Summary
- Starkiller's inclusion in Star Wars canon was teased four years ago and has been a subject of speculation and theories among fans ever since. Many hope for his return to the franchise.
- The Mandalorian and Andor have both dropped hints that suggest Starkiller could be reintegrated into Star Wars canon. These nods to the character have excited fans and fueled their speculation even more.
- Reintroducing Starkiller into Star Wars canon would require significant changes to his story, particularly his role in the formation of the Rebel Alliance. However, the compelling nature of the character and the talent of actor Sam Witwer make it a worthwhile endeavor. Whether it happens in Ahsoka or another upcoming project remains to be seen.
Despite the endless Ahsoka theories that the show will introduce Galen Marek/Starkiller to Star Wars canon, the character's inclusion was teased four years ago. Galen Marek was the protagonist of the video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and its sequel, centering on the character as the son of a Jedi Order 66 survivor who became Darth Vader's apprentice. Thereafter, he was known as Starkiller and was played by Sam Witwer, becoming a fan-favorite for those familiar with the games.
This led to much disappointment when the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed series was dubbed Legends by Disney. After the acquisition of Lucasfilm, a large portion of Star Wars stories and characters were made non-canon, with Starkiller chief among them. That said, this has not stopped the many theories over how the character could be brought back into Star Wars canon, with one common source of speculation stating that Ahsoka's Inquisitor is Vader's secret apprentice Starkiller. Further fueling these theories are the franchise's installments under Disney that have hinted Galen Marek could finally be reintegrated into Star Wars canon, something first teased four years ago.
The Mandalorian's Imperial Incinerator Trooper's Paved The Way For Starkiller In Canon
The first hint at Starkiller's canonicity came in The Mandalorian season 1, episode 8. At the end of Din Djarin's first outing, he and his allies were cornered by the Imperial Moff Gideon and his troops. One of these troops was an Incinerator trooper, a special type of stormtrooper wielding a giant flamethrower. Despite cornering Din Djarin, Cara Dune, IG-11, and Grogu, the latter used his burgeoning Force powers to overpower the Incinerator trooper and allow his found family to escape.
Interestingly, the first appearance of Incinerator troopers came in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game. This prompted Starkiller actor Sam Witwer to joke about canon, specifically stating that if the Incinerator trooper was now canon then Marek could be too. While not an explicit confirmation that Starkiller has been pulled from Star Wars Legends, the hint towards the game's many elements being canon to the franchise only added fuel to the flame regarding Galen Marek theories.
How Star Wars Canon Has Further Set Up Starkiller's Return
Since 2019 and The Mandalorian season 1, there has been one other major instance in which Star Wars canon has further hinted towards Starkiller being reintegrated into the franchise. Surprisingly, this Easter came in Andor, the least likely Star Wars show to hold connections to wider, non-canon aspects of the franchise. Andor's Starkiller Easter egg is found in a collectibles store owned by Luthen Rael, the man using the store as cover for his rebellious activities against the Empire.
At one point in Andor, Luthen leads his ally Mon Mothma into the back area of his store. The two can be seen walking past an armor stand wherein the Starkiller Easter egg is found. The armor placed on the stand is almost identical to the armor worn by Starkiller in The Force Unleashed games. The helmet is especially reminiscent of Starkiller's from the video game series with the inclusion of such an Easter egg endlessly pleasing fans of Witwer's character.
How Starkiller Can Be In Star Wars Without Breaking Canon
When concerning whether Starkiller could be integrated into Star Wars canon, there are multiple aspects of the games that would need to be changed to do so. Undoubtedly the biggest element of The Force Unleashed that would need to be altered so as to not break Star Wars canon is Starkiller's role in the formation of the Rebel Alliance. In The Force Unleashed, Starkiller is sent out into the galaxy by his master Darth Vader to begin the Rebel Alliance as a means of luring the Empire's enemies into the open. Starkiller comes into contact with characters like Bail Organa, Leia Organa, and Mon Mothma to begin the Rebellion formally.
As per the storyline of the games, Starkiller, Organa, Mothma, and another Senator named Garm Bel Iblis were responsible for the official rise of the Rebellion against the Empire. However, this would evidently break canon if made a reality. Star Wars canon projects like Star Wars Rebels and Andor have explored the formation of the Rebel Alliance at length, with characters like Starkiller and Garm Bel Iblis nowhere to be seen. As such, Starkiller's role in the formation of the Rebel Alliance would need to be changed were he to be introduced to Star Wars canon.
