In February, Lucasfilm finally announced the details of “Project Luminous,” revealing it to be a large-scale publishing initiative called Star Wars: The High Republic.
The High Republic is a period of time set 200 years before The Skywalker Saga began, with The Phantom Menace. This is when the Jedi were in their prime and the galaxy is at peace with the Republic expanding into the unexplored Outer Rim. Star Wars: The High Republic is a series of interconnected stories told by many authors across novels, young adult novels, and comics. Five new Jedi have just been introduced that will be featured as heroes within The High Republic.
Lucasfilm Publishing creative director Michael Siglain explains the new world of characters coming to Star Wars canon:
“Readers will see a very wide variety of Jedi in the era…This is a hopeful, optimistic time, when Jedi are good and noble, and we want to reflect that in their characters while still giving them enough depth and dimension so that their individual personalities and idiosyncrasies shine through. The Jedi Knights of the High Republic are both aspirational and inspirational. In short, they’re the good guys.”
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Star Wars: The High Republic will kick off with a catastrophic event known as “The Great Disaster,” which will begin the first novel within the series, Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule. The noble heroes of the Republic, these Jedi, will be faced with a new and terrifying threat to the galaxy.
The Jedi of Star Wars: The High Republic
Avar Kriss
Avar Kriss is the best and the brightest of the Jedi. She is noble and compassionate, always putting others above herself. Avar is excited to be posted on the frontier and the new challenges it delivers. Avar’s outlook inspires her fellow Jedi and she is well known within the Jedi Order. Based on the cover art for Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi, Avar will be at the forefront of the first story in the series.
Loden Greatstorm
Loden Greatstorm is a Twi’Lek Jedi Master. He is one of the greatest teachers within the Jedi Order, likely because he sees everything as a learning experience and has a good sense of humor. Loden is a strong and wise Jedi Master who is always trying to improve himself and others. Based on the cover art for Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi, Loden also looks to be a part of the first story in the series.
Keeve Trennis
Keeve Trennis is a young new Jedi Knight who has only just passed the trials a few weeks ago. Keeve looks up to Avar and is determined to prove herself to her master and the other Jedi stationed on Starlight Beacon. Keeves is quick witted and has a deep trust in the Force, but her youth means she is still a bit impulsive and lacks the belief in herself that is needed to come into her own as a Jedi Knight. Based on her character description, Keeve will likely also be featured in Star Wars The High Republic: The Light of the Jedi.
Stellan Gios
Stellan Gios is a respected Jedi Master who is strong in the Force that came through the Jedi Order with Avar Kriss. Though Stellan and Avar are usually on different assignments, when they do work together they are an impressive and powerful team. Stellan is optimistic and a natural teacher who is currently stationed at a Jedi Temple outpost on the planet Caragon-Vine.
Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh
Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh is a new Jedi Knight, and one of the youngest in a generation, at only sixteen years old. Vern is a hard worker devoted to the Jedi order and the former Padawan of Stellan Gios. Due to her age, Vern has a hard time fitting in with the adults, but she is determined to set a good example for the younger Jedi in the Order. Vern will be featured in the Justina Ireland book Star Wars The High Republic: A Test of Courage.
One of the upcoming authors, Cavan Scott, had this to say about the development of the new characters.
“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into making our Jedi feel like real, rounded individuals. They are all different, approaching the Force in individual and unique ways and yet are united with a common goal. They serve not out of unwavering dogma, but a deep passion to protect light and life. And they’re all at different stages in their individual journeys.
Some have experience on their side, some have the exuberance of youth. Some are still finding their place in the Order while others step naturally into leadership roles. Some may not have chosen to work with the Jedi they’ve been posted alongside, but all are dedicated to be a guiding light for the galaxy. Individually they are strong, together they are invincible, but like the best heroes they each have lessons to learn and challenges to overcome. Exciting times lie ahead.”
The books and comics will feature a wide array of diverse characters which is clear from these five Jedi that have been introduced. It looks like “The Great Disaster,” that starts the action in Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi will echo throughout the galaxy and the stories that follow.
These stories will feature Jedi that resemble King Arthur’s Knights of the Roundtable, protecting the Galactic Republic. Expansion into new territories in the unexplored Outer Rim of the galaxy will lead to Jedi that will be more like Texas Rangers cowboys, patrolling this new frontier. These are not the Jedi we are used to.
“The Great Disaster” that will begin the central conflict of the series also leads to new villains being introduced. For example, The Nihil are described as “Space Vikings,” capable of killing anyone who gets in their way. Star Wars: The High Republic is shaping up to be an exciting new chapter in the Star Wars universe.
The first few books in the Star Wars: The High Republic series will be released this fall and are already available for pre-order with more to come.
Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi is available for pre-order on Amazon and is set to be released August 25, 2020
Star Wars The High Republic: A Test of Courage is available for pre-order on Amazon and is set to be released September 8, 2020.
Star Wars The High Republic: Into the Dark is available for pre-order on Amazon and is set to be released October 13, 2020.
Source: starwars.com