion in storytelling. Her of empathy and relatability that
and director to create the shell writing career took off when she allowed others to understand the
of a well-crafted character; Carrie penned her fi rst novel, Postcards struggles within.
Fisher is the heart that elevates from the Edge (1987). Loosely based
Leia to the status of golden. on her contentious relationship with
her mother, its success led to Carrie “It’s kind of a virus of the brain. It
writing the screenplay for the 1990 makes you go very fast or very sad.
“They asked me on the day if film adaptation, which starred Or both. Those are fun days. And

I wanted to have a stunt double Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine. so judgment isn’t one of my big
kill Jabba. No! That’s the best time Though more fiction and non- good things. But I have a good

I ever had as an actor. And the only fiction followed, much of Carrie’s voice. I can write well. I’m not a

reason to go into acting is if you acclaim for writing remained hidden good bicycle rider. So I’m just like
can kill a giant monster.” from the public eye, as she quickly anybody else—only louder, and
became one of Hollywood’s most faster, and sleeps more.”
~ Carrie Fisher at the Hay sought-after script doctors. The
Festival, 2014 quality of her writing on Postcards ~ Carrie Fisher, explaining bipolar
led to a request from Steven Spielberg disorder to a young boy during a panel
to rewrite the dialogue for Tinkerbell at Indiana Comic-Con, 2015
An empowered and magnetic in Hook (1991), then Whoopi Goldberg
character like Princess Leia, and requesting her input on Sister Act
an actress as beautiful inside and (1992). Soon she was well known The power of her honesty made
out as Carrie Fisher, would have for improving the roles of female Carrie one of the public fi gures who
become a pop-culture phenomenon characters, including Rene Russo’s has done the most in recent years to
no matter her attire in Return of the Lorna Cole in Lethal Weapon 3 remove the stigma associated with
Jedi. Carrie’s discomfort with the (1992) and Drew Barrymore’s mental illness and addiction, and
frequently publicized imagery of Julia Sullivan in The Wedding instead to acknowledge them as
Leia as a scantily clad sex symbol Singer (1998). treatable medical conditions no

was deflected with her familiar different than other physical ailments.
A suitably regal brazen, candid humor. Perhaps In a moment where the comedienne
Carrie Fisher returned as much as anything else though, “Make the women smarter gets a last laugh and an impact
as General Leia to Carrie’s mockery emphasized that and the love scenes better.” statement, Carrie Fisher’s ashes were
buried beside her beloved mother
Leia’s undress in the Jabba’s Palace
much acclaim in sequence of the film has substantially ~ Carrie Fisher interview with in a giant replica of a Prozac pill.

The Force Awakens overshadowed the rest of Leia’s WebMD, 2010 Among many instances across
(2015). heroism in Return of the Jedi: the years, she made memorable
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appearances on The Late Late Show
with Craig Ferguson during its run, and
found a kindred spirit in the host, who
likewise speaks freely about addiction
and sobriety. Their conversations ran
the gamut from profoundly serious to
inexplicably silly, but always touched
on their shared battles with internal
demons. Mourning her death, Ferguson
tweeted, “She was the kindest coolest
smartest and most encouraging person
I ever met in Hollywood. I adored her.”
For all of her fame and brilliance,
Carrie Fisher had so great an impact on
so many of us because her adventure
through life is the story of the human
condition. She was a daughter, sister,
and mother; she had friends, rivals, and
lovers. Throughout her life she showed
us all a trait we possess: the need to be
accepted. Each of us could connect to
her in these ways, as we saw our own
highs and lows, joys and sacrifi ces
reflected in her very public life. For

that, as much as for Princess Leia, I will
always be deeply grateful to have been
able to share so much of my time on
Earth with Carrie Fisher.


“I am a Pez dispenser, and I’m in
the abnormal psychology textbook.
Who says you can’t have it all?“

~ Carrie Fisher, Wishful Drinking, 2008


Although Princess Leia is the heroine
of a saga centered on fathers and sons,
Carrie Fisher’s life story is one of
mothers and daughters. When Debbie
Reynolds died a day after her daughter,
they left behind a granddaughter and
daughter, Billie Lourd. When asked in an
interview last year about advice from her
feminist mother, Billie told Teen Vogue:
“She told me to be true, and kind, and

confident in yourself. She raised me to
not think of men and women as different.
She raised me without gender. It’s kind of
the reason she named me Billie. It’s not
about being a strong woman—it’s about
being a strong person. She once told me,
‘I never sat you down with a credo. It was
more about leading by example.’
Be true. Be kind. Be confi dent.
Reminds me of a princess I met a long
time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. Carrie shows her
After we’ve all followed Carrie daughter, Billie
Fisher to be one with the Force, the Lourd, around the
myth of our time will live on in Star Star Wars set during
Wars. Luckily, Carrie Fisher infused production of The
Leia Organa with those beautiful traits,
and her wisdom will be shared with Force Awakens
generations to come. a (2015).


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WHAT CARRIE

MEANT TO US




At Celebration Anaheim in 2015, the panel “What Princess
Leia Means to Me” featured six women who had worked
professionally in Star Wars. After they praised many facets
of the character, most of all that she never falters and
always has hope, women and men went to the audience
microphone to share how they too were inspired. As the
woman behind the character, Carrie Fisher never let us
forget that while we should aspire to greatness, sometimes
we will falter—and that’s okay.
For women particularly, who for a long time felt like
the forgotten fanbase, Carrie Fisher became our unoffi cial
General. She was a leader brimming with compassion.
Acclaimed comics writer Gail Simone tweeted, “You can
look at almost any group of women writers and know in
your heart that they do this at least partially because of
Carrie Goddamn Fisher.” We admired her courage to speak
candidly on any topic, especially her own vulnerabilities.
She spoke out against sexism, double standards, and

body-shaming. After unflattering comments on her looks
and weight when she returned for The Force Awakens,
Carrie admitted that it hurt. Her feminism was punctuated
by forcing people to see her as a human being. She made
people uncomfortable by being totally honest, and then
released the tension with self-deprecating humor so
that the uncomfortable moment passed with a laugh.
Like Leia, Carrie is an aspirational fi gure for
everyone. Life will knock us down, but she taught us
always to get back up. Her relationship with her mother
Debbie Reynolds, strained for so many years before
being re-forged stronger than ever, reminds us of the
power of love to overcome hurt. Her dog Gary, the
ever-present sidekick in recent years, further affi rmed
another truth Carrie showed us: We do not have to
face life alone, and that it’s okay to ask for help.
Carrie was not only a demigoddess atop the
mountain of Star Wars, sometimes lovingly teasing the
fandom who looked up to her: she also gave generously
of herself to fans, one panel or one person at a time. At
Celebration V in 2010, a few weeks before her father’s
death, she cut short her planned convention schedule to
go to his side—but first she took to the stage, delivering

an unnecessary apology and speaking at length to the
crowd anyway. Her autograph lines invariably were
long, and she treated each visitor with dignity and glee.
An entire convention might be worth it simply to be
anointed with glitter by Carrie, like Insider contributor
Amy Ratcliffe’s experience at Indiana Comic Con in 2015:
“I walked away not having said any of the things I meant
to say to her, but maybe it’s best that I didn’t. I wouldn’t
change a thing.” A stunning publicity
Like a mythic mentor, Carrie Fisher gave us the shot taken during
lessons to be our own heroes. She might not be here to production of The
protect Princess Leia’s legacy, but I hope Carrie knows
we have picked up the mantle. I hope she knows that she Empire Strikes Back
is loved. a (1980)