Similarly, the ending of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II was left open-ended with plans for a third game in motion that never came to fruition due to Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm. Despite the player having two choices that drastically change the outcome of the story, the canonical ending has been confirmed according to the creators of the game. This involved Starkiller aiding the Rebel Alliance in the arrest of Vader. The game ends with Starkiller traveling with the Rebel Alliance to Dantooine to process Vader's arrest unaware that Boba Fett was following the convoy. Given what is known of Vader's story, this did not happen in Star Wars canon.
As such, this is another element of Starkiller's story that would need to be changed if he were made canon. Of course, the easiest possibility for integrating Starkiller into Star Wars canon would simply be to completely rewrite his story. Given that so much of The Force Unleashed and The Force UnleashedII served as a bridge between Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, several elements of the games' stories would clash with Star Wars canon. This would mean that simply rewriting the entirety of his story to fit with established canon would likely be the best movie should he be integrated.
Why Starkiller Should Be Back In Star Wars Canon
One of the more straightforward reasons as to why Starkiller being made Star Wars canon would be a good thing is simply that he is a compelling character. Introducing the son of a Jedi who is forced to become the apprentice of Darth Vader leading to his constant grapple between the light and dark sides of the Force makes for a great story. Also, Vader having an apprentice fits with Star Wars canon too. The idea of the Sith Rule of Two, and Sith apprentices constantly looking for ways to usurp their masters, means Vader having a hidden apprentice between Episode III and Episode IV makes a lot of sense.
Also, Sam Witwer is an incredibly talented actor. Witwer has provided a slew of fantastic roles in Star Wars over the years, from Starkiller himself to the voice of Maul in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Solo: A Star Wars Story to the voices of the Son and Emperor Palpatine in the former show. What's more, Witwer has also provided additional voices or cameos for every Disney-era Star Wars movie and the majority of Disney+ shows. As such, giving Witwer the chance to helm his own project or be part of Star Wars canon again to the extent Starkiller would allow is a must.
Is Ahsoka's Marrok Secretly Starkiller? The Case For & Against
Regarding the identity of Ahsoka's mysterious Inquisitor Marrok, there is evidence both for and against it being Starkiller under the helmet. Regarding the former, it is obvious that Marrok's identity is being hidden from the voice changer to the constant wearing of his helmet. Also, having the secret apprentice of Darth Vader be the enemy of the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker is a tantalizing concept. As such, revealing that Starkiller was inducted into the Inquisitors would be a neat reveal, though it remains the case there is little in the way of hard evidence linking the characters together beyond the "it would be cool" sentiment.
Interestingly though, there is also little evidence that the character of Marrok is not Starkiller too. The main thing making this reveal a mistake is the lack of punch the revelation would have. Outside of those familiar with The Force Unleashed, many would not realize who Starkiller is which would make the reveal fail as a result. Aside from the connections to Star Wars Legends, Starkiller's reveal as Marrok would leave little in the way of dramatic effect. It would simply be a reveal for the sake of connecting to old Star Wars, rather than one that benefits good characterization in Ahsoka.
Where Starkiller Could Appear If Not Ahsoka
Despite it being mentioned that Andor was establishing a different origin of the Rebel Alliance than The Force Unleashed, the former show could integrate Starkiller. Since Star Wars began, the franchise has always thrived on retroactively fitting characters, story points, and entire movies into an already-established timeline. The same could be done for Starkiller. His lack of other appearances is easily explained by him being Vader's secret apprentice that no one knew about, with Andor potentially showing him aid the Rebels. However, given Gilroy's full control over Andor's somewhat self-contained story, this seems unlikely.
If not in Ahsoka, Starkiller could appear in Dave Filoni's upcoming Star Wars movie. The film is set to adapt Heir to the Empire, a non-canon story set after the original trilogy. As such, this story being made canon could mean that Starkiller's story is the same. The character could be retroactively fitted into the Star Wars original trilogy and introduced as a Jedi dedicated to stopping Thrawn. Regardless, the inclusion of Starkiller in canon if not in Ahsoka will be difficult, yet Star Wars has always managed to retcon almost seamlessly in the franchise's illustrious, 46-year history.
