Did Star Wars Forget Its Best Possible Luke Skywalker Student?

The Book of Boba Fett revealed Grogu to be Luke Skywalker’s first student, but Star Wars is forgetting another key character who could be part of Luke’s Jedi Academy – Star WarsRebels’ Jacen Syndulla. In the Star Wars sequels, it was established that Luke followed Yoda’s guidance and started his own Jedi Academy to pass down what he had learned. Luke’s Jedi Academy would eventually meet a tragic end, but now Star Wars is revealing the early days of Luke as a teacher – a perfect setup to bring Jacen Syndulla back to Star Wars.

Luke’s first experience with a padawan was short-lived. After saving the day in The Mandalorian season 2 and taking Grogu with him, Luke Skywalker tried to initiate Grogu in the ways of the Force only to find out the child’s connection with the Mandalorian was much stronger than he imagined. Luke presented Grogu with an ultimatum – continuing the Jedi training or returning to the Mandalorian. Grogu chose the Mandalorian, and by the time The Book of Boba Fett ended, Luke’s Jedi Academy did not have any students

A lot has been discussed regarding Grogu’s potential as a character for the future of Star Wars, but Star WarsRebels’ Jacen Syndulla also offers several possibilities for the saga. Jacen Syndulla was introduced in the Star WarsRebels series finale as part of the show’s epilogue, which took place right after the Battle of Endor. Jacen is the son of Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus, and the character was already shown to be Force-sensitive like his father. As a Force-sensitive born around the events of A New Hope and whose mother was a rebel leader during the Galactic Civil War, Jacen Syndulla has everything it takes to become a main character himself. Still, more than four years since the Star WarsRebels finale, Jacen Syndulla has yet to return to Star Wars. Jacen would be around 14 years during the events of The Book of Boba Fett, meaning he could still be trained by Luke Skywalker.

Will Star Wars Rebels’ Jacen Syndulla Appear In Ahsoka?

Jacen Syndulla has not appeared in any Star Wars movie, show, comic, or novel ever since the Star WarsRebels finale – which is curious considering how well-connected the Disney Star Wars canon has been. Many had theorized that Jacen Syndulla would be at Luke’s Jedi Academy around the time of The Book of Boba Fett, which did not turn out to be the case. Now, Jacen Syndulla’s next best chance at returning to Star Wars is Ahsoka. Hera Syndulla, Jacen’s mother, is confirmed to appear in Ahsoka – which will take place more than a decade after the Star WarsRebels finale. Hera’s last canon appearance in Star Wars was the Star WarsRebels epilogue, in which Hera was piloting the Ghost with a toddler Jacen at her side. It’s safe to assume Jacen Syndulla will be at least referenced in Ahsoka.

The characters and the storylines set up by Star WarsRebels are slowly being revisited by the Star Wars live-action shows. Ahsoka Tano’s current story revolves around the events of Star WarsRebels, which is why it makes sense for Sabine, Hera, and perhaps Jacen Syndulla to appear in Ahsoka. It remains to be seen if Jacen will follow his father’s Jedi footsteps, and if he could become one of Luke Skywalker’s padawans.