New Star Wars Rumor Supports Theory About 1 Legends Jedi Becoming Canon (But That Brings Big Problems)

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A popular Star Wars theory has gained significant support. Lucasfilm is planning to bring the saga back to cinemas for the first time since 2019, and recently released the initial trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu. This movie aims to reignite fan interest and demonstrate that there’s still a desire to experience the galaxy far, far away in theaters, after a period focused on the Disney+ streaming service. However, the plans don’t stop there; it will be followed in a year by Star Wars: Starfighter.

The upcoming movie, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, centers on the characters played by Gosling and Flynn Gray as they are pursued across the galaxy. A new rumor regarding the plot of Starfighter suggests that Gray’s character possesses Force sensitivity – likely the reason he’s being hunted. Furthermore, the rumor claims that Amy Adams, who portrays his mother, will be a Jedi in the film. There’s been speculation that Adams will play Mara Jade from the Legends continuity in Starfighter, and this new information makes that possibility seem more likely.

Could Mara Jade Be In Star Wars: Starfighter?

Take this rumor with a grain of salt, like you would with fries or a margarita: it’s not confirmed, and it will likely be a while before we know if it’s true. Starfighter just started filming recently. However, the idea that Gray’s character might be Force-sensitive does fit, considering the villains seem to value him highly. It’s also believable his mother would be as well, since Star Wars often focuses on powerful families and their stories.

Adams certainly fits the physical profile for Mara, and her age (51) is also suitable. This could be significant if she’s playing a Jedi. If her character is between 40 and 50 years old, she wouldn’t be old enough to have survived Order 66, but she’d be too old to have been a hidden survivor of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Temple. (Just to clarify, Starfighter is set five years after The Rise of Skywalker; this means Luke’s temple was destroyed approximately 12 years ago, and Order 66 happened 59 years ago.)

As a critic, I’ve been pondering how they might integrate Adams’ character into the Star Wars universe, and honestly, the idea of her being secretly Force-sensitive and trained by Palpatine before switching sides isn’t far-fetched at all. Some aspects are easier to work with than others, though. Revealing she was the Emperor’s Hand feels pretty doable. However, incorporating her romance – and marriage! – with Luke? That’s a much bigger challenge, though not entirely impossible. I wouldn’t be shocked if Starfighter ended up borrowing the character’s name or core ideas and re-imagining them in a new way. It feels like a logical path they could take.

Should Mara Jade Be In Star Wars: Starfighter?

Similar to the scientists in Jurassic Park, people are worried that those in charge will be so focused on *if* Mara Jade will officially become part of the established story, they won’t consider *whether* she should be. This is a completely separate issue, and it’s actually a much more complex one to resolve.

Mara Jade is incredibly well-loved, and for good reason. She had a fantastic character development in the Legends novels, memorable stories alongside Luke Skywalker, and is considered one of the best female characters in the entire franchise. I personally enjoy Mara, and if you’ve read this far, you likely do too, but that doesn’t automatically make Starfighter a good fit for her. The problem is that any portrayal in that setting would likely be a weaker version of the character we know and love. Without Luke, and with the difficulty of incorporating her complex history with him and the Emperor, it would be challenging to do her justice. Shannon McAffrey Adams is a talented actress, so the acting wouldn’t be an issue, but if Star Wars can’t fully capture the essence of Mara Jade, what’s the point?

This isn’t solely about Mara, either. Andor demonstrated how Star Wars needs to move beyond focusing on the Jedi. The franchise needs to tell a wider variety of stories, and there are many compelling characters who don’t rely on the Force that could be developed. Given that Starfighter is planned as a separate story, I’d prefer it completely avoid the Jedi storyline.

I’m Convinced Star Wars Will Make Mara Jade Canon (Eventually)

Honestly, whether or not Adams is *actually* Mara Jade isn’t my biggest takeaway. I’m much more convinced we’ll see the character officially become part of Star Wars canon eventually. The franchise has been happily borrowing from the old Legends material and making it their own, and with how popular Mara is – and all the great stories they could tell with her – I just can’t imagine they’ll keep ignoring her forever. We already saw Thrawn get brought in, and Darth Revan too (and I’m expecting to see even more of him down the line), so it would really make sense for Mara to join them as well. Especially with so much of the current storytelling happening after Return of the Jedi, and maybe even a somewhat loose take on Heir to the Empire coming up. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

The title of Emperor’s Hand has appeared in Star Wars canon before, though in a different way. Star Wars frequently introduces previously unknown Force-sensitive individuals and Jedi, so adding another wouldn’t be unusual. Plus, Mara Jade’s inclusion would likely make Dave Filoni’s upcoming film – which is intended to wrap up the New Republic/Mandoverse storylines – feel even more significant. Of course, there would be challenges, so I’m still not completely sure it’s the best decision. However, I’d be surprised if Star Wars completely ignored all of that potential.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is scheduled to come out on May 22nd, 2026, and then Star Wars: Starfighter will be released on May 28th, 2027.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-09-30 21:12