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COMICS: DOCTOR APHRA












STAR WARS COMICS

A P H R A









MARVEL’S ANARCHIC ARCHAEOLOGIST IS CAUSING
CHAOS ACROSS THE STAR WARS GALAXY. MEGAN
CROUSE MET THE TEAM BEHIND DOCTOR APHRA.



MEET TEAM APHR A
KIERON G ILLEN, WR ITER
KEV WALKER, AR TI S T
HEATHER ANT OS, A SSI S TANT ED IT OR, MAR VEL
JORD AN D. WHITE, ED IT OR, MAR VEL
FR ANK PAR I SI, SENI OR ED IT OR, L UC A SFILM



he groundbreaking best sidekicks the Star Wars universe
run of Marvel has ever seen! Between working for
Comics’ the galaxy’s most evil Sith Lord,
Darth Vader and then turning hero to help

introduced rogue Princess Leia fight her way out of a
archaeologist hostage situation, you never know
Doctor Aphra into Star Wars lore. what sort of trouble Aphra will get
An instant hit with readers, herself into—and out of! Every
she now stars in her own comic page is an adventure.
book series.
Frank Parisi: The draw was Aphra
This is the fi rst Marvel Star Wars herself. Aphra is a revolutionary,
series led by a character created and I don’t use that term with
for the comics. What drew you any thought of politics or ideology.
to Aphra’s story? It’s clear that life hasn’t treated
Heather Antos: What’s not Aphra fairly… which isn’t life’s
interesting when it comes to job, I suppose. She’s been on the
Aphra? She’s such a fascinating receiving end of some tough,
character—she’s not a hero, but tough times and has dealt with
she isn’t a villain either. It’s a some tough, tough people. But
terribly fun mindset to play she’s the kind of person who
with, this moral gray area. Not [spoiler alert!] gets lobbed out of
to mention she has some of the an airlock by Darth Vader into












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Doctor Aphra
by Kamome
Shirahama as
seen on the
cover of Doctor
Aphra #1.



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Black the answer to this
Krrsantan, question—but I’d
Triple Zero,
and Aphra pick a few key ones.
pilot the She’s a big, iconic,
Ark Angel archetypal character
into another
adventure. who fi ts into Star
Art by Kev Wars as a concept,
Walker. but hasn’t been
done before… but
also she’s a big, iconic, archetypal
character with a hard twist. She’s
very much a two-fi sted archaeologist
adventurer. She goes and digs up
the past, and punches people along
the way. That’s a very clean story
engine for a character. Then there’s
the other side—that she’s immoral.
The book runs on the odd tension
of having someone who is often
the frigid emptiness of space, all, and it’s certainly not her most likable, and even occasionally
brushes herself off, and says to admirable trait. If Darth Vader relatable… but you can’t be sure
her crew with a grin, “That sucked. was our Breaking Bad, then Doctor where her ethical line is. “What will
Now let’s get back to work!” While Aphra is our Better Call Saul. You she do? What won’t she do?” That’s
I wouldn’t go so far as to call her might love how charming she is, unusual, and adds a certain tension.
optimistic, she is most defi nitely you might be rooting for her at A second reason—and the main
anti-pessimistic and goal-driven, every turn… but she’s probably not reason why I took the job—was
and to retain that attitude and going to do the “right” thing. But that as much fun as she had in
sense of humor while contending that’s why she’s relatable. Darth Vader, there were huge
against the worst life the galaxy chunks of her we hadn’t explored.
has to throw at you… it’s a Kieron Gillen, you brought Aphra She’s an archaeologist, but I wanted
revolutionary act. It certainly to life in the Darth Vader series. to excavate her personality.
does not hurt that Kieron Gilen What was it like to learn that Oh—and with Star Wars’ long
is a storytelling dynamo to boot. Aphra would have her own story? history, her being an archaeologist
Kieron Gillen: It was great. obviously lets us introduce a
Jordan D. White: I agree with That she’d made enough of an bunch of fun stuff. Who doesn’t
Heather and Frank—Aphra herself impression to get her own series like knowing more about the
was just a joy in every issue of is amazing. I have never had a history of the Star Wars universe?
Darth Vader. We could not resist. character I created go on to have
When Kieron told us he had their own book. For Aphra to be Do you have a lot of back-and-
thought of a way to save her from my first, and the fi rst non-movie forth conversations in regards

Vader’s vengeance, we all rejoiced! Star Wars character to have an to the art and the script? What’s
If she can be a complete delight in ongoing series of her own, is your collaboration process?
the midst of the bleakness of the obviously pretty humbling. KG: Kev is fantastic. He’s the sort
Darth Vader series, how much of artist who annotates his
more fun could we have on her What was it about Aphra that thumbnails and talks about his

own adventures? That said, I think made her a good fit for an choices. I consider my scripts the
I might disagree that she isn’t a ongoing series? start of a conversation rather than
villain. She’s out for herself above KG: In a real way, the series itself is a diktat. Kevin certainly rolls with
that—he’s a fantastic visual
storyteller and writer, and that
“SHE’S VERY MUCH A TWO-FISTED comes across in his active
ARCHAEOLOGIST ADVENTURER. SHE engagement with the stories,
especially when world-building.
GOES AND DIGS UP THE PAST, AND There are visual elements Kevin
adds that I then work back into
PUNCHES PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY. my thinking—like stuff in his
THAT’S A VERY CLEAN STORY ENGINE design for Captain Tolvan, the

first arc’s main antagonist. It’s
FOR A CHARACTER” been wonderful.



