The Star Wars series is known for its iconic imagery, and its spaceships are particularly memorable. The X-wing, in particular, has always been a favorite with fans, playing a key role in the exciting climax of the original Star Wars: A New Hope. Since that first film, X-wings have consistently appeared throughout the franchise in various forms of media. They’ve become so strongly associated with Star Wars that Lucasfilm reintroduced them in the sequel trilogy to show how the Resistance carried on the legacy of the Rebel Alliance. Interestingly, if another Star Wars project had moved forward, fans might have seen earlier versions of the X-wing.
The recently released book, The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte, features concept art of a “Jedi X-wing.” Though it differs somewhat from the X-wings in the original Star Wars films, it still has many familiar design elements. This version has its wings locked in attack position and includes a space for an astromech droid. Ultimately, the creators of The Acolyte decided to use the Jedi Vector ship from the High Republic stories, but this X-wing design hints at a potential and interesting change to established Star Wars history.
Why The Acolyte‘s Jedi X-Wing is Significant for Star Wars
I’m still holding out hope we’ll see those Jedi X-wings eventually! The folks at Star Wars are really good at keeping ideas on the back burner and bringing them back later. It reminds me of how the Lasat – like Zeb from Rebels – actually started as an early sketch Ralph McQuarrie did for Chewbacca! And believe it or not, George Lucas first thought about Jedi Padawans way back when he was planning A New Hope, but we didn’t really see that idea come to life until the prequels. So, I definitely wouldn’t rule out the possibility of someone bringing the Jedi X-wing concept forward in the future.
If this happens, it would be a really exciting turn for Star Wars. The X-wing, currently seen as a standard Rebel fighter, could become linked to the Jedi, giving new layers of meaning to iconic scenes from the Skywalker Saga. For example, Luke’s attack on the Death Star in A New Hope would feel even more significant. The idea that Luke and the other Rebel pilots are flying ships with roots in the Jedi Order—fighting the same darkness that destroyed the Jedi—is full of symbolism. It’s especially powerful that Luke, using the Force, is the one who destroys the Death Star in his X-wing.
As a huge Star Wars fan, I always thought Rey’s journey to Exegol in The Rise of Skywalker was incredibly powerful. Seeing her fly Luke’s old X-wing immediately made me think of the connection between them as master and apprentice. But learning that the X-wing design itself might go all the way back to the original Jedi Order? That just adds another layer! It felt like she was literally flying the legacy of the Jedi straight into the heart of darkness, right to where the ultimate evil was waiting. It’s a perfect way to tie everything together – the Jedi were always about protecting peace and justice, so it’s fitting their ships played such a big role in the galaxy’s biggest moments.
Star Wars sometimes relies too much on familiar characters and moments to excite fans, playing on nostalgia. However, this recent change to the X-wing’s history is minor and wouldn’t be a major disruption. It simply shows how vehicles develop and change over time within the Star Wars universe, much like they do in real life. It’s also a clever nod to George Lucas’ idea that stories should have recurring themes and connections, but without being overly obvious. While Star Wars could benefit from some fresh ship designs, especially in stories set long ago, changes shouldn’t be made just for the sake of it. The X-wing is iconic, and linking it to the Jedi only strengthens its place in Star Wars history.
Will Star Wars Ever Make the Jedi X-Wing Retcon Official?
The recent introduction of the Jedi X-Wing in Star Wars has sparked curiosity about whether this new backstory will become official canon. It’s possible the concept art could reappear in a future project, as seen with the Jedi Vector, which originally started as a potential design for ships in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. This shows Lucasfilm often revisits old ideas. Considering almost twenty years passed between Revenge of the Sith and The Acolyte, there’s plenty of time for these concepts to be re-introduced.
As much as I’d love to see it, I don’t think we’ll ever get a Jedi X-Wing in a High Republic story. The whole publishing push for that era seems to be over, and The Acolyte was the only attempt to bring it to life on screen. Even though the finale had some cool cameos from Darth Plagueis and Yoda, hinting at more stories to come, the show was cancelled after just one season. Considering Disney now seems more focused on big theatrical releases than new streaming shows, a revival feels incredibly unlikely. Unless Lucasfilm continues the story in a comic or novel, those plot threads will just hang there, and that awesome Jedi X-Wing will remain a dream for High Republic fans like me.
To keep the idea that Rebel X-wings evolved from older Jedi ships, we need to see those original ships in a story set before the Skywalker Saga. Luckily, James Mangold is working on a project that could do just that: Dawn of the Jedi. This film will explore the very beginnings of the Force and the Jedi Order, and it could establish that the first Jedi used ships that looked like X-wings, making the design a fundamental part of Jedi history. The story could then show the Jedi moving away from that ship style for a period, like during the High Republic era, before the X-wing makes a comeback.
Okay, Star Wars fans, some news on the projects we’ve been waiting for. Unfortunately, Dawn of the Jedi is currently stalled. With Lucasfilm undergoing changes with its new leadership – Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan – and James Mangold now signed with Paramount, it’s looking like we might be waiting a long time for that one to get moving. However, there’s a glimmer of hope! I’ve heard whispers that the Jedi X-wing could potentially appear in a story set between The Acolyte and The Phantom Menace. The Acolyte is set about 100 years before the Skywalker Saga, which leaves a pretty big window of opportunity. If a filmmaker comes up with the right story, we could see the Jedi at their peak power on screen – and honestly, that’s something I’d definitely be excited to review!
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- 10 X-Men Batman Could Beat (Ranked By How Hard It’d Be)
- DCU Nightwing Contender Addresses Casting Rumors & Reveals His Other Dream DC Role [Exclusive]
- Stephen Colbert Jokes This Could Be Next Job After Late Show Canceled
- 7 Home Alone Moments That Still Make No Sense (And #2 Is a Plot Hole)
- Is XRP ETF the New Stock Market Rockstar? Find Out Why Everyone’s Obsessed!
- 10 Most Brutal Acts Of Revenge In Marvel Comics History
- Adapting AI to See What Doctors See: Zero-Shot Segmentation Gets a Boost
- Ben Stiller’s Daughter Ella Details Battle With Anxiety and Depression
- All Her Fault cast: Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning star
2026-02-12 22:14