New Walmart & Smuggler's Bounty Exclusive 'Star Wars Rebels' Funko Pops! Revealed

By: Benjamin Hart

Some awesome news has just dropped that will surely make collectors of Funko's Pop! vinyl bobblehead figures, and Star Wars Rebels fans, very excited.

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Opinion: Who Is The Mysterious Robed Figure Present In The Rogue One Trailer?

By Ciaran Duggan,

It has been two days since the highly anticipated trailer of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was officially released by Lucasfilm and Disney. One of the segments from the trailer that has got fans talking is the scene which can be seen in the above image. The central question asked by fans has been: who is the hooded and cloaked figure who appears in this scene? Is it Maul or Ezra? A young Snoke or another inquisitor?

It is almost undeniable that the cloaked character is a 'villanous' one. That can be corroborated by the fact the colours of the environment and the character are both black and red. One can assume that this location is based on the Death Star, or on an Imperial Star Destroyer. In addition, the inclusion of the red Royal Imperial Guards is striking. In the canon universe, the Royal guards have only ever appeared in the presence of Palpatine, in both the Prequels and Original Trilogy. The appearance of the Imperial Royal guards signifies that this scene is important and that the figure entering the room is also a significant character. There are a wide number of candidates for who the hooded figure could be. My hypothesis is that the character above is a villainous 'force user', and that forms the basis for the reason why I will critique just three possible candidates. 

Palpatine

As stated in the aforementioned paragraph, the appearance of the Red Imperial Royal guards has led to speculation, from some fans, that the mysterious figure is in fact Palpatine. As Chancellor of the Republic, Palpatine was seen in the presence of his Royal militia, and the only other time we saw these guards was accompanying Palpatine on the Death Star in Return of the Jedi. 

This is an interesting thesis, however, the physical appearance of the character does not seem to match the Emperor's. The height of the robed figure seems marginally taller than Emperor Palpatine. In addition, the cloak this individual wears is not so reminiscent of the style of Palpatine. Personally, I would look to discount the possibility that this figure is Palpatine. 

Chance: 4/10

Grand Inquisitor

Some fans have speculated that the individual is in fact the Grand Inquisitor. The Grand Inquisitor was a title bestowed to an imperial inquisitor at the top of the hierarchical, inquisitor, pyramid. Jason Issacs played the only Grand Inquisitor, we have seen to date, on the Television Show: Star Wars Rebels. His character was killed off at the end of Season One, and since then a power struggle has emerged among the other inquisitors. These inquisitors have looked to fill the void of the Grand Inquisitors' death and assume the 'Grand Inquisitor' title themselves. None of the inquisitors have managed to succeed thus far.

As far as speculation goes, this isn't an unfeasible idea. The Grand Inquisitor was subservient to both Darth Vader and the Emperor. We see the cloaked individual bow down to a sentient in the Chamber, which certainly signifies that the character who has entered the room, is a subordinate individual.  Notwithstanding this hypothesis, it seems overall to be unlikely. The central characters in this movie are Rebel soldiers, and therefore less emphasis has been attributed to force-user characters. It seems hard to imagine that this film would introduce a new force-capable character, when that is not the emphasis of this movie. In addition, we have heard rumours about the fact that James Earl Jones will be reprising his role as Darth Vader in the upcoming film, because of the importance of the mission at hand - the fact the Rebels are attempting to sequester the Death Star plans. 

This idea sounds interesting, and certainly feasible in principle because it would be a nice tie-in to Rebels and if one believes Darth Vader is in the cylinder chamber, then it could be the inquisitor bowing to Lord Vader (similar to the image above). However, I have doubts about the degree to which this hooded figure will in fact be a new Inquisitor.

Chance: 5/10

Darth Vader 

Wild speculation from fans has been that the hooded figure, seen in the trailer, is in fact the Sith Lord himself: Darth Vader. 

