At the end of Revenge of the Sith, Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi were the only two Jedi who survived Order 66. A new Disney animated series, however, will suggest one other Jedi did live, and has forsaken his Jedi ways until events might force him to reconsider.
Star Wars: Rebels features Kanan, a former Jedi who is more of a gunslinger, or “cowboy Jedi” as the producers describe him. He’ll be voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr., the husband of Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Executive producer Dave Filoni says Kanan has been underground for years, evading the Empire. If the Imperials become aware of his existence “he’s going to get killed,” says art director Kilian Plunkett. He still has his lightsaber, but no longer uses it for fear of revealing his true identity — and has ultimately forsaken the ways of the Jedi Order.
The show will depict Kanan’s journey as he rediscovers himself, just as a rebellion begins to form against the Empire. According to Filoni, “he’s a gunslinger that needs to put the gun away and pick up the sword again, and fight for noble causes and selfless causes.” However, that also means a confrontation with a Jedi hunter known as the Inquisitor.
A preview of the show, including storyboards and an interview with Prinze, is below.
Star Wars: Rebels will premiere this fall on the Disney Channel, then air more episodes on Disney XD.
