The Star Wars film franchise is filled with many famous characters. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Darth Vader are household names thanks to the original trilogy. The prequels introduced young versions of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi and introduced Padme, while the sequel trilogy featured Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, Rose Tico, BB-8, and Kylo Ren. These various characters make up the Skywalker Saga, the nine films in the Star Wars episode series.
While the movies are certainly the most famous Star Wars entries, and likely the ones most people are familiar with, the franchise has extended into spin-off films, animated series, and live-action streaming series. The Star Wars galaxy is a vast place and many iconic characters in the franchise never even appear in the nine films of the Skywalker Saga. These ten characters are not just fan favorites but play key roles in the development of the Star Wars galaxy.
10 Cad Bane
Disney
Cad Bane was introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as a new villain for the franchise, a bounty hunter serving the Separatists during the Clone Wars. The character was part of many major storylines, but after the series was canceled the popular fan-favorite character seemed to vanish as he did not appear in any major storylines during Star Wars: Rebels.
However, he made his grand return in Star Wars: The Bad Batch and made his live-action debut in The Book of Boba Fett. With his Clint Eastwood-inspired look and incredible voice from Corey Burton, Cad Bane certainly stands out as a great villain in a franchise filled with great villains.
9 Cal Kestis
Cal Kestis is the lead in the game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its upcoming sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Cal is a former Jedi who survived Order 66 and spent years hiding out from the Empire but unlocks his force powers once more to take up the fight.
While not officially part of the Rebel Alliance, Cal leads many blows to the Empire's operations and his quest to find more force-sensitive children during the age of the Empire might be laying the groundwork for Luke Skywalker's attempts at building a new Jedi Temple. There are no plans for Cal Kestis to appear in live-action, but fans eagerly await his eventual arrival to interact with many other fan-favorite characters.
8 Qi'ra
Played by Emilia Clarke in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Qi'ra was the first love in Han Solo's life and her departure making Han believed she abandoned him went on to shape him into the world-weary cynic that Luke Skywalker met in the Cantina.
Qi'ra made a big return in the event comic series War of the Bounty Hunters and has since been a major player in the Crimson Reign storyline set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Despite her one live-action film being a box office disappointment, writers and artists have had a great time expanding Qi'ra's role in the Star Wars galaxy.
7 Captain Rex
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Captain Rex was a main character introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as an Arc Trooper serving under Anakin Skywalker. Rex had a unique personality outside of Clone Troopers, and it was his creation that inspired the series creators to give the Clones their own unique personality which made for the heart of the series.
Captain Rex, with the assistance of Ahsoka Tano, was able to resist Order 66 and became an advocate for Clone Troopers across the galaxy in Star Wars: The Bad Batch and then a member of the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars: Rebels. A former clone from the grand army of the Republic fighting alongside the rebels is the perfect blend of the prequel trilogy with the original trilogy.
6 The Crew of The Ghost
The first new entry in the Star Wars franchise following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Rebels introduced the crew of The Ghost, a band of rebels who would become part of the larger Rebel Alliance. The young street thief turned Jedi apprentice Ezra Bridger, escaped Order 66 survivor Kanun Jarrus, captain Hera Syndulla, Mandalorian Sabine Wren, Lasat warrior Zeb, and cranky droid Chopper, this small band of characters showcased the scope of the Rebel Alliance beyond the original Star Wars trilogy.
The story of many of these characters will be continued in the upcoming Ahsoka series. Despite not being a part of the Skywalker Saga these characters have been instrumental in many key events in the galaxy far far away and were also an entry point for many young Star Wars fans.
5 The Bad Batch
The titular characters in The Bad Batch, aka Clone Force 99, are a new addition to the franchise, making their debut in the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2020 before leading their own series. This unit of specialized Clone Troopers finds themselves on the run after failing to conform to the new Empire, and take with them a special female clone of Jango Fett named Omega who might be the key to Palpatine's long-term cloning plans seen in The Rise of Skywalker.
The Bad Batch might appear to be The A-Team in space, but the series has been key in showcasing the transition period between the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire, and how clone troopers were replaced by Stormtroopers. While these clones are just trying to survive in this harsh new normal the galaxy has found itself in, it appears they will be key players in shaping the early years of the Rebel Alliance.
4 The Crew of Rogue One
The crew of Rogue One can technically be said to be part of the Skywalker Saga, as they are the band of rebels that steal the Death Star plans mentioned in the opening crawl of the first Star Wars film. That one line in the crawl became the entire inspiration behind Rogue One, which explored the daring rebels who did the impossible and won their first major victory against the Empire and gave their lives to do so.
Names like Jynn Erso, Bohdi Rook, Chirrut Inwe, Baze Malbus, and K2-SO are not the legendary heroes of the Rebel Alliance like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Princess Leia but their contributions are just as important to shaping the fate of the galaxy, even if they don't live to see it.
One member of the crew, Cassian Andor, has been fleshed out more in his Disney+ series Andor which has explored how this criminal became the man who would do anything for the Empire. The character and the series have been important in showcasing the Empire's bureaucratic control over the galaxy while also giving the franchise some added dimension, showcasing a Star Wars series can be mature and so much more than the usual.
3 Din Djarin
Din Djarin aka The Mandalorian is the star of the titular show and has become one of the most iconic characters in Star Wars after only four years. The character's signature armor, incredible performance by Pedro Pascal, and a well-written character arc have made him an icon, so it's amazing to think that this character has never appeared in the Skywalker Saga and premiered just one month before the release of The Rise of Skywalker. That timing was perfect as The Mandalorian has been carrying the Star Wars franchise since the film franchise ended.
What makes Din Djarin so important within the Star Wars universe though is the fact that he isn't meant to be important. He is just an average bounty hunter trying to make his way in the galaxy, but he ends up walking into these big aspects of the Star Wars franchise. Along the ways, he meets legendary characters like Boba Fett and Luke Skywalker and goes on adventures like retrieving the fabled dark saber of Mandalore, but he himself wants little part of it. He is a Star Wars character who is trying to avoid being part of the Star Wars story.
2 Ahsoka
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Ahsoka Tano has been a major part of the Star Wars franchise but has never appeared in the Skywalker Saga. In fact, her introduction in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as Anakin Skywalker's apprentice left many fans wondering what happened to her given that no mention is made of her in Revenge of the Sith. Ahoska's storyline plays out across the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, and Star Wars: Rebels making her an important unseen character throughout the major events in the series including Order 66 and being a key figure in the formation of the Rebel Alliance.
Ahsoka made her live-action debut in The Mandalorian and has since appeared in The Book of Boba Fett and is set to lead her own live-action Disney+ series titled Ahsoka. Ahsoka was a key figure during the Clone Wars, the battle against the Empire, and in the years before the formation of the First Order. Ahsoka has helped shape key moments in the Star Wars universe and for audiences who have only ever watched the Skywalker Saga films, they would never know her.
1 Grogu
The end of the first episode of The Mandalorian revealed the true breakout star of the series, Grogu, a force-sensitive child who resembled a baby Yoda, leading to his popular nickname. The character has lived through the Clone Wars, during the Reign of the Empire, and the Age of Rebellion, and now is active during the birth of the New Republic and likely is on his own adventure during the events of the sequel trilogy. While he may be just a baby, the character has been in the background of some of the most important events in the galaxy far, far away.
Grogu is not only an important character in the universe of Star Wars but has arguably become the iconic face of the franchise as merchandise of the character has been in high demand since he made his debut. Grogu, even when he was just known as Baby Yoda, became a cultural phenomenon and if the franchise has any future there is a good chance Grogu will be a part of it.