Star Wars rumors are floating around that an Expanded Universe favorite, Mara Jade, is possibly making her triumphant return. Are these rumblings indeed true? We get to the bottom of it.
Star Wars: Episode IX kicks off filming this summer, which means casting calls are beginning to heat up in full “Force.” One particular name caught our eye, one of great significance to the Star Wars Expanded Universe — now Legends.
ThatHastagShow.com revealed that Lucasfilm/Disney is seeking a female character for Star Wars: Episode IX by the name of “Mara.” Yes, Mara. I’ll give a second for the dust to settle, then we’ll dive back in.
You ready now? Okay, let’s begin. It’s easy to get excited, extremely excited over this, but here’s the reality of things.
Fact. Disney/Lucasfilm are casting a female lead between the ages of 40-50 with the current designation of “Mara.” That’s it. It doesn’t mean that Mara Jade is coming back. Not at all.
Mara Jade was rumored for EVERY Disney Star Wars episode so far.
— Jeremy Conrad (@ManaByte) April 21, 2018
In TFA people claimed that Karen Gillen’s hair would be used for Mara’s wig in the movie.
In TLJ people claimed Mara was buried on Ahch-to.
Now in Ep9 people claim she’s going to be in the movie and 40yrs old.
Honestly, it’s just a code name protecting the identity of the actual character name for Star Wars: Episode IX. That’s it. Plus, Mara Jade has been rumored to pop up in both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, to no avail. It makes no logical sense for her to appear in Star Wars: Episode IX.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
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Back to Mara Jade for a minute. Those of you who are unfamiliar with the popular Legends character, here’s everything you need to know about her.
Mara Jade was created by Timothy Zahn, making her first appearance in his Legends novel Heir to the Empire, circa1991. Known as the “Hand of the Emperor” Mara Jade is strong with the Force, who Emperor Palpatine tasks to assassinate Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
Luke Skywalker had other plans, who not only cheated death but turned Mara Jade “back, to the good side.” The two were a match made in Heaven, who eventually would wed and have children — training a new generation of Jedi together.
The novelization of The Last Jedi begins with a Force vision sequence, of what could have been for Luke Skywalker — a vision of him settling down on Tatooine and raising a family. However, that was just a dream and left to Legends, just like Mara Jade — where she’ll likely stay for good.
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Don’t get too excited about these Mara Jade Star Wars: Episode IX rumors. It’s just a “fake” casting name, and that is it.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s better to let go now than to have pain and suffering when this does not come to fruition later on. May the Force be with you!