A Scrapped Star Wars Villain Returns to Canon in Jedi Knights Comic!

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Originally intended for a discontinued action figure series, the character known as Atha Prime, from the Star Wars universe, is now officially joining the franchise lore. In an official statement, Disney and Lucasfilm revealed that Atha Prime will make an appearance in the comic book series titled “Star Wars: Jedi Knights“, co-written by Marc Guggenheim and Madibek Musabekov. This series is set to launch on March 5th and takes place before “The Phantom Menace“. Each issue portrays different Jedi undertaking missions throughout the galaxy. Atha Prime is described as a ruthless ruler of a powerful plant species, who challenges both the Republic and the Jedi Order boldly.

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During the 1980s, Kenner devised a plan called “The Epic Continues” for the Star Wars saga, aiming to provide a storyline after the end of the original trilogy. Atha Prime was introduced as the potential new chief antagonist, stepping into the shoes left by the deceased Emperor Palpatine. It was suggested that Atha Prime had orchestrated the Clone Wars, utilizing his genetic expertise to create an army of clone soldiers. However, no action figures based on this concept were produced, since Lucasfilm rejected Kenner’s proposal. Later efforts to incorporate Atha Prime into the Expanded Universe were unsuccessful.

It was revealed in October 2024 that the Star Wars: Jedi Knights series would be released. This series will present new characters alongside familiar ones such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda, and Mace Windu. The goal is to delve into the workings of the Jedi Order during the years leading up to the Clone Wars. Each episode will focus on a unique pair of Jedi, but they’ll all be connected by a common “overarching danger.

It’s intriguing to speculate about how Atha Prime will be depicted according to the established lore. Given the differences between this version and the original concept by Kenner, we can expect some major alterations. It’s highly unlikely that this iteration of Atha Prime will be connected to the Clone Wars, as they were a part of Palpatine’s scheme to seize control of the galaxy. However, the initial idea of Atha Prime could serve as a strong base for further development. Labeling him as a ruthless despot opposed to the Jedi implies that Atha Prime will aim to eradicate the Order in his quest for galactic domination. This new version seems to mirror his Kenner counterpart, who fought against the Rebel Alliance heroes much like how Atha Prime might pursue the elimination of the Jedi Order in pursuit of conquest.

As a die-hard Star Wars fan, it’s intriguing to ponder over Atha Prime, a character yet to make his mark in the canon storyline. Given that he hasn’t been mentioned before this comic series, it seems likely that he might meet his end before the narrative reaches its climax with Palpatine. If he were still present during Palpatine’s rise, it would certainly throw us for a loop.

That being said, just because Atha Prime hasn’t graced our screens in Star Wars: Jedi Knights doesn’t mean he can’t have a future beyond them. In Kenner’s outline, Atha Prime was exiled before the original trilogy and resurfaced after Palpatine’s demise. Perhaps his canonical character will follow a similar path, leaving room for a potential comeback. If readers connect with this character deeply, Lucasfilm might consider bringing him back for another comic or even an on-screen project.

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2025-01-17 23:12