Immediately fans will look to refute this speculation by pointing out that this character is not wearing the attire of the "more machine than man" Darth Vader. That is very true. However, we have seen in the films that Vader can take his mask off (as seen in the Empire Strikes Back), and no doubt can take his suit off, even if for a brief time. Vader sustained a facial injury in the fight against Ahsoka, in the Rebels S2 finale, with which a portion of his mask was cut from his face. This conveys that, in spite of the fact the suit is used to power and sustain Vader, he can survive without wearing his attire, for a brief duration of time.

In addition, as mentioned previously, the cloaked individual bows down to a sentient in the Chamber, which certainly signifies that the character is a subordinate individual. We have seen a couple of occasions where Vader has bowed down to his master, Palpatine. Moreover, the appearance of the Royal Imperial Guards could mean that Vader is communicating with the Emperor, either in person or via hologram. It would explain why the Royal Guards are present in the chamber.

Finally, we have yet to see the fallout from Star Wars: Rebels. Will Vader engage in another duel with Ashoka? Will Vader fight Maul? And if Vader does engage in a lighsaber fight, will he sustain injuries? Rebels could yet bridge the gap to Rogue One at the end of the next season. This would make particular sense, as there has been speculation that Season Three of Rebels will be the final season of the animated TV series, Rumours have also speculated that the end game in mind is the Death Star. Dave Filoni has also expressed that the Rebels' storyline will be moving closer in line with the events of A New Hope, and Rogue One. 

Consequently, I believe that the hooded figure is more likely to be Darth Vader, without his suit on.

Chance: 7/10

Conclusion

To conclude this, I would like to ask people to give their own opinions on who they believe the mysterious character is. Do you agree with my conclusions? Do you think it is in fact Palpatine, or the Grand Inquisitor? Do you think its another villainous character that we have previously seen in the Saga, but not mentioned? Or do you think this is a new character?

Speculate and leave your comments below.

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Dave Filoni Reveals Intriguing 'Star Wars Rebels' Details At Season Finale Screening

By: Benjamin Hart

Tomorrow the Star Wars Rebels season two finale episode "Twilight Of The Apprentice" will air on Disney XD and we can only assume it will be an eventful and emotional end to the season. Last night Lucasfilm and Disney hosted a press event and private screening of the episode. Afterward, a Q & A was held, modrated by Amy Ratcliffe, which included executive producer Dave Filoni along with other members of the cast and crew. Filoni has become infamous for being coy about answering certain questions regarding his projects, but it seems he was being a bit candid last night. Our friend Bryan Young from Big Shiny Robot was there and tweeted a few interesting things Filoni said during the event.

First of all, ever since it was revealed that Captain Rex would be joining the cast of Rebels, there has been an interesting theory floating around connecting the series with Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi. The theory states that the older, bearded Rebel soldier seen on Endor is actually Rex. While he doesn't necessarily confirm the speculation, it appears Filoni does subscribe to this theory:

Filoni is positive that Rex is "that old guy on Endor." #StarWarsRebels

— Bryan Young (@swankmotron) March 29, 2016

Secondly, we get something more concrete from Filoni regarding a connection between Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels. We previously learned in the Star Wars Rebels episode "Shroud Of Darkness" that [Spoiler alert!] The Grand Inquisitor, seen in the first season of the series, was previously a Jedi Temple guard. Several guards were seen in The Clone Wars season five finale episode "The Wrong Jedi", but Filoni specifically confirms that the Grand Inquisitor was among the guards that arrested Ahsoka Tano and Barris Offee in that episode:

The Grand Inquisitor was one of those who arrested Ahsoka and escorted Barriss into Ahsoka's trial, per Filoni. #starwars #rebels

— Bryan Young (@swankmotron) March 29, 2016

It's always fun to hear what Dave has to say, espcially when he's dropping nuggets of information like this! I, for one, will never watch The Clone Wars or Return Of The Jedi the same way again.