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Kev Walker: I always worry that tell if she would survive or not. cynic, who believes he never cared
I might come across as a bit of a Now that she has her own for anything but his obsession.
thug when it comes to my writers. book, things change. She’s funny, Gradually they realize they both
I have a habit of scribbling all over but she’s not the comic relief have each other wrong, and trying
their carefully crafted prose without anymore—she plays the lead and to get that across, as both people
a second thought. Ideas are cruel. gets to do the heavy lifting. With change, is a challenge I relish.
They just hit you round the head Vader offstage, everyone else
without any regard for the appears more threatening in his We see some of Aphra’s school
creative process. absence. Doctor Aphra is a fun days in the comics too. Were
I’ve found that honesty is and often sarcastic presence, but those scenes you had in mind
the best policy—I draw it the way she’s also a darker creature. for a long time and are only
I think it should look, regardless showing now, or was developing
of the script, but always with the What inspired the character of Aphra’s history part of the
caveat that these are just ideas and Aphra’s father? process of making the new series?
anyone else has exactly the same KG: We explored a little of her KG: The core is there, but there
right to scribble all over my layouts background in Darth Vader when is room to develop her history.
and notes. The writer, the editors, we revealed Aphra’s mother was Thanoth hinted that Aphra’s

or Lucasfilm always make me killed by raiders during the war, doctorate had a question mark over
qualify an idea, and if it strays after splitting with her father. Pretty it in the Darth Vader series, so there

too far from the path, they gently much the first thing I knew when was certainly foreshadowing. That
poke me with a stick until I draw I started thinking about Aphra as she manipulated an ethically
what they’re happy with. an ongoing character is we would questionable superior was always
Seriously, though, I’ve been have to meet the father as soon as there. Of course, Aphra cheated.
blessed with writers and editors possible. If we’re going to talk Aphra could have earned it by


“THE WRITER, THE EDITORS, OR LUCASFILM WILL
ALWAYS MAKE ME QUALIFY AN IDEA, AND IF IT STRAYS

TOO FAR FROM THE PATH, THEY GENTLY POKE ME WITH
A STICK UNTIL I DRAW WHAT THEY’RE HAPPY WITH.”


who don’t consider a book done about Aphra’s past, he’s essential. herself, but she’d much prefer to
until the print deadline hit. It’s This is a book about emotional cheat. Cheating is what smart
an evolutionary process, and archaeology as well as actual people do in her world.
everyone pitches in to try and archaeology, if you see what I
make this book the best that we mean. He is like Aphra in many Triple Zero and Bee Tee are both
can in the time we have; pushing ways, but desperately, incredibly friends and threats. What can
and pulling the thing into shape. unlike her in others. you tell us about how they’ll help
out Aphra?
Kieron, you developed Aphra as a KW: When I first drew him, I didn’t KG: They’re our Greek chorus

foil to Darth Vader. What’s it like really have much of an idea of his in many ways, pointing out the
having her lead her own story? background. It would be easy to ironies and hypocrisies in the cast
KG: It changes things a bit. In Darth draw parallels with Indiana Jones in their own monstrous idiom. But,
Vader, she existed to do the things and his father. To be honest, Aphra’s like Aphra, they become a little
that Vader couldn’t do. Most of all, father is way more closeted, darker in the absence of Vader. Yes,
talk. Vader has to be stoic and idealistic, and naïve than Henry they’re funny, but in the fi rst
laconic. The more words he says, Jones ever was. When we fi rst meet episode they’re already murdering
the more it becomes untrue to the Aphra’s father, he’s literally in an people by themselves, for their own
character. Vader needed someone at ivory tower: he’s an academic with ends. You have to suspect they’re a
his side to do all that quiet no concept of what’s going on in ticking time bomb. As Triple Zero
exposition; making her nervously the world around him, let alone said back in Darth Vader, “Heaven
talkative is a fun contrast to the the galaxy at large. He’s let all sorts help everyone if I get bored.”
Dark Lord himself. Equally, there’s of important things fall by the
the comedy she added. Plus, there is wayside, in pursuit of a myth. Aphra What is your favorite moment
a bit of tension—we knew that begins this story as his polar featuring the droids?
Vader wouldn’t die, but we couldn’t opposite, a complete egotist and KG: There are too many to pick



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from. The first one which I

genuinely loved from way back APHRA’S CREW
in issue four of Darth Vader was
when he said, “Hahahaha! You’re

on fire and also dead!” The one
which tickles me in Doctor Aphra
is from the second issue, where
Triple Zero is threatening to torture
Aphra’s father. “Your daughter is
a truly horrible person. You must
be very proud.” Which is funny, TRIPLE ZERO BEE TEE ONE BLACK KRRSANTAN
A protocol droid, specializing Cunningly disguised as A Wookiee bounty hunter
not least because of how Kev
in etiquette, customs, a astromech droid Bee Tee also known as Santy, Black
drew the astounding array of translation, and torture. Once One is an assassin droid Krrsantan is deemed by
torture implements from his hand, designated to serve Darth (a blastomech). Armed and Boba Fett to be one of the
Vader, wherever Triple Zero dangerous, Bee Tee One best in his fi eld. Krrsantan
but because it also serves as a good
and his counterpart Bee Tee was created by the Galactic was scarred in a skirmish
character beat for Aphra. I said that One go, carnage will follow. Empire’s Tarkin Initiative. with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
they’re the Greek chorus? Well,
that’s an example. Aphra’s smart
enough to know that if that droid
is very much pro-you that in a big way. Even from the start, about from looking at the outfi ts
something has gone horribly, the relationship with Aphra lets us the rebels wore on Endor in Return
horribly wrong. show a lot about the book. He hangs of the Jedi. They have a reason
with Aphra, sure, but only because for wearing the things they do,
KW: There’s a gag in Doctor Aphra she owes him a lot of money and and it’s not just to look cool.

issue five which, for obvious he considers her an investment… I’m making things up, but
reasons, I can’t tell you about (I and she has promised to locate the everything still needs to feel part

haven’t even finished drawing it people who trained him to be a of a whole and to echo things
yet), but it continually makes me gladiator. Not that he minded being that have been seen in the Star
chuckle. Actually I have to stop a gladiator, he just objects to anyone Wars universe. The Academic
myself from running too far with making him do anything. installation harkens back to Bespin
the humor, because this is Star Cloud City on purpose, and not
Wars, not SpongeBob SquarePants. KW: I like drawing Wookiees. That’s just because it might have been
I mean, I thought I was pushing it a all. I just wanted to say that. built by the same company, but
little with Triple Zero’s torture hands because it grounds the location
in issue two. How could he possibly Kev, did you have a favorite and makes it a part of the things
have a circular saw and a blowtorch character design in the new series? we have seen on-screen. Soo-Tath
in his hands? They wouldn’t fi t. But KW: I do: Tolvan. I can’t say why, the money-lender in issue one has
it is funny. Like Beetee suddenly because it’d be a spoiler, and it’s not a hat based on a Ralph McQuarrie
having bazookas and grenade just because I got to design her, but concept for Bib Fortuna that never
launchers. It’s cartoon humor, but because I (sort of) know what’s got used.
sometimes if you get it just right, it going to happen to her, which
makes things scarier, like getting influences how I draw her. Actually, If you could see Doctor Aphra

well-loved comic actors to play serial I enjoy drawing all the characters, interact with any Star Wars
killers in movies or TV. The spoonful and if there’s something about their character she hasn’t met
of sugar laced with poison. design I don’t like, I find some way before, who would it be?

