New Jedi Order: What might it be like in the upcoming film?

Last month at Star Wars Celebration, it was announced that three new Star Wars movies were currently in development. One of which will be directed by Pakistani-Canadian Journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, focusing on Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.

The possibilities of who might return, whether from the most recent trilogy or other canonical mediums, got us wondering what the New Jedi Order might look like. Who might sit on the Jedi Council? What lessons have been learned from past mistakes? What kind of foundations would it be built on given the last one failed?

Who will be on the Jedi Council?

We already know that Rey Skywalker will be looking to find others across the galaxy who are force-sensitive, but will there be any living Jedi either helping her do so or being a part of a Jedi Council? There’re many names across Star Wars canon who might show up, but which ones would fit into a New Jedi Order?

While we don’t know for definite whether he will appear in the Ahsoka, or whether he will follow in his father’s footsteps, it would be cool to see an older Jacen Syndulla, now fully grown, be part of a New Jedi Order. Ezra Bridger could also feature on the council, maybe even the one who trains Jacen in the ways of the Force, assuming he survives following his ordeal with Thrawn.

Gunji, the Wookie Jedi who was last seen in The Bad Batch, could be another to feature alongside Rey. A mere youngling during The Clone Wars, the Wookie survived Order 66 and as shown alongside Hunter and his crew, he would be both a powerful and effective ally to have. With the success of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it would also be amazing to see a senior Cal Kestis in live-action.

Cal would be in his early eighties by the time of the new film, but would still be an excellent addition to the council, assuming it was something he’d want. A lot of Cal’s story is still to be explored, but it doesn’t stop us from imagining just how awesome it would be to see him pop up in a New Jedi Order.

There are other Jedi who could potentially show up, but one final character who would be a valuable friend to Rey is Grogu. He’s only just learning to harness the Force during The Mandalorian, but at 91 years old, he’d have been practicing the art of the Jedi for half a century. Just picture Rey, Jacen, Ezra, Cal, and Grogu all part of a Jedi Council, training new Force-users, all on the silver screen…

What lessons have been learned from the New Jedi Order?

It’s clear that the old ways of the Jedi led to their eventual downfall. Of course, it was Emperor Palpatine’s Order 66 that killed almost all Jedi during the Great Purge, but they had already lost their way and the respect of the people they swore to protect. Their entanglement in The Clone Wars and their blind ignorance of believing they were peacekeepers didn’t help.

Jedi were never supposed to be soldiers, and it clouded their decisions, leading to hypocrisy among the Order. We also saw ancient Jedi beliefs ruin their reputation, especially among the fans, when they cast Ahsoka out of the Jedi Order during The Clone Wars. They never believed her and it made them look like fools when the eventual truth came out.

The Jedi never moved with the times or adapted. They followed old teachings and made many mistakes as a result. It wasn’t always like this, though. Avar Kriss, Elzar Mann, and the Jedi of the High Republic showed just how powerful and important the Order could be. It was more than respected and loved by most within the galaxy, where its light shone brightly across all it touched.

This is why, as the Jedi fell, the Order would never have lasted as it did, regardless of whether Order 66 was triggered or not. Rey Skywalker was not privy to the inner workings of the Jedi at this time, only what she learned from her own experiences and that of Luke Skywalker, who, being one of the most respected Jedi of all time, still dealt with his own problems under these archaic teachings.

What foundations will it be built upon?

Obviously, for a New Jedi Order to thrive, it must learn what went wrong in the past. Certain teachings can’t be followed anymore, and particular feelings must be embraced rather than be frowned upon. Fear does lead to the dark side, but what about fear of breaking the Jedi code? Would Anakin have turned out the way he did if love was allowed, or at least understood more among the Jedi?

Perhaps he would, but fear works in many ways, and love, whether for another or for family and friends, can clearly be a good thing. It’s hard to know how the life of a Jedi will play out, or whether love leads to pain, anger, or suffering. Yoda once said, “Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future,” so maybe it’s not worth dwelling upon.

Maybe for the New Jedi Order, do not punish oneself for loving another, and use it as a foundation to be built upon. Love and connection can be a powerful weapon, just as any lightsaber or blaster can. Jedi aren’t allowed to grieve, either, but bottling it up and not letting it take a natural path can also lead to the fundamentals of the dark side.

Essentially, Rey would be wise to allow a Jedi to feel. Sadness, happiness, love – even fear. Fear is good because it reminds us of what is at stake. As long as it can be harnessed for good, or to be used as a focus, these old lessons can be changed for the common goal that has always sat at the heart of the Jedi: peace in the galaxy.