Source: Bryan Young(Twitter)
Photo via: @MediocreJedi(Twitter)

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Star Wars Rebels Magazine Reveals New Inquisitors

By: Benjamin Hart

Now that we've all seen "The Siege Of Lothal" a dozen or more times, it's time to start looking ahead season two of Star Wars Rebels. At the end of that episode the Emperor himself ordered Darth Vader to dispatch another Imperial Inquisitor to deal with the Rebels, and as we saw in the season two trailer, we'll be getting at least two never before seen Inquisitors in the upcoming season. The identities of these characters have been shrouded in darkness(and helmets), but some new photos that have surfaced may give us a better idea of who are heroes are up against. The Star Wars Rebels Magazine, which was released in the U.K. today, revealed some new photos of various characters, including both Inquisitors. Of course, potentially major SPOILERS follow, so continue reading at your own risk.

The first comes from our friend Evan G. on Twitter who pointed us to this photo shared by The Wolfpack Podcast of the male Inquisitor to us:

Also, courtesy of Rebel Transmission, we get our first look at the unmasked female Inquisitor:

And here's a closer look at their faces:

Fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will no doubt draw a connection from the Inquisitor on the right to Barriss Offee. The last time we saw Barriss was in season five of The Clone Wars where she was revealed to have framed Ahsoka Tano for the bombing of the Jedi Temple. She was subsequently arrested, and her story has been left open ended thus far. Now that Ahsoka herself has made the jump from Clone Wars to Rebels, this has led many fans to speculate that Barriss has now done the same. And there's no denying they do look strikingly similar. Just compare the photo above with this one of Barriss in The Clone Wars:

Of course, this is all speculation at the moment. We do indeed look forward to seeing this Inquisitor's identity revealed officially when season two of Star Wars Rebels begins airing on Disney XD this Fall!

Source: Twitter, Rebel Transmission

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Opinion: Rebels Season One Top Ten Moments: #8: Kanan’s Sacrifice & Ezra’s Message of Hope

By Ciaran Duggan and Dominic Jones,

Today we continue our countdown of the Top Ten moments from Season One of Star Wars Rebels, as chosen by SWU readers!  Today we look at the shocking climax from the eleventh episode of Season One "Call To Action.".

Dominic:

This moment represented a shift in tone for the series.  For the first time we saw our heroes having to make complicated and difficult decisions that had real consequences.  Kanan's heroics were matched by Ezra following in his parents footsteps and sending out a message of hope to the people of Lothal.  We then see the military aptitude of Grand Moff Tarkin who shows that he, unlike some of the Imperials we had met up to this point is willing to do what it takes to win.  He even leaves us with the chilling line, "You don't know what it takes to win a war, but I do."

This sequence also represented, for me, the first real effects of the new canon and the story group.  The sequence on its own is incredibly emotional, however, the scene is made all the more impactful when you understand Kanan's full journey.  The Kanan we were first introduced to in John Jackson Miller's novel Star Wars: A New Dawn would never have sacrificed himself in this way.  Miller wrote a character who was capable of growth and grew in small ways throughout the novel.  When we meet Kanan in the series it is clear that he has continued growing and has come a long way.  It was this moment that showed the audience just how much he changed (due in large part to the influences of Hera, Ezra, and the other members of The Ghost crew) in the five (or more) years since the novel and gave the scene an added poignancy.

Ciaran:  
Governor Wilhuff Tarkin makes his first appearance on Star: Wars Rebels, his appearance in this episode certainly made it one to savour, embodied in the climax of 'Call to Action'. Kanan's sacrifice was certainly a poignant moment in the series, as we see him take up the true Jedi mantle and learn the lesson of selflessness; choosing to save his friends instead of himself. He sacrificed himself to one of the iconic villains in the Star-Wars Universe, Governor Tarkin.

Governor Tarkin's calculated and resolute approach towards taking down the communications tower bears a shocking moment in the series. His cold and willful iron-fisted approach was visibly showcased to us in A New Hope, with his callous instructions to destroy an entire star system. This nicely contrasted with the imperial officers that had been on show in the series prior to this episode, their clumsy ineptitude had undercut the empire's resolve. The destruction of the tower represented a shift in imperial policy, one that was decisive and ruthless. The audio cues in this scene certainly compliments this notion, as the foreboding imperial march rings in the background, a theme often connoted with the malevolent disposition of the empire and this scene certainly deserved the insertion of that theme.

