The Star Wars franchise is far more saturated than ever before, with Star Wars Celebration confirming several new and exciting projects for the next few years. Yet, despite all these new stories, one old fan theory continues to present itself: the proposition that Samuel L. Jackson's Jedi Master Mace Windu survived the events of Order 66.
Fans, including Jackson himself, insist that Windu survived his encounter with Anakin Skywalker and Sheev Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith, despite appearing to have died. With so many projects on the horizon for Star Wars, there are many different avenues that the franchise could explore should the Jedi Master be confirmed to still be alive.
The Book Of Boba Fett Season 2
The Book of Boba Fett's first seven episodes were released earlier this year to mixed reviews from fans and critics. Nevertheless, the series still seems popular enough to warrant a second season, though Lucasfilm has yet to confirm such a venture. Should the show continue, there is an obvious lingering story that the second season could deal with.
Mace Windu and Boba Fett have a long and complicated past, with the Jedi Master responsible for the brutal death of Boba's father, Jango. If Mace Windu did indeed survive his apparent death, it would be a disservice to have the character never cross paths with the former bounty hunter. As such, their rivalry would be a perfect exploration for this show's second season.
The Bad Batch Season 2
The animated followup to the iconic anthology series Star Wars: The Clone Wars is finally getting a second season, set to premiere later this year. The Bad Batch Season 2 released its first trailer at Star Wars Celebration 2022, along with several surprises that could only be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to groundbreaking reveals.
has already confirmed several exciting characters for Season 2, including the Wookie Padawan Gungi, who apparently survived the events of Order 66. Given that the series takes place shortly after the Great Jedi Purge, it is also the perfect place to reveal new survivors of this historic event, including perhaps Windu himself.
Skeleton Crew
Skeleton Crew is one of the more exciting announcements to come out of Star Wars Celebration 2022, as it will see Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts helm the series, with Jude Law attached to star. The series has been described as being "about kids," but not necessarily being "for kids."
While little is known about this show, its creators have teased that it could change the way that viewers see the franchise. This comment could indicate that the show will carry with it several canon-changing reveals. The idea that a surviving Windu could feature in the series is furthered by Samuel L. Jackson's history with Jon Watts, whom he worked with during Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Tales Of The Jedi
Tales of the Jedi is the latest animated anthology series to be announced for the Star Wars franchise, following several beloved Jedi in stories about their lives and training. The series is already confirmed to include episodes following Ahsoka Tano, Count Dooku, and Qui-Gon Jinn, but will likely feature far more characters in its first season.
Considering the contents of Tales of the Jedi, it seems inevitable that Mace Windu will appear in some capacity, likely with episodes entirely dedicated to the Jedi Master. However, there is no telling the true nature of the series' arcs, which could very well explain Windu's secret escape from death after being hurled out of a window by Chancellor Palpatine.
Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano is undoubtedly Ahsoka will take place in the years following the Galactic Civil War and is expected to feature the live-action debut of several characters from Star Wars: Rebels.
Ahsoka seems poised to change the future of Star Wars forever, expanding stories that were left untold by previous series. While Mace Windu would likely be deceased at the time of this series regardless of his possibly extended lifespan, many have theorized based on Hayden Christianson's casting that the show could include Force Ghosts or flashbacks, either of which could reveal the survival of a certain purple lightsaber-wielding Jedi.
Taika Waititi's Star Wars Film
It was announced in 2020 that Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, would be helming a new Star Wars film and, despite many other planned films in the franchise falling to the wayside, it would appear that Waititi's project is still on the docket. At Star Wars Celebration 2022, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy implied that Waititi's film could be the next Star Wars film to hit theaters, perhaps coming as early as 2023.
Next to nothing is known about this project, though it can be expected to follow in Waititi's unique directorial tone. The director is known for pushing the boundaries of entertainment in zany ways, implying that he will similarly change Star Wars as fans know it. There may be no better way to do so than to reintroduce a character long thought deceased.
Andor
Andor is rapidly approaching its long-awaited debut on Disney+, following Diego Luna's character from Rogue One as he engages in rebellious espionage against the evil Empire. The series recently debuted its first trailer, which could still be hiding many of the show's biggest secrets.
While fans are certainly excited for Andor, it seems as though Lucasfilm is hiding the show's true reason for existing, perhaps indicating that it will see several major characters return during its two-season run on Disney+. Mace Windu could be just one of several prequel-era characters that appear in Andor, setting up a larger narrative of post-Republic survivors intent on striking back at the Empire.
The Mandalorian Season 3
The Mandalorian is the series that kicked off the recent surge in Star Wars streaming content, premiering two seasons to critical and fan acclaim. The show, which has been on hiatus since 2020, is expected to premiere its third season in February of 2023, already igniting fan anticipation for the next batch of episodes.
Season 2 of The Mandalorian posed a question that has befuddled fans for years: who saved Grogu from the Jedi Temple during Order 66? While fans have many ideas, one prominent theory suggests that it was Mace Windu himself who returned to the temple that night to save the child's life, indicating that the believed deceased Jedi Master could return in a flashback during the show's third season.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi features the long-awaited return of Ewan McGregor's titular character as he navigates a galaxy ten years after the fall of the Jedi Order. The nomadic former Jedi is forced to grapple with his decisions at the end of Revenge of the Sith, as well as the fall of the Jedi, leading to the deaths of most of his friends.
has already surprised fans several times, including in its mention of the survived Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos in its third episode. It seems as though the series could be building up to the appearance of other Order 66 survivors, the most surprising (and exciting) of which would doubtlessly be Mace Windu himself.
Kevin Feige's Star Wars Film
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is one of the most successful movie producers ever, with his Marvel Cinematic Universe dominating the box office over the last fourteen years. It would appear that Feige has also set his sights on the Star Wars franchise, as it was revealed in 2019 that he would be producing a film within the universe.
Feige's film could make for the perfect return of Mace Windu. Samuel L. Jackson has a long history of working with Feige, collaborating with the producer on over a dozen occasions while playing Nick Fury in the MCU. Given their relationship and the secrecy surrounding this project, it could very well be revealed to be a Mace Windu spinoff film or something of the like featuring the character's grand return.
