10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Ghost Crew
Celebrating 10 Years of Star Wars Rebels
It’s hard to believe but Star Wars Rebels premiered ten years ago with the explosive episode “Spark of Rebellion.” Fans met the Ghost crew: Kanan Jarrus (Spectre-1), Hera Syndulla (Spectre-2), Chopper (Spectre-3), Zeb Orrelios (Spectre-4), Sabine Wren (Spectre-5), and Ezra Bridger (Spectre-6). Created by Dave Filoni, Carrie Beck, and Simon Kinberg, the series quickly became a favorite as audiences followed the Ghost crew’s adventures during the early days of the Rebellion.
For example, you probably know that Zeb was based on an early sketch of Chewbacca by Ralph McQuarrie.
Whether you tuned in weekly or marathoned it on Disney+, there are likely still a few surprises you don’t know about this beloved crew.
Here, we reveal 10 intriguing facts in celebration of the show’s 10th anniversary.
1. Early Teasers Set the Stage for the Rebellion
Even before Star Wars Rebels aired, fans got a taste of Lothal and its Imperial presence. Over a year before the show’s debut, the website Sienarfleetsystems.com posted a recruitment poster for workers to build TIE fighters on Lothal. This playful bit of propaganda later appeared as a mural in “Spark of Rebellion,” marking the Empire’s reach over the planet.
2. A Secret Codename Honored Dave Filoni’s Love
Behind the scenes, the production team used the codename “Wolf” for Star Wars Rebels. A nod to executive producer Dave Filoni’s well-known fascination with wolves. Later, fans saw the Loth-wolves in the series, directly connecting the codename to the story itself.
3. Star Wars Rebels Kanan Jarrus Gets a Look Straight from classic movie
When designing Kanan Jarrus, art director Kilian Plunkett and Dave Filoni found inspiration in Judd Nelson’s character from The Breakfast Club. Filoni sketched Kanan with an attitude similar to that of the rebel-in-detention. As Filoni noted, “This is the attitude [for Kanan].”
4. Bendu’s Origins Go Back to the Roots of Star Wars
Bendu, the ancient being who sits between light and dark, draws inspiration from Lucas’s original 1973 drafts for Star Wars. In those early notes, he called the Jedi “Jedi Bendu.” Dave Filoni expanded on this concept. He crafted Bendu as a giant, horned creature. It has a base on a wise moose from a fantasy story Filoni once wrote. Bendu’s mystique perfectly embodies Lucas’s early vision of the Force’s mysterious, balanced nature.
5. Princess Leia’s Voice Brings Magic to Star Wars Rebels
When the team decided to include Princess Leia in the episode “A Princess on Lothal” (S2 E12), they turned to actress Julie Dolan, already known for voicing Leia in Disney Parks’ Star Tours attraction. Filoni admired her take on Leia’s regal voice. He said “You almost feel like they found footage of Princess Leia somewhere.” Dolan’s performance created a believable and nostalgic version of young Leia. For an extra touch of authenticity, her outfit in the episode was inspired by Ralph McQuarrie’s early concept art of the princess.
6. The Grand Inquisitor’s Lightsaber Origins
The Grand Inquisitor’s unique spinning lightsaber, actually originated as a concept for The Force Unleashed. Filoni gave it a nickname the “cheat mode lightsaber. Concept artist Amy Beth Christenson, who had worked on that game, recognized the design immediately when tasked with creating the Inquisitor’s weapon.
7. The Fifth Brother’s Helmet Was Originally Meant for Kylo Ren
The Fifth Brother, a distinctive-looking Inquisitor, shares a connection to Kylo Ren. His helmet design was initially a concept for Kylo in The Force Awakens, which didn’t make it into the film. Filoni, always on the lookout for creative ideas, saw the unused design and thought, “Why waste it? It was a great design.” Recycling the helmet gave the Fifth Brother an intimidating look that tied back to the wider Star Wars universe.
8. Jon Favreau Was Watching Rebels – and Tweeting About the Darksaber
Years before he would direct The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau kept a close eye on Star Wars Rebels. In 2017, he tweeted about the Darksaber, thrilled to see the ancient Mandalorian weapon in use again. Having voiced Pre Vizsla, a Mandalorian who wielded the Darksaber in The Clone Wars, Favreau later incorporated the Darksaber into The Mandalorian, creating continuity across the Star Wars universe.
9. Maul’s Last Move in Star Wars Rebels Mirrors His First Duel with Obi-Wan
Maul’s final duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Rebels season three’s “Twin Suns” mirrors his iconic battle in The Phantom Menace. In Star Wars Rebels, Maul uses the same move he used to kill Qui-Gon Jinn, attempting to strike Obi-Wan with his lightsaber hilt. However, Obi-Wan, wiser and more prepared, quickly counters the move, ending Maul’s journey with a poetic echo of his earlier defeat.
10. Star Wars Rebels Introduced Many Iconic Elements to the Lore
Throughout its four-season run, Star Wars Rebels gave fans many iconic additions to the Star Wars galaxy. The show marked the debut of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Imperial Troop Transport, sabacc, purrgil (space-faring creatures), the planet Kessel, and the Inquisitorius. Rebels also marked the first time the term “beskar” appeared in Star Wars, a term that later became crucial in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.
Relive the Adventure with Star Wars Rebels
To celebrate Star Wars Rebels’ rich legacy, dive back into your favorite episodes and reconnect with the iconic Ghost crew. After revisiting their incredible journey, bring home a piece of the action with our high-quality lightsaber replicas at Timeblade Guild. Perfect for any Star Wars fan, these replicas capture the essence of your favorite characters and their stories. Star Wars Rebels blends humor, action, and heart, and as it celebrates its 10th anniversary, these behind-the-scenes stories remind us of the care, creativity, and passion that went into this beloved saga.