The Controversial Moment in The Last Jedi That Almost Happened in Star Wars Rebels
One of the most divisive moments in the 2017 movie, The Last Jedi, was the Holdo Maneuver, where Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo sacrifices herself by taking a cruiser into lightspeed and flying it into the First Order’s flagship. This dramatic scene allowed the surviving Resistance forces to escape, but it sparked intense debate among fans. Interestingly, a similar idea was initially pitched for the season 3 finale of the beloved Star Wars animated series, Star Wars Rebels.
On the Star Wars Rebels rewatch podcast, Pod of Rebellion, Rebels writer Henry Gilroy revealed that he had proposed a similar concept, where Commander Jun Sato would jump to lightspeed while ramming into one of the Empire’s Interdictor cruisers. Although Sato’s ultimate sacrifice in the final episode was different, it served the same purpose as Holdo’s in The Last Jedi, allowing Ezra Bridger to jump to hyperspace and secure crucial aid for the Rebellion during the Battle of Atollon.
The Rejected Pitch and Its Possible Influence on The Last Jedi
Gilroy explained that he was not allowed to read The Last Jedi’s script ahead of time, and it wasn’t until he saw the Holdo Maneuver in the released movie that he realized why his pitch might have been rejected. He wonders whether his idea could have influenced the creation of the Holdo Maneuver in The Last Jedi. Gilroy shared his thoughts on the matter, saying, “End of season 3, I had Sato blast through the Imperial forces by jumping to lightspeed. He blasted through to clear the way for the rebels to escape. I kept pitching it, and they wouldn’t tell me no, and they wouldn’t say yes, and they finally said, “No, you can’t do that” and I’m like, “Why not?” and they wouldn’t tell me until I saw The Last Jedi.”
The season 3 finale of Star Wars Rebels was released on March 25, 2017, several months before The Last Jedi’s theatrical debut on December 15 of the same year. Given that Rebels is an animated show, Sato’s potential use of a Holdo-like maneuver might not have been as contentious as it was in the live-action movie. The Lucasfilm Story Group plays a crucial role in maintaining the continuity of the Star Wars canon, ensuring that creative beats are not repeated across various projects.
In the final version of the Star Wars Rebels season 3 finale, Sato’s sacrifice was still a pivotal moment, as it enabled the Rebellion to gain the upper hand. The Holdo Maneuver in The Last Jedi, although controversial, served a similar purpose, allowing the Resistance to escape and continue their fight against the First Order. The similarity between these two scenes highlights the complexities of storytelling in a vast, interconnected franchise like Star Wars, where ideas and concepts can be explored and reimagined in different contexts.
Maintaining Continuity and Creativity in the Star Wars Franchise
With numerous Star Wars movies, shows, novels, comics, and video games in development, the franchise must navigate the challenge of avoiding repetitive creative beats while maintaining a cohesive narrative. The Lucasfilm Story Group plays a vital role in this process, assisting creators in developing their stories and ensuring that the ever-expanding Star Wars canon remains consistent. By exploring different ideas and concepts, the franchise can continue to evolve and captivate audiences, even as it honors the legacy of the original stories and characters that have made Star Wars a beloved and enduring part of popular culture.
