Star Wars: When Did Obi-Wan Learn Anakin Was Still Alive (& How)

Although the Skywalker saga has come to an end, Star Wars still has many questions to answer, among those how Obi-Wan Kenobi learned that Anakin Skywalker survived their battle in Mustafar. Star Wars Legends has an answer to that, but is there one in canon? Back in 1977, George Lucas changed the sci-fi genre forever (and the film industry as well) with the film now known as Star Wars: A New Hope, which introduced audiences around the world to a whole new universe with strange planets, spaceships, its own political system, and a lot of unforgettable characters.

The film was followed by Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, forming the “original trilogy”. In order to expand this universe and explore the backstories of some of its characters (mainly Darth Vader), a prequel trilogy was released between 1999 and 2005. Though these films helped fans understand Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker’s life, they also left even more questions that haven’t really been answered, among those how Obi-Wan Kenobi learned that Anakin was still alive.

After defeating him in Mustafar, Kenobi believed Anakin didn’t survive, until they reunited in Star Wars: A New Hope, where Vader killed his former master. But when and how did Kenobi learn that his apprentice was alive?

Star Wars Legends Explained How Obi-Wan Learned Anakin Survived

All non-film material produced prior to April 2014, except The Clone Wars, is considered non-canon and is filed under the name of Star Wars Legends. This side of the Star Wars universe once offered an explanation on where, when, and how Obi-Wan Kenobi learned that his former Jedi apprentice survived their duel in Mustafar, and was now a proper Sith lord. In the novel Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, written by James Luceno, Obi-Wan Kenobi was at a cantina when he heard the news of Darth Vader’s victory at the Battle of Kashyyyk. By the end of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Kenobi knew that Anakin’s Sith name was Darth Vader, but what he didn’t know was that he was still alive.

However, Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader is part of the non-canon side of Star Wars, and there’s no official explanation on how Kenobi learned Anakin was alive. Almost twenty years passed between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and even though Kenobi was in self-imposed exile in Tatooine, it’s unlikely he would’ve gone through over a decade without knowing about one of the Empire’s most dangerous Sith lords and weapons. With the Skywalker saga now over, there won’t be a film in the future that can answer how Kenobi learned Anakin survived, but it can be addressed in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series on Disney+.

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Adrienne Tyler
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Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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