Today marks the 19th anniversary of when George Lucas first introduced a memorable, Force-using group from the old Star Wars Expanded Universe (now known as “Legends”). Lucas had a complex relationship with this universe – while he oversaw it, he wasn’t always actively involved and wasn’t afraid to change established details. Despite this, many of his most creative ideas actually came from Legends material. A prime example is Coruscant, the massive city-planet, which was originally conceived by author Timothy Zahn in his 1991 novel, “Heir to the Empire.”
The animated series The Clone Wars marked a turning point in the relationship between George Lucas’ vision and the expanded universe known as Legends. Lucas’ portrayal of the Mandalorians differed significantly from earlier depictions, particularly in novels by Karen Traviss, and many believe the show’s popularity contributed to Disney’s eventual decision to reboot the continuity. Interestingly, 19 years ago, Lucas actually drew from Legends material in Season 3, episode 12 of The Clone Wars, introducing a Force-worshipping group that would profoundly shape the future of the franchise.
The Nightsisters Made Their Debut 19 Years Ago Today
The Nightsisters first appeared in the 1994 novel The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton. They are essentially witches who use the Force. This mysterious group of dark side users comes from the planet Dathomir and is known for its society where women hold all the power and men are secondary. They practice powerful magic, including creating illusions, teleporting, and even controlling life and death. According to Dave Filoni, a co-creator of The Clone Wars and a mentee of George Lucas, Lucas specifically requested the Nightsisters be included in the TV series, and the show’s creators looked to established stories for inspiration.
Dave Filoni first proposed that the Nightsisters didn’t use the Force in the traditional sense, but instead tapped into a similar, yet distinct, energy source. Over time, Star Wars lore has established that they do manipulate the Force, though through methods or an aspect of it that the Jedi aren’t familiar with. The Sith have always been interested in Nightsister magic – Darth Sidious even saw Mother Talzin as a potential threat – and many of the ancient Sith’s powers actually originated with the Nightsisters. This explains why some dark side abilities are considered unusual or even ‘unnatural’.
The Nightsisters were first shown through Asajj Ventress, a Sith assassin working for Count Dooku, who came from the planet Dathomir. They became enemies of the Sith and a significant fighting force during the Clone Wars, becoming more powerful as the dark side spread. Ultimately, Palpatine destroyed them because he saw them as a potential threat to his power. This event, the Nightsister genocide, was a major shock in the Clone Wars series and was recently explored again in Tales of the Bounty Hunters.
The Nightsisters Have Become the Key to Star Wars’ Future – & Past
The Nightsisters reappeared in the series Ahsoka, with a hidden colony found on the distant planet Peridea. They’re now central to the future of the Star Wars story, as the restored Nightsisters are expected to be important in Ahsoka Season 2. They offer a fresh and compelling dark side threat, giving Jedi Knight Ezra Bridger a new enemy to face while Ahsoka and Sabine investigate Peridea. The series also revealed the official origins of the Nightsisters, changing what was previously known about their history.
Season 1 of Ahsoka revealed that the Nightsisters come from a faraway galaxy and discovered how to travel across space using giant creatures called purrgils. They were once part of a massive, ancient empire – the first to embrace the dark side – existing even before the Jedi and Sith. This discovery connects the Nightsisters to the very beginnings of the Jedi, and has huge implications for the future of the Star Wars galaxy. This is especially interesting because James Mangold is currently developing a movie that explores the origins of the Jedi.
It’s amazing to see how important the Nightsisters have become. First appearing in a novel in 1994, they came to life on screen 19 years ago and are now a vital part of the Star Wars universe. We’re about to experience the Nightsisters like never before, with a live-action look at their culture being rebuilt as they team up with Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Empire. None of this would have been possible if George Lucas hadn’t included them in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
What Star Wars movie or show are you looking forward to the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-01-07 20:41