Disney’s Star Wars Has Wasted Wedge Antilles

Disney’s Star Wars has wasted Wedge Antilles. “Red Two” in the first Star Wars film, Wedge was originally played by Colin Higgins, but the actor was fired as he struggled to remember his lines. He was replaced by Denis Lawson for the scenes depicting the Battle of Yavin.

Lawson was pleasantly surprised when he was called to return in The Empire Strikes Back, because he actually thought his character died in the Death Star run. Wedge Antilles became a popular secondary character through the Original Trilogy, and Lucasfilm contacted Lawson to reprise the role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Unfortunately, a scheduling conflict meant he was unavailable.

The Star Wars tie-ins have gradually fleshed out Wedge’s story post-Return of the Jedi. He featured prominently in Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy, where he was captured while investigating the Imperial Remnant but was rescued by the rebel pilot Norra Wexley. He and Norra eventually fell in love and married, with Wedge happily becoming father to Norra’s son Temmin. The two retired, but were called back to serve in the Resistance by Leia Organa in the aftermath of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. That story is told in Rebecca Roanhorse’s Resistance Reborn, which focuses far more than necessary on the aged pilot’s aches and pains. It’s reasonable to assume an older Wedge is being set up for a brief appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Unfortunately, it’s difficult not to conclude that Wedge Antilles’ potential has been wasted – especially when you cast your eyes to Wedge’s role in the old Expanded Universe.

Michael Stackpole’s X-Wing novels focused on Wedge as a central character, as he established a new Rogue Squadron. Stackpole was one of the best writers ever to work in the Star Wars franchise, and he transformed Wedge into one of the most complex and entertaining characters in the entire franchise. Stackpole had Wedge meet and fall in love with Iella Wessiri, a Resistance spy who was frankly far more interesting than Norra Wexley. As in the Disney era, Wedge and his family kept getting drawn back into the action, of course.

This is the problem with the Disney relaunch, which rendered the old Star Wars EU non-canon. Some characters will prosper – curiously enough, Leia’s adoptive father Bail Organa has flourished in the Disney era – but others will lose their mystique. Wedge was one of the highlights of the EU, and as a result the version shown in both Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy and Roanhorse’s Resistance Reborn are a far cry from his prior incarnation.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
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Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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