Darth Vader likely won’t return for Star Wars Rebels Season 3

After having been chased by the Empire and its soldiers throughout Season 1, the crew of the Ghost finally met their match in Darth Vader, during Season 2, but according to a new report, Vader won’t be returning to Star Wars Rebels Season 3…

Slash Film interviewed Star Wars Rebels executive producer Dave Filoni, regarding Darth Vader’s possible involvement in Star Wars Rebels Season 3. If you’re a fan of the show, you know that the Season 2 finale saw a weakened and battered Darth Vader, barely escaping the Sith Planet of Malachor, after his duel with Ahsoka Tano.

When asked if Vader would return, and continue his arc in next season, Filoni had this to say:

"“You know, I’ve kind of gone on this course, which is pretty, pretty direct about certain things ’cause I don’t like to tease people along and then have them be disappointed. So it’s really an elected decision to not have Vader around because, as we get closer to A New Hope, I want him to serve as that story.”"

Seems pretty cut and dry, Filoni doesn’t wan’t or really even need Darth Vader around, in Season 3, because for one: He’s saving him for the closer they get to the A New Hope arc, and two: Darth Maul is still out there causing havoc now, and finally, three: The new big bad for Season 3 will be Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Filoni went on to talk about not having the need to fill-in every gap in Darth Vader’s life:

"“I know it sounds funny. I don’t wanna fill in every hole. I don’t know what we benefit from that. As much as you need to say, okay, this is a major point in his life when he’s confronted by his former apprentice. That is worth doing. Him chasing the rebels of the Ghost crew around is never something that really interested me. Mainly because I didn’t think they could survive it for very long.”"

Filoni goes on to say that now that Grand Admiral Thrawn is on the scene, it will be more interesting to develop a completely different kind of villain. A Villain that has the mentality to play a long game against the Rebels.

Next: Watch the all new Rogue One: A Star Wars Story trailer

What do you think? Do you wish Darth Vader would be a part of Star Wars Rebels Season 3? Let us know in the comments below, and on social media.