Star Wars Has The Perfect Chance To Bring Back A Fan-Favorite Character After 19 Years

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After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, they immediately began working on a new Star Wars trilogy featuring the original characters – Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo. They also scheduled a yearly release of Star Wars movies, alternating between standalone stories and the continuation of the main saga.

Disney didn’t just make fast decisions about the Star Wars films. They also unexpectedly ended the Clone Wars animated series, a show that George Lucas himself had been involved with. Around the same time, they quickly removed many Star Wars books that had been published after Return of the Jedi from circulation.

These books were declared unofficial to the main Star Wars storyline, which allowed Disney to create their own new set of sequels. The ‘Legends’ stories, as they’re now known, sometimes intentionally pushed boundaries with surprising twists, offering a different feel from the films. But other stories, like Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire trilogy, aimed for a more realistic and familiar Star Wars experience. A key character in that trilogy was Mara Jade.

Originally serving the Emperor, she later joined Luke Skywalker, eventually marrying him and becoming the mother of Ben Skywalker. Fans have often hoped to see her reappear in official Star Wars stories, and the upcoming second season of Ahsoka seems like the perfect opportunity to bring her back.

Who Is Mara Jade In Legends?

Mara Jade is a fascinating character with a complicated past. She was personally trained by Emperor Palpatine, but not as a Sith Lord. Instead, she operated as his secret agent, known as the Emperor’s Hand, completing his riskiest assignments as he tried to reclaim control of the galaxy. After Palpatine’s death in Return of the Jedi, she initially blames Luke Skywalker, but gradually begins to trust him over time.

Following the Empire’s collapse, Mara Jade started a new life as a smuggler. Working alongside Talon Karrde allowed her to develop her own identity, breaking free from her previous existence solely devoted to serving Emperor Palpatine. She began to trust her own judgment and rely on herself, rather than following the orders of her former Sith Lord. However, Palpatine’s final command – to eliminate Luke Skywalker – continued to haunt her.

For years, Jade resented Luke, but she eventually moved past those feelings and agreed to become his Jedi apprentice. Their training blossomed into a romantic relationship, where their contrasting personalities complemented each other beautifully. Luke’s hopeful nature balanced Mara Jade’s more practical outlook.

How Mara Jade Fits Into Ahsoka Season 2

The second season of Ahsoka is the ideal time to finally introduce this character in live-action. Fans have been eager to see Mara Jade, a popular character from the older ‘Legends’ stories, return, and there’s been speculation about her comeback for years. In fact, authors were once prohibited from including her in new Star Wars novels, suggesting a significant role is planned for her.

The second season of Ahsoka is perfectly setting the stage for the return of Mara Jade. The season will bring back Grand Admiral Thrawn as the primary villain, picking up after his re-entry into the galaxy and his plans to restore the Empire. This clearly indicates the show is adapting elements from the Heir to the Empire trilogy, with Thrawn leading the Empire’s resurgence and Luke Skywalker poised to have a significant role in the conflict.

Luke Skywalker has already been featured in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. Because he interacted with Ahsoka Tano in The Book of Boba Fett, it seems very probable they’ll meet again in the second season. This is particularly interesting because of Luke’s strong connection to the character Mara Jade.

If Luke Skywalker appears in season 2, his story could focus on tracking down former Imperial officers – a theme already central to the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu. Mara Jade would fit this pattern, so Luke might encounter her while searching for ex-Imperials who have information about Thrawn.

Luke’s Activities During This Period Are (Somewhat) Unknown

The main challenge with bringing Mara Jade back into Star Wars is how it fits with Luke Skywalker’s story in the recent films. The sequels portrayed Luke as a loner, disconnected from family – a significant departure from his Legends portrayal. Any return for Mara Jade would have to acknowledge those choices made by the filmmakers, making the process quite complex.

Despite what we know about Luke Skywalker after the original trilogy, many details about his life during those years are still a mystery. We know he established a Jedi Academy and eventually trained Ben Solo. The novel Shadow of the Sith expands on his story, revealing a hunt for Ochi, a Jedi killer first seen in The Rise of Skywalker.

While a few minor Luke Skywalker stories appear throughout these years, his adventures are generally undocumented. This creates space for stories like this one about Mara Jade, and just because Luke didn’t mention her in The Last Jedi doesn’t invalidate her existence.

As a huge fan, I’ve noticed this happens in Star Wars quite a bit! Take Ahsoka, for example. We first met her as Anakin’s padawan in The Clone Wars, and I absolutely loved her. But it’s strange—she’s completely absent from Revenge of the Sith! And even more surprising, she’s around during the original trilogy and beyond, but nobody ever acknowledges her existence in those films. It’s a bit odd, but it’s something the franchise has done before.

Throughout its history, Star Wars has consistently expanded its universe by introducing new stories that connect with the existing ones. As fans become accustomed to these changes – like with the character Ahsoka – it opens the door for the possibility of seeing other beloved characters, such as Mara Jade, return to the saga.

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2026-04-29 00:32