I can change it. Because these are KG: I can just see an older
Then there’s Black Krrsantan, characters who get dirty, get Aphra throwing her arm around
who is a bit of an anti- injured, have stuff that tears or Kylo Ren and saying “Oh, the
Chewbacca. What can you breaks, or is unsuitable for the things I could tell you about
tell us about his role? environment they are in, I get to your Grandpops.”
KG: One of my favorite things about continually mix things up—it helps
Doctor Aphra is that we get a chance to keep things fresh. KW: Jar Jar Binks! It would make a
to really dig into lot of people happy. Do you realize
Krrsantan. He gets What was the thought process that without him bumping into
The crew of
the Ark Angel some of the best behind Aphra’s costume? Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan on
confront a figure action beats in KW: Well it’s just trying to make Naboo, nothing else would have
from the doctor’s the whole series, things fit with the Star Wars happened the way it has? It could

past in Doctor
Aphra #2. Art and his past universe. So the long duster coats all have been so different. Makes
by Kev Walker. comes into play in issues two and three came you think...


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NC
NC
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A
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RE BE L RO M A NC E
REBEL ROMANCE
R
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R
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G G G Galactic conflict has been the constant backdrop
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t to the relationship between Star Wars Rebels ’
b
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e
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o
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t
i
r
h
a
i
t
w
r
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e
h
e
Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla. As the series
reaches its climax, we ask: will their love survive,

and how did it blossom in the first place?
WO R D S : S H ANA O’ NEI LL
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REBEL ROMANCE




omantic relationships in the
Star Wars universe can be a bit
R rocky to say the least. Look at
some of the most well-known
couplings: Han and Leia, Obi-
Wan and Satine Kryze, Anakin rhythm together as partners and friends as Kanan
and Padmé, Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree… It became Hera’s co-pilot onboard the Ghost.
is clear that the path of true love does tend As their efforts to disrupt the Empire grew, so

to be filled with some crater-sized obstacles, did their crew. The Spectres—their codename for

no matter how much we want our favorite the ship’s crew—became a party of five. Kanan, as
couples to make it work. Spectre 1, oversaw the planning and execution of
There’s one couple in the Star Wars universe, operations. As Spectre 2, Hera pilots the Ghost as
however, that’s been going strong for years now: captain and Kanan’s equal partner. Hera’s droid,
renegades Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla of Chopper became Spectre 3. Zeb Orrelios, a Lasat,
Star Wars Rebels. joined as Spectre 4, and the Mandalorian Sabine
Kanan and Hera, known by the nickname Wren came on board as Spectre 5.
of “Kanera” to a lot of fans, are a favorite for
many reasons, not least the equality in their A Love Story
relationship and their implicit trust in each other. By the time we meet the Ghost crew at the start
Kanan is a Jedi Knight and he’s been trained of Star Wars Rebels, Hera and Kanan have settled
against having attachments. Hera is committed into a companionable friendship, a partnership
to fighting the Empire first and foremost. But underscored by a loving bond. In fact, as far as a


they’ve learned how to fight for each other (and great many fans were concerned, Kanan and Hera

the rest of the Ghost crew) without forgetting were “Space Married.” In essence, the two are a
the needs of the overall mission—even if that couple in pretty much everything but name. Hera
puts one of them in danger in the short term. habitually calls Kanan “Love” or “Dear;” and
That’s not to say things bewteen them have they even refer to Ezra, Zeb, and Sabine as “the
always been easy. The couple have seen their fair kids;” they spar verbally; to offer reassurance they
share of obstacles. But if there’s one thing we’ve touch; and they fight side by side as one.

come to know about them, it’s that, no matter While there is no explicit recognition of what
what happens, Hera and Kanan will always fi nd is going on between them in Season One, there is
their way back to each other. no denying that Hera’s clearly upset when Kanan
elects to be left on Lothal and allows himself to
A New Dawn be captured in order to save the rest of the Ghost
Kanan Jarrus fell in love with Hera Syndulla crew in “Call to Action.” Two episodes later, in
before he ever saw her face. One second she the first season finale, “Fire Across the Galaxy,”



was a cloaked figure asking for
directions in a seedy part of
town on Gorse, and the next he “Kanan Jarrus fell
was willing to follow that voice
anywhere. Not that Hera made in love with Hera
it easy on him. She had gone to
Gorse to find intel for her own

rebellious efforts, not to pick Syndulla before he
up some drifter, but the young
Kanan Jarrus and 18-year-old ever saw her face.”
Hera Syndulla teamed up to help
save Gorse from total destruction
and to bring down Count Viridian, while dealing
a blow to the Empire at the same time. Talk about
the start of a beautiful friendship.
While Kanan set upon joining Hera on her
“damn fool idealistic crusade” largely based on
his attraction to her, Hera made it clear that any
romance between the two of them would need to
go unexplored when weighed against the larger

fight against the Empire. We sensed the attraction
was mutual, but Hera Syndulla isn’t one to let
herself get distracted. They soon found a perfect



STAR WARS INSIDER / 33




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REBEL ROMANCE




01 When alone, there is a smile on Kanan’s face that shows he’s
Kanan and particularly happy to see Hera when the Spectres
Hera share
moments of come back to rescue him—especially during the
intimacy. hug they share. It’s a moment Kanera “shippers”
(Right)
(fan proponents of the relationship) point to as
02 Kanan and proof that there’s more going on here than just
Hera: ”Space a simple friendship.
Married”.
(Right) Moving into the second season of Rebels,
we watched as Kanan and Hera’s relationship
03 Kanan, became a foundation for deeper
blinded by
Darth Maul emotional moments. When Hera is
on Malachor, wounded while trying to orchestrate “Hera can
is comforted an alliance with Fenn Rau in “The
by Hera.
(Right) Protector of Concord Dawn,” Kanan’s empathize with
concern runs deeper than friendship.
We also see Kanan lose his proverbial Kanan while also
cool when meeting Hera’s father,
Cham Syndulla. Cham may be a hero
of the Rebellion, but Kanan’s nerves challenging him.”
aren’t those of a soldier meeting a
soldier, but of a boyfriend meeting his
beloved’s father for the first time. Tongue-tied “Trials of the Darksaber,” we can see that the pair

