Star Wars Rebels' Ezra Is Not Snoke

Episode IX.

Canon aficionados eager to see more overt connections between the films and non-movie materials have poured over the books, comics, and TV shows for possible clues. Some have come to the conclusion that Ezra Bridger, the young protagonist of Rebels, becomes Snoke in his old age. With the young Jedi's fate still up in the air as Rebels makes its way through its final season, anything is possible, though Filoni has seemingly put the kibosh on Supreme Leader Ezra.

In an interview with Comic Book, Filoni was asked about the multitude of fan theories the Star Wars community comes up with, particularly when it comes to tying Rebels into the new movies. While he enjoys reading what viewers come up with, his latest comments are bound to disappoint those convinced Ezra has a role to play in the sequels:

"I try and beat around the bush. I like reading the fan theories, and when I read them, I think, 'Well, there's no possible reason that that can't be true, it's just not true.'"

Filoni is playing coy a little here, in an effort to keep Ezra's future under wraps and preserve Rebels surprises. However, he does have the freedom to debunk the Snoke/Ezra theory, meaning we can now cross another one off the list. This would have been a cool way to bring Rebels and the films together, but it's understandable why Lucasfilm would go in a different direction. For starters, Johnson Rogue One is one thing. Having a Rebels character be the big bad of the saga (when most viewers are unfamiliar with it) runs the risk of sapping that reveal of any true meaning for the moviegoing public.

At this point, the most plausible Snoke theory on the table is arguably the one that states he is an alien from the Unknown Regions the First Order discovered in its earliest days. Chuck Wendig's Aftermath trilogy ended with remnants of the old Imperial regime setting course for the Unknown Regions, where their first order is to remold the Galactic Empire as something stronger and better. It's possible leadership encountered Snoke, who came with them to the galaxy far, far away to command them. This explanation would be simple enough to appease casual viewers, while also delighting canon junkies, but fans shouldn't expect any massive history lessons in The Last Jedi. Johnson famously said a story isn't a Wikipedia page, so he didn't concern himself too much with Snoke's backstory. He only covered what was necessary for his narrative, which is a recipe for success.