A magnificent Star Wars cosplay pays tribute to the legacy of Mara Jade from the former Expanded Universe. Mara Jade, who was initially introduced in Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, used to serve as the Emperor's Hand. However, following the apparent demise of the Emperor in Return of the Jedi, she transitioned into a smuggler. Eventually, Mara Jade joined forces with Luke Skywalker to combat a mutual adversary, enrolled as a student in his Jedi Academy, and ultimately married him. Together, they had a child named Ben Skywalker. Unfortunately, Mara Jade's storyline lost its canonical status when the Expanded Universe was relabeled as "Legends." Despite elements from the Thrawn trilogy making appearances in the TV shows, Mara Jade has yet to be reintroduced into the official canon.
Fortunately, Toxic Girl Cosplay has graciously shared her remarkable Mara Jade cosplay from New York Comic Con 2017, flawlessly capturing the character's unique appearance and style.
Should Mara Jade Return To Star Wars Canon?
: The choice of Mara Jade wielding a purple lightsaber, instead of the blue one gifted by Luke, suggests that this particular cosplay represents her persona during either her Imperial era or her time in hiding.The inclusion of The Mandalorian and its spinoff shows adapting the Thrawn trilogy could potentially resolve the Mara Jade predicament in Star Wars canon. The timeline aligns appropriately, with both The Mandalorian and Heir to the Empire commencing roughly five years after Return of the Jedi. Luke has established his Jedi Temple on Ossus, and the introduction of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka sets the stage for Mara Jade's possible return. In this scenario, she could be reimagined as a former Imperial Inquisitor who once served under Palpatine, thereby preserving her significance from Legends while seamlessly integrating her story into the canon narrative.
Mara Jade's story from Legends would need significant alterations to fit into the canon. While a romantic relationship with Luke is conceivable, marriage is not an option unless she meets an untimely demise before the sequel trilogy. Additionally, it wouldn't make sense for Palpatine to be alive on Exegol without recruiting his former agent, a discrepancy that also existed in the Legends storyline. Nonetheless, characters like Thrawn have made successful transitions into the Star Wars franchise, leaving open the possibility of Mara Jade's return to the canon.