Kanan is a favorite among Kanera fans. are close. Hera can empathize with Kanan while
The two most notable moments in Season also challenging him. She can see his frustration
Two for the couple come in the two-part fi nale, as he tries to train Sabine, but also tells him to get
“Twilight of the Apprentice.” Sabine gently hits his head out of his afterburners and stop trying to
Kanan upside the head when he seems to be protect the young woman, reminding him of her
unaware of Hera’s apparent concern about his own battles with her father. It’s a rare individual
mission to Malachor. While neither voices their who can tell Kanan that, “This is not about you,”
feelings for one another, Kanan promises Hera and have him actually take it to heart.
they’ll see each other again and the two share Not every Kanera interaction in Season Three
a long, comforting hug. It’s a goodbye neither is so serious, either. Kanan’s crack that he “gets
wants to say, but they know it needs to happen. the feeling Thrawn’s really trying” to kill them
Kanan does, indeed, return from Malachor, ellicits a chuckled threat from Hera before she
but is blind when he does so. He can no longer urges him to, “Come home, love.” Both of
see Hera, but her love still shines in her face as them are all too aware of the stakes, yet they
she cradles his face in her hands. Whatever they always try to lighten the mood. On more than


fight, they fight it together. one occasion, it is clear that Hera’s amused rage
at Kanan’s often cavalier attitude is mutually
Back to Business reassuring. Kanan blows off steam in times of
After these emotional moments at the end of the crisis by making wisecracks and Hera understands
second season, many fans were keen for things this. It allows them to remain focused while
to heat up between Kanan and Hera in Season knowing they do have each other’s backs. In
Three. But the appearance of Grand Admiral other words, they just get each other, in a
Thrawn put any romance on the backburner. wonderful way.
After all, would you take time out for canoodling Yet while Season Three kept Kanan and Hera’s
if there was a military genius on your tail? feelings under wraps, Season Four has put it all
That said, the moments we do get in the third on the table. Less than halfway through the
season are treasures. As they talk about Sabine in opening episode, “Heroes of Mandalore, Part
1,” the pair have a conversation via hologram
which reveals that Kanan’s priorities are in a very
different place when it comes to his relationship
with Hera. She is still all business, focusing on
the needs of the Rebellion, but he tries to turn
the conversation around to how she feels about
them being apart. It’s very reminiscent of Han
and Leia’s “We need? What about you need?”
conversation in the Rebel base on Hoth in The
Empire Strikes Back.



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01





























02




























03


































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REBEL ROMANCE



04





































05
an

and Hera
ra
as a couple
le
es
becomes

an actual
a
plot point in
in
.
the series.” 06
”
s

04 Hera and
Kanan finally
acknowledge
their feelings.
05 Do the Ghost
crew ever
realize these
guys are a
couple?
06 Kanan was
nervous
when first
meeting
Hera’s father,
Cham.



36 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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REBEL ROMANCE





This is the first time in the entire series that Putting the Romance
either one of them has even remotely addressed
their relationship. Kanan believes that there is a into Rebellion:
conversation they need to have, and Hera knows
exactly what he’s talking about. It’s hard to work
out what has caused his newfound urgency, but HERA SYNDULLA KANAN JARRUS
it’s likely that almost dying on Atollon at the end Born seven years before the start of the Before he was known as Kanan Jarrus,
of Season Three put things in perspective for him. Clone Wars, Hera Syndulla was raised to Caleb Dume was a youngling who was
fi ght: for her home, for her people, for brought to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant
But in this moment, Kanan and Hera as a couple
her freedom. Trained by her father, the and left there. With no knowledge of his
becomes an actual plot point in the series. Ryloth freedom-fi ghter Cham Syndulla, parents or homeworld, Caleb made the
Wonderfully, it doesn’t stop there, either. Two Hera felt the cost of fi ghting the Empire temple his home and was apprenticed to
personally. The loss of her mother and Jedi Master Depa Billaba.
episodes later, “In the Name of the Rebellion” we
disagreements with her father saw her When Order 66 was initiated by

see Hera flying like an ace through a cloud-fi lled looking to the skies as a way to fi ght the Emperor, Billaba sacrifi ced herself to
canyon, her maneuvers guided solely by Kanan’s the Empire in the best way she knew give Caleb a chance to save himself. On
Jedi senses. When she nervously quips, “I must how—as a pilot. the run and still reeling from her death,
With C1-10P, a droid recovered from he met a smuggler, Janus Kasmir, who
really trust you,” he replies, “I know you do.” It’s
a fallen Y-wing on Ryloth, Hera set off in taught him the skills he would later use
another perfect example of what these two can her ship, the Ghost, to lend her skills as to survive. Caleb put aside the teachings
accomplish together. both a pilot and a fi ghter to the larger of the Jedi and became Kanan Jarrus:
struggle. Her search for new allies led scoundrel, pilot, and bounty hunter.
A chance meeting with Hera Syndulla
Kanera: Past and Future her to the planet Gorse, where she met set Kanan on a new path which would
Kanan Jarrus and recruited him to join
While undercover on Lothal in Season Four’s fi fth the fi ght. eventually lead him, grudgingly, into the
Hera Syndulla, captain of the Ghost fi ght against the Empire. Once unwilling
episode, “The Occupation,” Kanan and Hera end
and rebel leader, is the glue that holds to commit to anything, Kanan Jarrus
up face to face in an alley and realize how long her team together and the heart and now dedicates himself to leading the
it’s been since they’ve been alone together. It’s soul of Star Wars Rebels. Spectres, and mentoring Ezra Bridger.
a story beat filled with promise and back-story,

and a confirmation that these two have, indeed,

shared this sort of intimacy in the past. he knew all of this and was 100 percent okay
That past is also evident in the “almost” kiss with it, when clearly he wasn’t.
that follows. There’s no awkwardness. These are Kanan quickly realizes he may have pushed
two people who have clearly kissed one another too far and tries to apologize, but he’s promptly
before and, while the kiss is interrupted by Zeb silenced by Hera reaching up and pulling his
(dang it, Zeb!), there’s little doubt these two will head down to meet hers in a kiss. It’s a promise,
kiss again. a reassurance, and an answer to his question.
That promised kiss happens in episode seven, Not only does she initiate this kiss, but once it
“Kindred.” With Hera about to undertake a new ends, she cups his face in her hand and stares
mission that will put her face to face with Grand directly into his eyes, as if to say, “Got it?” It’s
Admiral Thrawn and the might of the Imperial empowering, it’s loving, and is everything that

fleet, Kanan finds himself unwilling to let her go Kanan ever wanted—if the look on his face is


