A 1977 Star Wars Character’s Upcoming Return Fixes A Sequel Trilogy Mistake

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A beloved character from the very first Star Wars movie is back, correcting a problem with the more recent sequels. Thirty-eight years after the original film debuted in 1977, The Force Awakens continued the story in 2015. This film, the first of a new trilogy, brought back older versions of Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker, set about 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi within the Star Wars timeline.

Reviews for The Force Awakens were largely excellent, appealing to both dedicated Star Wars fans and newcomers alike. However, the following two films, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, sparked a lot of disagreement among viewers. This has made the overall impression of these three films complex, and many people still feel like certain storylines could have been handled better. Luckily, one of those missed chances is now being addressed.

Wedge Antilles Is Returning In Star Wars: Star Pilots

A fan-favorite Star Wars pilot, Wedge Antilles, will be back in a new book. Actor Denis Lawson originally played Wedge, a skilled X-Wing pilot for the Rebel Alliance who first appeared in the original Star Wars movie. He’s remembered as one of the few survivors of the battle against the first Death Star at Yavin.

Wedge Antilles pilots an X-wing in two major battles: the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back and the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi. He makes a quick appearance in The Rise of Skywalker during the Battle of Exegol, operating a gun turret on the Millennium Falcon instead of flying.

I just learned some exciting news from author Chris Kempshall during an interview on Star Wars Explained with Alex Damon. Kempshall is currently working on a new Star Wars book called Star Pilots, and it’s going to be told from Wedge Antilles’ perspective! Apparently, the story takes place after The Rise of Skywalker, with Wedge reflecting on the history of pilots from both the Rebel Alliance and the Empire during the Galactic Civil War. And get this – Biggs Darklighter, played by Garrick Hagon, will be featured in the book as well. It sounds like a really interesting look back at a crucial part of the Star Wars universe.

Kempshall previously authored Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, presented as a historical account told through the eyes of Beaumont Kin (played by Dominic Monaghan). His new book, Star Pilots, will use the same approach, but this time it will be narrated from Wedge Antilles’ perspective, making him the central character.

The Sequel Trilogy Failed To Do Wedge Justice

Wedge Antilles’s strong presence in the Star Pilots series helps balance out the fact that the sequel trilogy didn’t give his character enough attention. As a key hero from the original Star Wars trilogy, Wedge deserved a more significant role than the brief appearance he had in The Rise of Skywalker. While he wouldn’t necessarily have been a central figure like Han, Leia, and Luke, he could have been a valuable and active member of the Resistance, similar to how Admiral Ackbar appeared in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

Rebecca Roanhorse’s 2019 novel, Resistance Reborn, takes place between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker and explains what happened to Wedge Antilles during that time. The book gives Wedge a significant role, showing him helping Leia, Poe Dameron, and others rebuild the Resistance after Luke Skywalker’s death. Because of his prominent part in the story, it seemed like Wedge would have a larger role in The Rise of Skywalker than the brief appearance he ultimately received.

I’ve always been in awe of Wedge Antilles. He’s truly a legend – the only pilot to come out alive after attacking both Death Stars! Having flown through the entire Galactic Civil War and the fight against the First Order, he just feels like the perfect person to take us behind the scenes in this new book, Star Pilots. What I especially love is that he defected from the Empire, so he understands what it was like on both sides of the conflict – something the recent movies really missed out on, in my opinion. This book is finally giving his perspective the attention it deserves!

Star Wars: Star Pilots releases on October 6, 2026.

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2026-03-07 15:08