The Epic Transformation of Vader's Apprentice Starkiller: The Astonishing Untold Story in Star Wars Canon!

Summary

The mention of Starkiller's incorporation into Star Wars canon occurred approximately four years ago, sparking widespread speculation and fan theories. There is a strong desire among many fans for his reappearance in the franchise.

The Mandalorian and Andor have hinted at the possibility of bringing Starkiller back into the Star Wars canon, which has greatly thrilled fans and heightened their speculation.

Incorporating Starkiller into the Star Wars canon would necessitate substantial alterations to his story, especially his involvement in the Rebel Alliance's formation. Nonetheless, given the captivating nature of the character and the exceptional talent of actor Sam Witwer, it would be a worthwhile undertaking. Whether this reintroduction occurs in Ahsoka or another upcoming project is yet to be determined.

Four years ago, there were hints that the popular character Galen Marek, also known as Starkiller, from the video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, might be introduced into the Star Wars canon. Despite the disappointment when the Force Unleashed series was labeled as Legends by Disney, fans have continued to speculate on how Starkiller could potentially be reintegrated into the Star Wars universe. One theory suggests that Ahsoka's Inquisitor is secretly Vader's apprentice Starkiller, and recent installments under Disney have further fueled these speculations.

The Mandalorian's Imperial Incinerator Trooper's Paved The Way For Starkiller In Canon

The initial indication of Starkiller's canonicity occurred in The Mandalorian season 1, episode 8. Towards the end of Din Djarin's mission, he and his allies found themselves trapped by Moff Gideon and his Imperial troops. Among these troops was an Incinerator trooper, a specialized stormtrooper armed with a massive flamethrower. Surprisingly, despite their predicament, Grogu utilized his growing Force abilities to overpower the Incinerator trooper and facilitate the escape of their newfound family.

Notably, the first appearance of Incinerator troopers was in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game. This led the actor who portrayed Starkiller, Sam Witwer, to jest about the canonicity of the character, suggesting that if the Incinerator trooper was now considered canon, then perhaps Starkiller could be as well. Although this remark did not explicitly confirm that Starkiller had been reintroduced from the Star Wars Legends, it did contribute to the speculation regarding the possible inclusion of Galen Marek's character in the franchise.

How Star Wars Canon Has Further Set Up Starkiller's Return

Since 2019, with the release of The Mandalorian season 1, there has been another notable instance in Star Wars canon that suggests the potential return of Starkiller to the franchise. Surprisingly, this clue is found in Andor, a Star Wars show that is not typically associated with connections to non-canon aspects of the franchise. In Andor, there is an Easter egg related to Starkiller located in a collectibles store owned by Luthen Rael, a man who uses the store as a front for his rebellious activities against the Empire.

During one scene in Andor, Luthen guides his ally Mon Mothma through the back area of the store. As they pass by an armor stand, the audience can catch a glimpse of the Starkiller Easter egg. The armor on the stand closely resembles the attire worn by Starkiller in The Force Unleashed video games. Notably, the helmet on display bears a striking resemblance to Starkiller's helmet from the game series. This inclusion of the Easter egg is sure to delight fans of Sam Witwer's character.

How Starkiller Can Be In Star Wars Without Breaking Canon

To integrate Starkiller into Star Wars canon, significant changes would be necessary. The most crucial alteration would involve modifying Starkiller's involvement in the formation of the Rebel Alliance. In The Force Unleashed, Darth Vader sends Starkiller to initiate the Rebel Alliance as a strategy to expose the Empire's adversaries. Starkiller collaborates with characters such as Bail Organa, Leia Organa, and Mon Mothma to establish the Rebellion formally.

However, this portrayal would contradict established canon. Previous Star Wars projects like Star Wars Rebels and Andor have extensively explored the Rebel Alliance's origins, with no mention of characters like Starkiller or Garm Bel Iblis. Consequently, if Starkiller were to be introduced into Star Wars canon, his role in the Rebel Alliance's formation would require significant revisions.

The ending of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II was left uncertain, as plans for a third game were scrapped after Disney acquired Lucasfilm. Despite the player having two choices that significantly impact the story, the creators have confirmed the canonical ending. In this version, Starkiller assists the Rebel Alliance in apprehending Vader. However, the game concludes with Starkiller unknowingly being trailed by Boba Fett as they travel to Dantooine with the Rebels. Given what is known about Vader's narrative, this event did not occur in the official Star Wars canon.