without finally addressing what we could call the any indication.
“Kanan Loves Hera” bantha in the room. Last we saw, Hera had been captured by the
It’s funny that two people who can so easily foul Governor Pryce, which likely means that
communicate on other topics have such a blind a face-to-face confrontation with Grand Admiral
spot when it comes to talking about their feelings Thrawn comes next. We know that she survives
for each other. But great romantic moments are thanks to Rogue One, but, beyond that, who
built on these sorts of misunderstandings, and knows? What will happen in the second half
Rebels’ executive producer, Dave Filoni, does an of Rebels’ fi nal season is anyone’s guess.
excellent job of setting up what is arguably the Will Hera and Kanan be reunited? Will they
best kiss in Star Wars. For, as much as Kanan has get a chance to explore their relationship further?
been her partner through their time together, it Could things potentially get more intimate? Will
seems they’ve never talked about whether they they live happily ever after?
are or aren’t a couple. The man who fell in love The specter of doubt is raised as we already
with a voice on Gorse is head over heels for the know that the Jedi are supposed to be “all but
woman attached to that voice, and he wants to extinct” by the time we reach the events of A
know if she feels the same way. New Hope. But a lot can happen between now
In Hera’s mind, Kanan already knows. Once and then—and we all know that things can be

the fighting is over, and once the Empire is gone, true, if only from a certain point of view.
only then can they indulge their feelings for each Ultimately, wouldn’t we all like to see Kanan
other. But it takes Kanan openly addressing the and Hera end up together for a long, long time
issue to make her realize she just assumed that in that galaxy far, far away?



STAR WARS INSIDER / 37




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COMICS: ROGUE ONE





















STAR WARS COMICS


ONE






TO






READ





Starting this April, Marvel Comics
is set to release the first in a
six-issue series for Rogue One: A
Star Wars Story to include content
not seen in the theatrical release.
Insider spoke to writer Jody
Houser to gain insight into this
highly anticipated, expanded
retelling of the blockbuster movie.

W ORDS: MI CHAEL K OGGE






















38 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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Jon McCoy’s
stunning variant art
for Rogue One issue #2.






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COMICS: ROGUE ONE










“
I LIKE PROJECTS THAT
PUSH ME OUT OF MY
COMFORT ZONE.

”





omics fans Why do you think Marvel chose actually had a character who
rejoice! Marvel’s you to be the writer? faked his death and didn’t come
C new six-issue I think Heather thought of me back for two years. There was
even an animated short to explain
because I did Orphan Black for
adaptation of
Rogue One IDW. That was partly a TV how he faked it! That’s what
promises not adaptation and partly new happens when writers and fi lm
only to capture the movie in material. That made me a good fi t editors and other creative types
comic-book form, but also to for the Rogue One comic, because play an RPG. Crazy stuff happens.
expand upon what was seen I had to work in new scenes that Playing the game helped keep
onscreen. New details about aren’t in the movie. Heather knew Star Wars in my life before Rebels
characters and situations I loved Star Wars, too, as we had and The Force Awakens came
will include input from Rogue met at New York Comic Con a few along. In the process, I also met
One director, Gareth Edwards, years before. Afterwards, we people who would become my
giving readers a fresh angle on bonded on Twitter over our love most favorite in all of Los Angeles.
the blockbuster story. for Grand Admiral Thrawn! Coincidentally, the name of the
The team bringing this exciting character I play is Lyra. It was
prospect to life is Italian artist So you’ve always been a Star a little weird when I found out
Emilio Laiso (Star Wars: Shattered Wars fan? that was also the name of Jyn’s
Empire Part II) and writer Jody I loved the original trilogy as a mother in Rogue One!
Houser, a newcomer to Star kid, but it was the Timothy Zahn

Wars comics, but a lifelong fan trilogy of Thrawn novels that really How do you fit an epic like
of the saga. Insider spoke to won me over—I discovered them Rogue One into a six-issue series?
Houser as she was hard at at an age when I was more into It’s all about the storytelling
work on her adaptation. reading than watching movies. “beats.” Before the fi lm hit
theaters, I went to Lucasfi lm and
Adapting Rogue One would be On Twitter, you refer read the script, noting
a prestige project for any writer. that you like Star Wars down a beat-by-beat
PROFILE
Did you have any trepidation role-playing games. list of the things that
JODY HOUSER
about taking it on? Yeah, I’ve been a part jumped out at me.
Since creating the
My only bit of trepidation came of a Star Wars RPG Having that early
acclaimed online
from the fact that it looked to campaign that’s been comic Cupcake impression really
be a war story, which is something going on now for four POW! in 2010, helped me decipher
Jody Houser has
I haven’t written before. It was years! We started with written for numerous which moments I
October 2016 when [Marvel the old West End physical comic-book wanted to emphasize,
series, including
assistant editor] Heather Antos system and moved to and which ones I could
Orphan Black and
approached me about it, so I “Edge of the Empire” X-Files: Origins for streamline or set in a

obviously hadn’t seen the movie. last year. IDW, Max Ride for different way. The most
Marvel, and Faith for
But I like projects that push me Our gamemaster is rewarding moments to
Valiant and Mother
out of my comfort zone, so it was pretty epic in terms of Panic for DC. work on are those you
a positive more than a real worry. his storytelling. We can see from a


40 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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Phil Noto’s distinctive
cover art for the first
issue of Rogue One.






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COMICS: ROGUE ONE










“
BODHI IS THE NEW CONVERT,
CASSIAN IS THE DEVOUT,
AND JYN IS THE LAPSED BELIEVER.

”






different perspective, so they’re Which of the characters from the that happens in the movie. For
not exactly the same as they are movie were you most drawn to? me, this particular scene was

in the film. I think those moments Bodhi Rook is probably my really important because it’s
are going to be most exciting for favorite to write for. He’s the one when the story takes off . If
the readers. character whose life probably Bodhi had chosen another path,
would have been OK if he’d done everything would have turned
How do you set about writing nothing, but he chose to rebel. All out diff erently.
each issue? of the events of the movie hinge
I generally start with page-by- on his bravery, so that choice and How are you enjoying working
page breakdowns of the story, the repercussions he faces are with artist Emilio Laiso?
followed by scripting out really fascinating to me. Emilio is doing some really cool
everything panel-by-panel, Collectively, the trio of Bodhi, things with his layouts! The way
which is generally referred to as Cassian, and Jyn is interesting to he arranges images on the page
“full script.” With Rogue One, me, too. Bodhi is the new convert, to impact the flow of the

I’m pulling from a bunch of Cassian is the devout, and Jyn is storytelling is a strength of his,

different sources—the fi lm, the the lapsed believer. They’re all and I’m glad he’s bringing that
novelization, scenes and ideas coming together from diff erent strength in this series.
that didn’t make it into the fi lm, perspectives and have to get In terms of action beats I try
and the background material over all their huge ideological to give Emilio as much leeway
in Rogue One: The Ultimate differences to accomplish one as possible. For almost any scene

Visual Dictionary. goal. In the comic, I’m able to I come up with, the artist usually
In fact, one of my favorite parts show more about how they knows how to draw it better than
of the job was to read the James make the decisions they do. I can tell them.

