Star Wars Character List

From LoveToKnow Sci-Fi

A Star Wars character list wouldn’t be complete without listing the primary characters of the six film saga, from Anakin to Luke Skywalker, Lars and Beru, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Obi Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala and, of course, the beloved droids: R2D2 and C3PO.

Harrison Ford's Han Solo remains one of the most recognizable Star Wars characters.

Star Wars: Character List

Star Wars spans multiple decades and solar systems both in and out of story. The original film, released in 1977, was actually Episode IV. That movie was quickly followed by Episode V in 1980 and Episode VI in 1983. Nearly two decades would pass before George Lucas once again revisited that galaxy far, far away, and even longer ago than the initial trilogy.

Fans waited with anticipation to meet Anakin Skywalker, a young Obi Wan Kenobi and to see the beloved face of Jedi Master Yoda once more. These venerable veterans were joined by Qui-Gon Jinn (Obi Wan’s instructor), Mace Windu, Padme Amidala, Jar Jar Binks and Senator Palpatine – the future Emperor. The stories told in Episodes I, II and III combined an old world elegance of the Old Republic with political and mystical intrigues. Against this power struggle, a love story unfolded between Anakin and Padme. Unfortunately, it was that very love for Padme that made Anakin vulnerable. Palpatine manipulated him and used his own fears to turn Anakin to the dark side.

The result, the death of Padme, the separation of the twins Luke and Leia and the transformation of Anakin into Darth Vader; the most profound moment of the Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith is the resurrection of Anakin’s charred body and mind into the black shell that is remembered so fiercely as the villain who would turn to save his son from the Emperor.

While critics and fans alike bashed the Anakin trilogy, it definitely added texture to the previous three films – particularly the sequence where the Emperor is killing Luke and Vader seems torn. Fans are left to wonder who Vader sees in front of him, pleading for their life – Luke or Luke’s mother?

Rich Characterizations

In 1992, Spectra Books published Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. This book is known by many fans as Episode VII. The Thrawn trilogy, as told by Timothy Zahn and approved by George Lucas, revisits the New Republic five years after the events of Return of the Jedi. Han and Leia are married and expect children. Chewbacca is still with them. Leia is a pivotal figure in the government of the New Republic while Luke is beginning to rebuild the Jedi Academy. Distant figures on the fringe of the galaxy, the remnants of the Emperor’s machinations threaten them.

This initial trilogy worked because it remained true to and added to the Star Wars character list. Perhaps the most powerful character to emerge in the Star Wars universe that did not originate in the films is Mara Jade, the future wife of Luke Skywalker and mother to his son Ben. The Thrawn trilogy would launch many other books in the Star Wars canon, allowing fans to truly embrace the space opera qualities of Star Wars and its characters.

In 2002, Bantam Spectra published a Star Wars character guide to help fans keep up.

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