Therefore, if Starkiller were to become part of the canon, this aspect of his story would require revision. One straightforward approach to integrating Starkiller into the Star Wars canon would be to completely reimagine his tale. Considering that both The Force Unleashed and The Force Unleashed II acted as a connective link between Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, various elements of the games' narratives would contradict the established canon. Consequently, a complete overhaul of Starkiller's story to align with the existing canon would likely be the most viable option if integration were to occur.

Why Starkiller Should Be Back In Star Wars Canon

Rewritten

Starkiller's inclusion in the Star Wars canon would bring forth several compelling reasons. Firstly, his character is undeniably captivating. Being the son of a Jedi who is thrust into becoming apprentice to Darth Vader creates a gripping narrative, as he constantly struggles with the conflicting forces of light and dark. Moreover, the concept of Vader having an apprentice aligns perfectly with Star Wars canon. The Sith Rule of Two, wherein apprentices constantly seek to overthrow their masters, substantiates the idea of Vader secretly having an apprentice between Episode III and Episode IV.

Another noteworthy aspect is the immense talent of actor Sam Witwer. Throughout the years, Witwer has portrayed various remarkable roles in the Star Wars universe, including Starkiller and the voice of Maul in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. He has also lent his voice to characters such as the Son and Emperor Palpatine in the aforementioned series, while also delivering additional voices or cameos in most Disney-era Star Wars films and Disney+ shows. Thus, it is imperative to provide Witwer the opportunity to helm his own project or reintroduce him into the Star Wars canon, as it would be a fitting platform for his exceptional talent, much like Starkiller.

Is Ahsoka's Marrok Secretly Starkiller? The Case For & Against

Regarding the mysterious Inquisitor Marrok's true identity as Ahsoka's adversary, there are arguments both supporting and opposing the notion that it is Starkiller concealed beneath the helmet. On the one hand, it is evident that Marrok purposely conceals their identity through the use of a voice changer and by always wearing the helmet. Furthermore, the idea of Darth Vader's secret apprentice becoming the enemy of Anakin Skywalker's apprentice is undeniably intriguing. Therefore, unveiling Starkiller as an Inquisitor would be an intriguing twist. However, it should be noted that there is limited concrete evidence linking the two characters together beyond the desire for this connection to occur.

Interestingly, there is also a lack of evidence against the theory that Marrok is indeed Starkiller. The main flaw in this revelation lies in its lack of impact. Many individuals, aside from those familiar with The Force Unleashed, would not recognize the significance of Starkiller, rendering the reveal ineffective. In addition, aside from the nostalgic ties to Star Wars Legends, uncovering Marrok as Starkiller would provide little in terms of meaningful character development for Ahsoka. Rather than serving as a significant plot point, it would merely be an attempt to establish a connection to the earlier Star Wars material.

Where Starkiller Could Appear If Not Ahsoka

Despite the earlier statement that Andor would establish a different origin for the Rebel Alliance compared to The Force Unleashed, it is possible for the former show to incorporate Starkiller. Throughout the history of Star Wars, the franchise has excelled at retrospectively incorporating characters, story elements, and entire movies into an already established timeline. The same potential exists for Starkiller. The reason for his limited appearances can easily be explained by his role as Darth Vader's secret apprentice, unknown to anyone else. It is conceivable that Andor might depict him assisting the Rebels. However, considering Gilroy's complete control over Andor's somewhat self-contained narrative, this outcome seems unlikely.

If not in Ahsoka, Starkiller could make an appearance in Dave Filoni's upcoming Star Wars film. This movie will adapt Heir to the Empire, a non-canonical story that takes place after the original trilogy. Making this story canon would potentially allow for Starkiller's story to align with it. The character could be integrated into the original Star Wars trilogy as a Jedi dedicated to thwarting Thrawn. Nevertheless, the inclusion of Starkiller in canon, if not in Ahsoka, will prove challenging. However, Star Wars has consistently managed to execute retroactive continuity changes throughout its illustrious history spanning 46 years.