Although the canon Star Wars timeline.
While Disney's acquisition led to some of Star Wars' best TV shows, from Andor to The Mandalorian, this did mean a few disappointing changes. One such change was the removal of Mara Jade, Luke Skywalker's Legends wife and a powerful Force- in her own right, from the canon. However, Legends revealed a significant amount of information about Mara Jade, which could have interesting implications for Star Wars moving forward.
I Know How Star Wars Can Retcon Mara Jade Back Into Luke Skywalker's Canon Star Wars Story
Many viewers were disappointed that the sequel trilogy didn't make Mara Jade canon, but Star Wars still has the opportunity to do that.
Mara Jade Was Originally The Emperor's Hand
Initially, Mara Jade was working on the side of the Empire. In fact, Mara Jade was one of the Emperor's Hands, secret agents and assassins who served Emperor Palpatine himself. As Mara Jade explained to Luke Skywalker in Legends, the Emperor's Hands could also hear Palpatine's voice from anywhere in the galaxy—an incredible Force feat.
- Created By
- Timothy Zahn
- Cast
- Shannon McRandle
- First Appearance
- Star Wars: Heir to the Empire
- Alliance
- Empire, Jedi
- Alias
- Emperor's Hand, Countess Claria, Lianna, Litassa Colay, Arica Pradeux, Agent Green, Chiara Lorn, Karrinna Janish, Baroness Paltonae, Merellis, Celina Marniss, Senni Kiffu, Baroness Muehling
- Franchise
- Star Wars
Hailing from the Legends continuity, Mara Jade's Force-sensitivity caught the eye of Emperor Palpatine himself. She became one of the Emperor's Hands, a skilled assassin and spy who served his will. Mara failed in her last mission for the Emperor, to kill Luke Skywalker, and sank into the depths of the underworld for a time. She eventually became an ally of Luke, and the two fell in love, with Mara ing Luke's Jedi Order. Mara was eventually killed by Jacen Solo, serving as his sacrifice as he committed himself to the way of the Sith.
Mara Jade was also incredibly powerful in the Force, and she had been taken as a young child from her parents to be trained by Palpatine in the ways of the Force. However, Mara Jade's story changed trajectory considerably following the death of Emperor Palpatine. Specifically, Mara Jade became essential to Luke Skywalker's Legends story in a way that clearly distinguishes his Legends arc from the Disney Star Wars plotline in the sequel trilogy.
Mara Jade & Luke Skywalker Fell In Love
In Legends, when Emperor Palpatine was killed by Darth Vader and, by extension, Luke Skywalker, his last command to Mara Jade was to kill Luke Skywalker. As one of the Emperor's Hands, Mara Jade was unfailingly loyal to Palpatine and would have carried out his final command either way. However, Mara Jade was particularly filled with hate for Luke Skywalker, as she blamed him for the death of her master.
Mara Jade was particularly filled with hate for Luke Skywalker, as she blamed him for the death of her master.
In Mara Jade's pursuit of Luke, though, things certainly did not go according to plan. Rather, after being forced to work alongside Luke, Mara Jade developed feelings for Luke, and Luke reciprocated. Shockingly, this ended with Luke and Mara Jade getting married and having a son, Ben Skywalker. In addition to that, Mara Jade ultimately turned to the light side of the Force, ed Luke's Jedi Temple, and ended up becoming a Jedi Master alongside Luke.
Why Isn't Mara Jade In Star Wars Canon?
Sadly, Mara Jade was removed from Star Wars canon following Disney's acquisition of the franchise. Prior to the sequel trilogy, however, audiences remained hopeful that Mara Jade would be re-canonized. In fact, many thought that the stone Luke Skywalker stood next to at the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a gravestone, perhaps signaling that he had married Mara Jade in the canon timeline but she had died. Arguably, this would have been a much more compelling reason for Luke to exile himself, but the sequels opted for a different story.
Instead, the Star Wars sequel trilogy perpetuated the Jedi rule against attachments from the prequel trilogy.
Instead, the Star Wars sequel trilogy perpetuated the Jedi rule against attachments from the prequel trilogy, and Luke had neither a wife nor a child. In fact, his Legends son, Ben Skywalker, seemed to be adapted into Leia Organa and Han Solo's son, Ben Solo (although that also meant their Legends children, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin, being removed from the canon). This undoubtedly contributed to the decision not to include Mara Jade in the sequel trilogy, as she would have undermined Luke's commitment to this Jedi rule.
However, never say never in Star Wars. Presumably, the franchise could still retcon Mara Jade into the canon with current projects set in the New Republic era. After all, little is known even now about Luke's Jedi Temple prior to Ben's destruction of it. On screen, Luke's Temple has really only been seen in The Book of Boba Fett, and, at that time, Grogu was the only student shown—and he didn't stay.
Despite that opportunity, it seems fairly unlikely that Star Wars will reverse the decision to exclude Mara Jade. At this point, that would be a massive retcon, as it would mean changing Luke's dedication to maintaining the Jedi rule against attachments. Moreover, this would undermine The Book of Boba Fett, as Grogu left in part because Luke insisted he pick between Din Djarin and becoming a Jedi, and Rey actress Daisy Ridley has indicated that Rey's Jedi Order will also implement this rule. Sadly, it seems Mara Jade will remain in Star Wars Legends only.
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