Luceno prequel novel, Star Wars: So much of the film is from I relate comics to poetry,
Catalyst. It does such a great job Jyn’s perspective, it’s not always where you have to decide where
of laying out the foundation for possible for it to show how each line ends, and what it
Galen, Krennic, and Lyra, and Cassian feels or what Bodhi is means to have the line ending at
made me want to incorporate thinking. I get to delve a little that moment. In comics you have
more of their backgrounds into deeper into some of those to work out what’s on each page,
the comic. moments and focus on what is where it ends, and what you’re
behind some of their choices. focusing on for the next page.
Which of your additions to the You get to fill things out that

story are you most proud of? Can you hint at what some you don’t necessarily get to do
There’s a line Galen has when he’s of those moments are? while screenwriting, for example,
talking to Bodhi. He’s describing A moment I was really excited because when you write a
how the Empire likes citizens who to write occurs in the fi rst issue, screenplay it’s up to the director
don’t make trouble, and he says when Bodhi makes his decision how long a moment lasts. With a
“I was a good man for too long.” to defect and deliver Galen’s comic, it’s just you and the artist,
Of all the lines I’ve written so far, message. If you think about it, so you have a lot more control
that one is probably my favorite. Bodhi’s at the heart of everything over the pacing and feel.








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Phil Noto’s art for
Rogue One issue #2
heralds the shift of
the action to Jedha.






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FORCES OF DESTINY












Moments






- of -


Destiny










What makes a hero? Is it simply destiny, or must
holders of that title acquire certain qualities before
they can be worthy of it? Star Wars Forces of
Destiny is a new animated micro-series that explores
character-building moments for different heroines
spanning all eras of the saga. Insider spoke to two of
its key players to find out more...



W ORDS B Y TR I C IA B ARR


hen Star Wars It’s also notable for an all-star
Forces of Destiny cast that includes Daisy Ridley
W made its debut (Rey), Felicity Jones (Jyn), Lupita
at Star Wars
Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Ashley
Celebration in Eckstein (Ahsoka), Catherine Taber
April this year, (Padmé) and Tiya Sircar (Sabine)—
two things in particular stood out not to mention a certain John
about the new animated series. Boyega voicing Finn.
Firstly, it was remarkably female- The project announcement at
led. Secondly, it was remarkably StarWars.com says the Lucasfi lm
good. While each episode is just Animation initiative “will remain
three minutes long, the scale and true to the Star Wars canon,
ambition on display are fully in showing how choices both big and
keeping with everything you small ultimately shape the destinies
would expect from a Lucasfi lm of beloved characters.” The show
Animation project. launched on Disney YouTube in












STAR WARS INSIDER / 45




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FORCES OF DESTINY






































01

02









July, ahead of a TV special that is
planned for the Disney Channel
this fall.

Lucasfilm boss Kathleen
Kennedy has described the series
as being “for anyone who has been
inspired by Leia’s heroism, Rey’s
courage, or Ahsoka’s tenacity,”
and as a way to explore “the small 03
moments and everyday decisions
that shape who these characters
are.” Alongside the animated
adventures, there will also be
Forces of Destiny books, and a cool
new range of 11-inch adventure

figures squarely aimed at the girl’s
roleplay market.
All in all, while it’s recognizably
Star Wars, it is also a departure for
the franchise. To find out what

forces shaped the series, Insider sat

down with Lucasfilm vice president
of animation development and
story-group member Carrie Beck,



46 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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FORCES OF DESTINY




“...Forces of destiny is an opportunity
to see the smaller moments that very

much make up who these women are...”


04
as well as stalwart Star Wars voice changed my perspective greatly
actor Catherine Taber, who is about what that team was working
reprising the role of Padmé in the on and creating. The amount of
new show. love and craftsmanship that the

folks at Lucasfilm Animation were
CARRIE BECK bringing to their work was really
impressive to me.
Star Wars Insider: What forces of
destiny led you to work on this Forces of Destiny has been
new show? described as a way to highlight
Carrie Beck: It’s been a long character moments. What is
path to this point. Animation a “character moment” and
is actually pretty recent to me, how does it differ from other
and something I started working storytelling forms?

on here at Lucasfilm. Before that, For me, “a character moment”
I was working in feature fi lm is really about what we can focus
development for many years. on in under three minutes. As
I worked on movies, TV pilots, we started to think about making
and some other things before shorter content, we really had to
I ended up at the Sundance think about what it is that makes
Institute managing the New something Star Wars. So much

Frontiers Story Lab, which was of it is defined by the arc of the
all about the intersection of new Hero’s Journey: the ascensions and
media and storytelling. calls to action, all the things that
When the opportunity at are steps along the way. But it’s

Lucasfilm came up, I jumped not just those big moments that
at the chance to get back into make a hero. As well as the iconic 05
development to work with moments of sensing your destiny
Kathy Kennedy and [Lucasfi lm as you stare out at the twin suns,
vice president of development] it also has a lot do with your
Kiri Hart as part of the story values and how you live your life.
group. Very early on I met Dave So if a movie or the arc of
Filoni, and we started work on a season of a show like Rebels is changes of heart can have long-
Star Wars Rebels. Everything else about the major steps in character term implications.
evolved from there, taking the growth—that journey the heroes We can’t go as far as, say, Luke’s
storytelling skills I had learned take from selfi shness decision to redeem his father—we
in those previous jobs and driving to selfl essness—then 01 We’ll find out much simply don’t have the time to tell

it forward at Lucasfi lm. Forces of Destiny is an more about Rey those stories—but we can fi nd
and BB-8 (left).
opportunity to see the some of the DNA that defi nes
Did working on Rebels change smaller moments that 02 The series will our characters. To showcase their
your opinion of animation? still very much make up expand on iconic traits, their behaviors, and the
moments (left).
Well, my appreciation for what who these women are opportunities they take that speak

[Rebels executive producer] and define what their 03 There will be plenty to the person inside.
Dave Filoni and the team did values are. of action as well as
insights (left).
certainly grew exponentially, but Maybe the stakes are How does Forces of Destiny

I’ve always been a huge fan of not so elevated—perhaps 04 The series explores fit into the wider world of
Ahsoka and
animation. I spent most of my it’s about helping your Star Wars storytelling?
Padmé’s close
youth watching animated movies friend out of a bind—but friendship. There are a couple of different
and loving cartoons. But coming they are still moments ways. There’s the overt way, which
05 Of course, the

to Lucasfilm, getting to know the that resonate. Sometimes is that the choice of characters
Imperial forces are

team, and working with Dave even small decisions and never far behind... reflects a lot of who you’re going
STAR WARS INSIDER / 47


