Top 5 Animated Characters Star Wars Should Introduce in Live Action
We’re living in the best time for fans of Star Wars animation. We’ve got The Bad Batch running for the foreseeable future, and Lucasfilm animation is taking actual risks like partnering with anime studios for Visions. Furthermore, Disney+’s live-action Star Wars shows are branching off of Clone Wars and Rebels stories. Between all this and the death of baby-targeted drivel like Resistance, I couldn’t be happier. It’s no secret that The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have featured the animated series’ characters heavily. I thought it would be fun to discuss which animated characters could cross over next and where I think their appearances should happen. I won’t be including characters who have appeared in live-action before or those that were created that way. Let’s dive in and let me know who you want to see next!
5.) Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore, Obi-Wan Kenobi
“Remember, my dear Obi-Wan. I loved you, always. I always will…”
I think this one has a decent chance of actually happening. As it stands, Duchess Satine is integral to Obi-Wan in the animated canon. In The Clone Wars, she’s yet another way of showcasing Obi-Wan’s resolve and how it contrasts with Anakin’s fatal flaw. Years ago, Obi-Wan was tasked with protecting the Duchess on a mission, not unlike the one Anakin undertakes in Attack of the Clones. In the Clone Wars “present” timeline, Obi-Wan tells Satine he would have left the Order for her if she had only asked. This single line of dialogue pulls double duty, clarifying just how much he cares for her and that he still would have ultimately made a choice. The very same choice that Anakin wouldn’t or couldn’t make would have been that easy for Obi-Wan if the opportunity had presented itself. Satine also connects to another critical person in Obi-Wan’s life: Darth Maul. Maul kills Satine right in front of Obi-Wan in The Clone Wars season 5, episode 16, “The Lawless.” In doing so, he seeks revenge by taking the Jedi’s great love away. But just like always, Maul misunderstands Kenobi and his perpetual resilience in the face of loss and tragedy. Maul is defined by his profound sense of loss, be it that of his legs or any semblance of choice in joining the Sith. He can’t understand the way Kenobi learns from, and triumphs over the various blows life deals him. Rebels season 3, episode 20, “Twin Suns,” focuses on the now decades-spanning rivalry between Darth Maul (now just Maul) and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maul finally locates his old nemesis and taunts him, mocking his surroundings and station in life as a lonely old hermit on an arid dustball like Tattooine. Again, he misunderstands his foe and his circumstances. Kenobi responds, “Look at what I’ve risen above,” and I can’t help but think of Satine’s loss and the potential depression he could have disappeared into. Next to Anakin’s fall to the dark side, Satine’s death has to be one of the greatest losses Obi-Wan has had to overcome. It would make sense for him to ruminate on what they had as he sits alone, waiting on Tatooine. Obi-Wan Kenobi will be set between episodes III and IV, putting it between the aforementioned episodes. Maybe the series will find him at a low point, contemplating old wounds. This would be the perfect time to introduce Satine into live-action through flashbacks.
4.) Garazeb Orrelios, Ahsoka
“Karabast!”
I’m not sure how likely we are to see Zeb in live-action, but I would love it. Since we’re confirmed to be getting live-action Sabine and Ezra in the upcoming Ahsoka series, that seems the most logical place to introduce Zeb. Like many of the characters and designs in Rebels, he’s based on Ralph McQuarrie’s concept art. His design was originally intended for Chewbacca. As such, I imagine it wouldn’t be too difficult to put together a costume for him. Sabine could bring Zeb in to help with the search for Ezra, or maybe she and Ahsoka could come upon him by chance. I think the first option would feel less forced in-story. I don’t have any big, meaningful reasons for this choice. I just think it would be great to see him again, especially if it meant a Rebels reunion in the live-action series. At the rate The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have been going, I’m sure Ahsoka will be full of cameos, and I see no reason to exclude Zeb. Maybe we could learn more about the Lasat people he returned with at the end of Rebels. Heck, I would love to see the rebel formerly known as Agent Kallus again.
3.) Hondo Ohnaka, The Mandalorian or Obi-Wan Kenobi
“Insolence? We are pirates! We don’t even know what that means!”
Hondo only finds himself this low on the list because an appearance from him wouldn’t be terribly emotional or life-changing. This character is pure chaotic energy, packed with quips and unpredictable in every scenario. In The Clone Wars, you never knew who’s side Hondo would be on or what depths he would stoop to. He was also a diverting presence in Rebels, although a less morally ambiguous one than in The Clone Wars. He needs to appear in a live-action series because he’s such an iconic character within the animated shows. When I think of The Clone Wars especially, wacky, interesting side characters like Hondo are one of the first things that jump to mind. I think Obi-Wan Kenobi or The Mandalorian are the most likely places for this rugged pirate to show up. However, another charming aspect of Hondo is that you never know where you’ll see him, so he could really turn up anywhere in the Star Wars galaxy.
2.) Hera Syndulla, Ahsoka or The Mandalorian
“If all you do is fight for your own life, then your life is worth nothing.”
