{"id":49351,"date":"2026-08-16T22:17:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T17:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=49351"},"modified":"2026-08-16T22:17:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T17:17:03","slug":"palpatines-clone-wars-plan-would-have-failed-without-star-wars-most-underrated-villain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=49351","title":{"rendered":"Palpatine&#8217;s Clone Wars Plan Would Have Failed Without Star Wars&#8217; Most Underrated Villain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Palpatine&#8217;s devastating Clone Wars schemes would have failed had another, severely underrated <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/star-wars\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Star Wars<\/strong><\/em><\/a> villain not paved the way for the Jedi&#8217;s and the Republic&#8217;s destruction centuries earlier. Over the decades, <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-best-villains\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Star Wars<\/em> has introduced many memorable villains<\/a>; the franchise wouldn&#8217;t be what it is today without Darth Vader, Darth Sidious, Maul, Count Dooku, Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader Snoke, the Grand Inquisitor, General Grievous, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Moff Tarkin, Director Orson Krennic, and so many others.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p> Of course, none, not even Darth Vader himself, have ever quite reached <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-emperor-palpatine-backstory-timeline-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\">Emperor Palpatine&#8217;s level of true cruelty and darkness<\/a>. He orchestrated the genocide of the Jedi, the fall of the Republic, and the violent oppression of the entire galaxy. Whereas Vader was more of a powerful, unstoppable battering ram, Palpatine&#8217;s greatest strength was his cunning and patience. He lived a double life for years, chipping away at the Jedi&#8217;s and the Republic&#8217;s defenses. He even had an elaborate plan in the event of his death, all so that the Sith would succeed in terrorizing the galaxy and repressing the Jedi forevermore.<\/p>\n<p>During the Skywalker saga, Palpatine had no true equal. Everyone was a puppet for him to manipulate and play with. Every step was carefully calculated, every move and relationship curated for maximum effect. He outwitted even the most powerful of Jedi and turned the Republic Senate into his own personal plaything. And yet, arguably, none of Palpatine&#8217;s horrific accomplishments \u2014 not the destruction of the Jedi nor the turn of the Republic&#8217;s entire political system \u2014 would have been possible had another terrifying masked villain not paved the way for Palpatine&#8217;s plans during <em>Star Wars<\/em>&#8216; High Republic era.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-high-republic-39-s-marchion-ro-is-an-underrated-star-wars-villain\">\n                        The High Republic&#8217;s Marchion Ro Is An Underrated Star Wars Villain<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:50%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\"\/><img width=\"825\" height=\"413\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Marchion Ro Nihil looks at the viewer in a Star Wars comic book.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Star-Wars-Marchion-Ro-Nihil.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Though <em>Star Wars&#8217;<\/em> High Republic era has been seen on screen twice \u2014 in <em>Star Wars: The Acolyte<\/em> and <em>Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures <\/em>\u2014 the bulk of its storytelling comes from the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/high-republic\/\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars: The High Republic<\/a> <\/em>transmedia publishing initiative. Across dozens of novels, comics, audio plays, and more, <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-high-republic-era-major-events\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The High Republic <\/em>chronicled the so-called Golden Age of the Jedi<\/a>. Less centralized than during the <em>Star Wars<\/em> prequel era, the Jedi were scattered across the galaxy, with dozens of outposts on far-off worlds, their focus on universal exploration rather than political aspirations.<\/p>\n<p>The Jedi of the High Republic had more freedom, too; throughout the books, several Jedi explored romantic connections or left the Order to follow their own path. Even Grand Master Yoda was more flexible during this era. That may be hard to believe, given his role in the Jedi Council during the prequel trilogy, but it&#8217;s true. Keep in mind, the High Republic era is set roughly 350\u2013100 years before the events of the Skywalker saga. That may seem like a long time, but in the Jedi&#8217;s millennia-long history, it&#8217;s almost like the blink of an eye.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                              \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"star-wars-high-republic-era-explained\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<p>                                                                                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-high-republic-era-explained\/\"><br \/>\n                        <img width=\"440\" height=\"248\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The High Republic Jedi raising their lightsabers next to Yoda holding his green lightsaber\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-wars-the-high-republic-yoda.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=220&amp;h=124&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-wars-the-high-republic-yoda.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=220&amp;h=124&amp;dpr=2\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>Related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-high-republic-era-explained\/\" title=\"Star Wars\u2019 High Republic Era Explained\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tStar Wars\u2019 High Republic Era Explained<br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">The future of the Star Wars galaxy lies in the past &#8211; in the High Republic Era, featured in books, comics, games, audiobooks, and Disney+ TV shows.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>This era of peace and prosperity soon came crashing down, though, courtesy of a vicious band of marauders known as the Nihil and their frighteningly effective leader, <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-marchion-ro-origin-sith-rival\/\" target=\"_blank\">Marchion Ro<\/a>. Ro has a lot in common with some of <em>Star Wars&#8217;<\/em> most iconic villains \u2014 he had a difficult, aggressive upbringing, he wears an elaborate mask, and he has a deep-seated hatred of the Jedi and the Republic. Still, he&#8217;s one of the few villains who, without access to the Force himself, very nearly succeeded in ripping the Jedi Order apart after forcing them to retreat to the safety of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a shame <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-marchion-ro-high-republic-pirate-explainer\/\" target=\"_blank\">Marchion Ro isn&#8217;t talked about more<\/a>. Until he&#8217;s seen on-screen \u2014 perhaps in a &#8220;Star Wars: Tales of the High Republic&#8221; anthology series? \u2014 this probably won&#8217;t change<em>. Star Wars: The High Republic<\/em> came to an end with the publication of Charles Soule&#8217;s<em> Trials of the Jedi<\/em> in 2025, and while the <em>Star Wars<\/em> books are still popular, they haven&#8217;t quite broken through to the franchise&#8217;s more casual fans.