At Star Wars Celebration Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that while the Rogue Squadron movie by Patty Jenkins is no longer happening, the story is not dead and could become its own live action series on Disney Plus or folded into other shows. I have long believed this to be the case with both Rogue Squadron and the canceled DisneyPlus series, Rangers of the New Republic, so it’s nice to see it mentioned by Lucasfilm brass.
Narratively it makes sense for Rogue Squadron to exist in the fight with the Imperial Remnant in Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, Skeleton Crew, and Dave Filoni’s Mandalorian movie.
They’ve set the stage for an upcoming conflict and we are going to need pilots for that fight. Filoni and Favreau have seeded in Rogue Squadron references and have made X-Wing pilots a consistent presence in The Mandalorian with Carson Teva, Trapper Wolf, and Zeb showing up in the show.
Note: If you want to read the full Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron comic story without buying every individual comic you should consider getting the newly printed Star Wars: New Republic Omnibus Vol 1 here.
Here’s a rundown of the evidence that supports Rogue Squadron characters showing up in the upcoming Mandoverse shows/movie.
In a recent interview at the Paley Center for Media, Dave Filoni was asked about the popular Rebels character, Zeb Orrelios, showing up in the X-Wing pub in Season 3 of The Mandalorian. Dave said, “When Zeb leaves the room and talks to…you want to know and we want you to know, but it’s so much better for you to learn it in the right time and watch it with us all.”
This tells me that Zeb is not the only important New Republic X-Wing pilot at that location. That there are key members of the New Republic Navy there as well. Characters that fans will know and get excited to see. It’s not Ahsoka, Sabine, or Ezra. It could be Hera but based on how coy Filoni is being I would be surprised. I think it’s very likely that Zeb is working with other pilots that were either heroes of the Rebellion or heroes of the New Republic.
Rogue Squadron would fit the bill for both.
On top of that, Lucasfilm and Disney have recently extended THREE different Rogue Squadron Trade Marks for merchandise. This happened as recently as March 2023. Here’s the filing.
So what Rogue Squadron Characters do I think will show up? All signs seem to point to three options.
Soontir Fel, Wedge Antilles, and Corran Horn
Corran Horn
Corran Horn easter eggs started popping up heavily in the 2022 DisneyPlus show Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Valin Halcyon in Obi Wan
While walking through a hideout that is part of a larger underground railroad type situation for Jedi trying to escape Order 66 and the inquisitors, Obi-Wan comes into a room with Aurebesh carvings all over the walls that were left there by Jedi and force sensitive beings who’ve taken the path to what they hope is safety.
One of the carvings reads “Valin Halcyon.” This is a legends Jedi who eventually changes his name to Hal Horn to stay hidden from the empire and the Inquisitors.
He eventually finds his way to Corelia where he becomes CorSec officer with his wife and child, Corran Horn.
Corran Horn in Obi Wan
You may remember the scene in the Obi-Wan Kenobi show on Disney+ where Haja Estree, a man pretending to be a Jedi, Haja Estree, played by Kumail Nanjiani, meets with a woman and her force sensitive child to get them to safety. He mentions getting them to Correlia where they will be safe and have help.
While it’s not directly said in the scene, the actress who played the mother confirmed that her character was named Nyche Horn and the credits at the end of the episode confirm that her son’s name is Corran Horn. Corran Horn is originally a Legends character who joins Rogue Squadron before eventually becoming a Jedi master under Luke Skywalker in his new Jedi Academy. The same Jedi Academy that we see being built in The Book of Boba Fett while Luke is training Grogu.
While Corran Horn was a Legends character he was introduced in canon in a Star Wars card game called Star Wars X-Wing.
Soontir Fel
There is a TON of legends material on Soontir Fel but if you are new to the character, here’s the gist… Soontir Fel, originally from Correlia, was the Empire’s best pilot and leader of Saber Squadron. He eventually Syal Antilles, sister of Wedge Antilles, and defected to the New Republic where he was assigned to Rogue Squadron. His stint with the New Republic was brief because he was kidnapped by the Imperial Remnant under the orders of Grand Admiral Thrawn to fight the Yuzong Vong threat.
There are no direct easter eggs or hints in the show that we are getting Soontir Fel but narratively it makes sense. His story is directly tied in with Rogue Squadron, the New Republic, The Imperial Remnant, and Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Wedge Antilles
I’ll keep this section short. There is no Rogue Squadron in live action without Wedge Antilles. He started the Squadron alongside Luke Skywalker after the Battle of Yavin. Wedge is also directly related to the Star Wars Rebels group as Sabine Wren was the one to rescue Wedge from the Imperial Academy when he was ready to defect to the rebellion.
Plus his sister was married to the pilot Grand Admiral Thrawn hand picked and kidnapped to help him rid the galaxy of the Yuzon Vong. It just makes sense.
Rogue Squadron Comic Speculation.
If I’m right, and Corran Horn, Wedge Antilles, and Soontir Fel will play a role in an upcoming show or movie, these are the comics to pay attention to.
Star Wars X-Wing Rogue Squadron #21
Star Wars: X-Wing – Rogue Squadron #21 by Michael Stackpole came out in August 1997 and includes the first appearance of Barron Soontir Fel in Star Wars Legends continuity.
Star Wars X-Wing Rogue Squadron #25
Star Wars: X-Wing – Rogue Squadron #25 by Michael Stackpole came out in December 1997 and includes the origin story of Barron Soontir Fel including his upbringing on Corellia.
This comic also includes the first appearance of Hal Horn aka. Valin Halcyon aka. Corran Horn’s father as a CorSec officer on Corellia.
Lastly, it also includes one of the only Thrawn appearances in a comic that is not a direct adaption of a Timothy Zahn novel.
Star Wars X-Wing Rogue Squadron #26 – Family Ties #1
Star Wars: X-Wing – Rogue Squadron #26 by Michael Stackpole came out in January 1997 and includes the first appearance of Corran Horn working as a CorSec officer on Correlia.
Corran would eventually join Rogue Squadron and become a Master at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy.
This one is pretty difficult to find in a high grade.
Star Wars #5 (1977)
Star Wars #5 by Roy Thomas came out in August 1977 and includes the first appearance of Wedge Antilles in a comic.
He’s unnamed in this one but he’s there. If you want him named then go for Star Wars #6.
That’s all for now. I wrote this blog because I felt that there were too many hints and it made too much sense narratively for something not to be happening behind the scenes with Rogue Squadron characters.
With all of the Heir to the Empire references it’s clear that Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau are fans of this area of Star Wars legends and it would be a complete surprise to me if they did not show up in some form sooner than later.
For light and life!
Grand Admiral Frik
1 comment
Thanks for this! Really cool article!