Professor Huyang returns to Star Wars TV in Young Jedi Adventures

Fan-favorite droid Professor Huyang, voiced by David Tennant, makes a surprising return to Star Wars television before Ahsoka Season 2. Huyang was first introduced in The Clone Wars Season 5 episode "A Test of Strength" as he instructed a group of Jedi younglings in constructing their lightsabers, which he has done for thousands of years. The character later made his live-action debut in Ahsoka Season 1.

While the wait for Ahsoka Season 2 continues, Huyang has now returned to Star Wars television in the first part of Young Jedi Adventures Season 2, episode 4, once again voiced by Tennant. "Nubs's Big Mistake" sees the adorable Jedi youngling discovering the ancient lightsaber of Jedi Master Barabo, who was a Pooba, just like Nubs. Nubs brings Barabo's lightsaber to Huyang, who fixes the lightsaber.

The reference book Star Wars: Timelines established that Huyang is over 25,000 years old, but Young Jedi Adventures is Huyang's earliest appearance yet in the canon timeline. He was mentioned in previous High Republic era stories, including The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott and Shadows of Starlight #1 by Charles Soule, but this is the first story in this era where he has actually appeared.

Young Jedi Adventures is a perfect story for Huyang to appear in as it revolves around Jedi younglings, and he was particularly well-suited to appearing in an episode dealing with an ancient lightsaber. He will likely appear later in the series as well, with Yoda teasing this in the episode by telling Nubs, "Guide you in the ways of building your own lightsaber he one day will."

For the most part, Young Jedi Adventures is a self-contained story, but it still finds exciting and meaningful ways to connect to the larger canon. Bringing in Huyang is a great example of this, and it was thrilling to hear Tennant's voice and see Huyang via Young Jedi Adventures' distinct animation style. Tennant won an Emmy Award for Huyang in The Clone Wars, so maybe he will repeat for this series, too.

Having existed for more than 25,000 years, Huyang is far older than Yoda ever was, who was 900 when he passed away in Return of the Jedi. Huyang is a rare character who has appeared in stories set during the High Republic, the Clone Wars, and the early years of the New Republic.

He even has potential to appear in James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi movie as that takes place 25,000 years before A New Hope. Huyang can currently appear in and connect more eras of Star Wars than any other character.