Hera Syndulla was introduced as a founding member of the Ghost crew on Rebels, a gifted pilot with altruistic motives and family ties to the Rebellion. She went on to appear in The Bad Batch’s Ryloth arc and even the Star Wars: Squadrons video game. Hera’s ship can even be seen in Rogue One, although she still hasn’t made the jump to live-action. The daughter of Clone Wars hero Cham Syndulla is one of my favorite characters in Rebels, and one who doesn’t get enough love. Hera’s romance with erstwhile Jedi Padawan Kanan Jarrus is sweet and well-developed. Her troubled relationship with her father and their eventual reconciliation make for compelling television and great Star Wars; after all, Star Wars is a story about family. Hera carries on more than one legacy as not only the scion of a great family of Ryloth but the mother of Kanan’s son Jacen. I would love to see more of Hera and Kanan’s time together both before and during the time of Rebels. More interactions between her and Cham would be great, too. More than anything, though, we need to explore Hera’s life after Rebels. I would die to find out what she does after the war and what Jacen is like, give or take a cutesie line from Sabine in the Rebels epilogue. I think the most obvious place for Hera to appear next would be Ahsoka, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the best option. We don’t want Ahsoka to become too cameo-laden too soon or turn into Rebels in live-action. More accurately, I would love the latter, but it might not be best for the story. Lucasfilm could absolutely have the Mandalorian travel to wherever Hera currently is in that timeline or have them meet some other way. Regardless of how they do it, I hope we get some form of continuation of this brave, skilled, loving character’s story.
1.) Captain Rex, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, or The Book of Boba Fett
“I used to believe that being a good soldier meant doing everything they told you. That’s how they engineered us. But we’re not droids. We’re not programmed. You have to learn to make your own decisions.”
Captain Rex is simply the only choice for #1 on my list. He’s appeared in The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Bad Batch, as well as books and comics. Dave Filoni has all but ret-conned him into Return of the Jedi in suggesting that he and background character Nik Sant may be one and the same. The animated shows have done a lot to humanize the clones in explaining their actions and exploring their personalities. While there are several stand-out clones in The Clone Wars, Rex is the most well-developed. He also has the tightest bond with principal characters like Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker. Rex starts out as the perfect soldier, a seasoned trooper in his prime who always follows orders. Much of his character arc involves confronting the fact that commands are sometimes best disobeyed. His encounter with deserter Cut Lawquane is an excellent example of this, as is the Umbara arc. In these four season 4 episodes, Rex and his brothers are faced with corrupt Jedi General Pong Krell. Krell is secretly working against the Republic and the Jedi, using his power and the murky atmosphere of Umbara to turn the unknowing clones on one another. It’s an incredibly tense, challenging storyline and yet another step along the way to Order 66. In the end, Rex is one of the lucky ones, if you can say that about any clone. He and Ahsoka make it out alive after the fallout of Order 66, but only after facing Rex’s brothers under the total influence of their inhibitor chips. They’re unable to save everyone, merely giving them a makeshift burial and disappearing into hiding. Like many of the best Star Wars characters, Rex’s story is one of tragedy and triumph, character growth, and the invisible but powerful bonds we form with those around us. We’ve seen several chapters of Rex’s life, but one thing I would still love to see is Temeura Morrison portraying him in a film or series. Rex’s eventful life and status as a clone make him a versatile character who could pop up almost anywhere. He would have the most emotional impact if reunited with his lifelong friend Ahsoka Tano. Still, I could also imagine some exciting stories with him and Boba Fett. I love this character and would be eager to see him in any show, provided they do him justice.
Honorable Mentions
Omega, The Book of Boba Fett or The Mandalorian
I’m sure Filoni and co. have bigger plans for Omega in the long-run. She’s very unique among the clones and essentially a sister to Boba Fett, which would make her an interesting addition to his series. I want to know more about this “pure” clone and would love to see her pop up in the live-action shows.
Kanan Jarrus/Caleb Dume, Ahsoka
Kanan is another of my favorite Rebels characters. I find his struggle as a partially-trained, never knighted Jedi fascinating, and he has tremendous charisma. If Hera does appear in Ahsoka, she could have a flashback to her time with the love of her life. Given his fate in Rebels, that’s likely the only way we’ll ever see him unless they feature him in The Bad Batch again, and that’s not a good idea.
Asajj Ventress, Obi-Wan Kenobi or Ahsoka
Asajj is another character that has simply captured my imagination. Redemption stories are a staple of Star Wars and I’m a sucker for them. Asajj has a complicated past, and we already know when and how she dies thanks to the novel Dark Disciple, which adapts an unfinished arc of The Clone Wars. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka are both significant parts of Asajj’s story, and I think it would be logical and poignant for either of them to reminisce on situations that involved her, especially Ahsoka.
That’s my top five animated Star Wars characters who should appear in live-action. What do you think? What are your picks? Let us know in the comments!