Finally, it is worth highlighting Ezra Bridger's message of hope. The Rebel's fortunes seem to be taking a turn for the worst a this point, as Kanan has been detained and Tarkin has arrived on the scene, but Ezra's speech symbolized a small spark of hope for the rebels. The significance of this moment should not be understated. For me, this scene exemplifies the clash between the imperials and rebels in the Age of the Empire. In spite of the overwhelming firepower and man-power the imperials possess, the marginal insurgents' actions end up causing far greater damage to the empire than the other way round. Ezra's speech inspired other Rebel cells to unite together, which was enunciated by Ahsoka in the finale. This scene certainly deserves to be in the hall of fame for Season One of Star Wars: Rebels.

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Opinion: Rebels Season One Top Ten Moments: #9: Luminara's Fate Revealed and Kanan vs. Inquisitor First Duel

By Ciaran Duggan and Dominic Jones,

Today we continue our countdown of the Top Ten moments from Season One of Star Wars Rebels, as chosen by SWU readers!  Today we look at the shocking climax from the fourth episode of Season One "Rise of the Old Masters,"

Dominic:

On of the big mysteries going into Season One was how did Jedi Master Luminara Unduli survived.  Her return was teased in the San Dieggo Comic Con trailer and it kept fans guessing right up until the reveal.  I don't think anyone expected it to be quite so gruesome.  The reveal that Luminara was killed years ago and her bones, along with a hologram, were being used to lure Jedi to the prison on Stygeon Prime was one of the first season's darker twists.

If I'm being honest, I'd say that the Inquisitor's entrance left a little to be desired, but once he began sparring with Kanan, verbally and physically we knew he was truly a force to reckoned with.  Executive Producer Dave Filoni described the Inquisitor as an evil Sherlock Holmes and in these moments we truly understood what he meant.  Seeing the Inquisitor get inside Kanan's head the way he did was truly shocking and the acting from Freddie Prinze Jr and Jason Isaacs was some of the best of the season.

The visuals of this episode were stunning and it was great to get to see them, and experience the Inquisitor's villainy for the first time, with other Star Wars fans at New York Comic Con back in October 2014.

Ciaran:

Shocks, blitzing action sequences, twists and turns, this scene has it all. The tone of this scene was sinister and haunting, an exemplification of the contemporary time period in Star Wars which this is occurring in– the Age of the Empire. We are so used to seeing our plucky heroes triumph and yet this did not materialise in this scene, as the rebels’ efforts to liberate Luminara were ultimately fruitless.

The reveal of Luminara Unduli’s death was a big shock at such an early stage of the season, one of the prominent Prequel Jedi Council Masters (whose fate passed Order 66 remained a mystery) was unscrupulously unearthed to the audience. Her dead body was used as an instrument of the empire. The intention was to lure Jedi to the planet on the premise that Luminara could be rescued, only to be ensnared by the Inquisitor and no doubt any Jedi survivors were executed. In addition, this was the audiences’ first introduction to a lightsaber duel on Star Wars: Rebels and it did not disappoint. The visual lighting, slickness of the lightsaber action, as well as the application of a range of force moves combined to make the inaugural lightsaber duel a very effective aesthetic.

Finally, the scene exhibits the Inquisitors’ inaugural corporeal appearance in Rebels.  Jason Issac’s voice talent is patently put on display to the audience. The Inquisitor certainly fits into a hybrid protégée of Darth Vader and Governor Tarkin. The Inquisitor is cunning, tactical and calculated, which is demonstrated to us early in this episode, as he grasps Kanan’s fighting style in the initial stages of the duel between the two characters. Moreover, the gambit to lure the Jedi to the imperial prison was so effective and showcases the sadistic disposition of his character, as he wilfully displays his adept lightsaber-fighting skills. 

All in all, a memorable moment in the history of Star Wars: Rebels.

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