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FORCES OF DESTINY












06





to be seeing on TV and in fi lm.
But also—and this is one of things
that makes Forces of Destiny a real
opportunity—we’re telling stories

that fill in the gaps that you simply
can’t cover when you’re focusing
on those big beats. If the movies
and TV shows present the big rocks
in a character’s path, we get to be
some of the pebbles. That helps
paint a fuller, bigger picture of what
these characters might be doing in
the time that was previously off-
screen. For example, with Jyn, we
know where her tale ends. But this
is a great opportunity to see some
of the moments that really make
her who she is. Jen brought her writing talent to now, given where we are on the
the table as we sat down together timeline, we’re not getting as
You’ve assembled an impressive and started to develop these stories. much Padmé out there. For that
team for this show, including reason, I wanted to get her into a
writer Jennifer Muro and director Forces of Destiny has its own line lot of these shorts, and it’s great
Brad Rau. How did you assemble of female-focused “adventure” to see her getting to have more
such a stellar line-up? figures. Gareth Edwards and adventures—and with Ahsoka,

When we build a team, we look Dave Filoni have both talked too! It’s wonderful being able
within Lucasfilm and beyond it. about how playing with action to keep that character present


What’s really important about figures inspired their careers. and integrated within the larger
our process is that it’s really Is there a similar hope with tapestry of Star Wars.
collaborative, and it’s important Forces of Destiny? These pieces run the gamut

that those of us on the Lucasfi lm We definitely want to reach all the from all of these eras. What’s so
side put forward a really strong people who want to play Star Wars. exciting about Forces of Destiny is
point of view around the types of There shouldn’t be any boundaries that it provides an opportunity for
stories that we want to tell. to that. Play is such an important kids who may not know anything
In something like Forces of Destiny, part of being immersed in and from these different eras to come
we’re playing within existing expressing your love for in and sample a piece of it, and
storytelling and there needs to something. That should be to get invested in those timelines.
06 Leia, R2-D2 and
be those of us that have a larger Chewbacca face available to everybody. You get it all. Even Ewoks!
perspective around what’s going the “Beasts of
Echo Base.”
on in each platform in this giant Among all the returning What other team-ups
galaxy of Star Wars. Those are 07 Anakin and Yoda characters, one that fans should we look out for?
people like Dave Filoni, [Story unite with Ahsoka seem especially excited by There’s Ketsu with Sabine, and
(see right).
Group creative executive] Leland is Padmé. What can we Leia with Sabine. Oh, and Hera and
Chee, and me. 08 Leia and Chewie expect from her return? Sabine! We get to have so much
share a moment
But we also want to round out One of the wonderful interaction between these various
of friendship
the group with people like Brad and (see right). things about The Clone women. It’s really fun to be able to
Jen. Brad was a guest director on Wars on TV was that highlight these relationships, and
09 Sabine and Leia
the second season of Rebels and we you got to see so much to see them working together and
face a familiar foe
have a long relationship with him. (see right). more of Padmé. Right solving problems.

48 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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FORCES OF DESTINY


07








Will we also be seeing some
male favorites joining in these
new adventures?
Absolutely. These shorts
take the point of view of the
female characters, but they are
still working with their male
counterparts. It’s really important
to us that we represent the whole
of Star Wars, so you’re going to
hear John Boyega voicing Finn,
and there will be appearances from
Han Solo, Chewbacca, Yoda, and
Anakin, too. If it makes sense for
a character to appear in Forces of
Destiny, they will do so, regardless
of gender.

Is Matt Lanter from The Clone
Wars going to be returning as the was like putting on your favorite
voice of Anakin? shoes. It was very familiar and very
Yes, Matt is back as Anakin! It’s comfortable, especially since we
really fun how we’re able to bring have Dave Filoni working with us.
in the actors that played these It felt like coming home.

parts on film and TV and get them
working together. It’s really a great You were a fan before you were
experience for me, and I think part of the cast. Are you excited
for them, too. They can reprise to be part of a show that aims to
these roles and lean into those old inspire a new generation of fans?
relationships. You get so much I’m excited for my nieces, but they
dedication working on Star Wars are already huge fans. My parents
and it means so much to all the get Star Wars Insider and other
people involved, so it’s really nice magazines if I’m interviewed, and
to have opportunities to bring the girls pick them up. That led to
everybody together. them watching the show Aunt Cat
was in, and then the movies. It’s
CATHERINE not that I made them watch any of
TABER it, but I probably would have tried, 08
if they hadn’t already!
Star Wars Insider: What’s it like For me, it’s hard to remember
to come back to Padmé? a time when I wasn’t a fan. I’ve
Catherine Taber: I was super always loved Star Wars. When
excited to get the call telling me I started working in voice acting,
that Padmé was going to be part Mission Vao from the Knights of
of Forces of Destiny. Going back the Old Republic videogame was



“You get so much dedication working

on star wars and it means so much
to all the people involved...” 09





STAR WARS INSIDER / 49




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FORCES OF DESTINY




my second audition and my fi rst realize! I did two voices on to be a part of that, but I wasn’t
job. Now, having been involved The Force Awakens: a hangar offi cer sure if I would be identifi able. So
with The Clone Wars, Rebels, and and the Starkiller Base weapons I was sitting there next to James
Forces of Destiny, it feels really cool technician. The second one is the Arnold Taylor [Obi-Wan Kenobi
to be part of this ongoing thing one that people notice most often, in The Clone Wars], and the line
that bridges generations. and which is recognizable as me. happened and James looked at
It was so funny because I was me and said, “That was you!” And
You didn’t mention that you also watching the movie at a cast and I was like, “That was me!” It makes
provided voices on the big screen crew screening here in L.A. and me laugh because it sounds like

in The Force Awakens! it was the first time I had seen it. Padmé is charging the weapon.
That’s true, but most people don’t I was so excited to have gotten That kind of Easter egg stuff is
fun and I love being a part of it.
10
Forces of Destiny is all about
what makes a hero. What do
you think are Padmé’s most
heroic traits?
She has diplomacy, which these
days is really a lost virtue. There’s
so much anger and animosity,
it seems like everyone is just yelling
at one another. I love that the fi rst
thing she does is try to understand
the situation and the other person’s
side. But I also love that, when that
doesn’t work, she’s also willing
to get in there and fight a battle.

To quote another trilogy that
I love, there are some things worth
fighting for. That’s something

that Padmé really knows, and
friendships are right up there as one
of those things. What I love about
this new series is you really get to
see how important friendships are.






“There’s also a
great friendship

between Padmé

and ahsoka, so
it kind of feels
like getting the

old gang back

together!”
11









50 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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