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"marchion-ro-proved-the-jedi-could-be-beaten\">\n                        Marchion Ro Proved The Jedi Could Be Beaten<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:50%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\"\/><img width=\"825\" height=\"413\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Marchion Ro High Republic and the fall of Starlight Beacon\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/marchion-ro-high-republic-starlight-beacon.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-high-republic-nihil-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\">Marchion Ro and the Nihil<\/a> weren&#8217;t a simple obstacle for the Jedi to overcome. The conflict between them, following the devastation of the Republic Fair on Valo and the destruction of the Republic space station Starlight Beacon, escalated to an all-out war, with the Nihil eventually annexing an entire sector of the galaxy and terrifying the Jedi and the Republic into submission. The Jedi retreated to Coruscant and never really left. They became stuck, both physically and figuratively, and were therefore malleable.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, &#8220;terrifying&#8221; isn&#8217;t even an exaggeration. As the Nihil attacked the more closely joined forces of the Republic and the Jedi from all sides, Ro unleashed a horrific ancient creature called the Nameless. <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-nameless-destroy-force\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Nameless essentially feed on the Living Force<\/a>. The more powerful a Jedi is, the more they&#8217;re affected by a Nameless&#8217; presence, leaving them to experience inescapable, deadly feelings and visions of fear and pain. Once the Nameless has had its fill, its victims are left as desiccated husks.<\/p>\n<p>At one point, Ro even went so far as to broadcast Jedi Grand Master Pra-Tre Veter&#8217;s horrific death at the hands of the Nameless across the galaxy to remind the Jedi and the Republic of his power. Marchion Ro may not have been as subtle as Palpatine was, but he certainly succeeded in making the Jedi cower in fear. By the end of the conflict, hundreds of Jedi and thousands of civilians had been lost to the violence of the Nihil and the power of the Nameless, and the Republic&#8217;s resources had been all but depleted.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-jedi-39-s-involvement-in-republic-politics-led-to-their-downfall\">\n                        The Jedi&#8217;s Involvement In Republic Politics Led To Their Downfall<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:50%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;Custom Image by El Kuiper&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\"\/><img width=\"825\" height=\"413\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Nihil leader Marchion Ro and the Jedi of the Star Wars prequel trilogy \" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/marchion-ro-high-republic-villain-and-the-jedi-order.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture><small class=\"body-img-caption\">Custom Image by El Kuiper<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Instead of Palpatine&#8217;s sneak-attack <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/star-wars-order-66-timeline-canon-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\">Order 66 plan<\/a>, Marchion Ro and the Nihil very publicly and systematically broke the Jedi&#8217;s and the Republic&#8217;s willpower and belief. In the end, all they had was each other; neither the Jedi nor the Republic would have survived Ro&#8217;s onslaught had they not joined forces and shared ideas during the war. While that was the right move at the time, they never really separated again, clearing the way for Palpatine to manipulate them from within their own ranks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-vignette\">\n<div class=\"sw-quiz\">\n<p>  <canvas class=\"sw-particles\" id=\"sw-particles\"\/><\/p>\n<p>  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s0\" name=\"sw-step\" checked=\"checked\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s1\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s2\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s3\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s4\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s5\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s6\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s7\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-s8\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-sR\" name=\"sw-step\"\/><\/p>\n<p>  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q1a\" name=\"sw-q1\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q1b\" name=\"sw-q1\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q1c\" name=\"sw-q1\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q1d\" name=\"sw-q1\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q2a\" name=\"sw-q2\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q2b\" name=\"sw-q2\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q2c\" name=\"sw-q2\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q2d\" name=\"sw-q2\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q3a\" name=\"sw-q3\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q3b\" name=\"sw-q3\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q3c\" name=\"sw-q3\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q3d\" name=\"sw-q3\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q4a\" name=\"sw-q4\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q4b\" name=\"sw-q4\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q4c\" name=\"sw-q4\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q4d\" name=\"sw-q4\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q5a\" name=\"sw-q5\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q5b\" name=\"sw-q5\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q5c\" name=\"sw-q5\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q5d\" name=\"sw-q5\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q6a\" name=\"sw-q6\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q6b\" name=\"sw-q6\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q6c\" name=\"sw-q6\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q6d\" name=\"sw-q6\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q7a\" name=\"sw-q7\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q7b\" name=\"sw-q7\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q7c\" name=\"sw-q7\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q7d\" name=\"sw-q7\"\/><br \/>\n  <input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q8a\" name=\"sw-q8\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q8b\" name=\"sw-q8\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q8c\" name=\"sw-q8\"\/><input type=\"radio\" id=\"sw-q8d\" name=\"sw-q8\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-slides\">\n<p>    <!-- INTRO --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl0\">\n<div class=\"sw-intro-box\">\n        <span class=\"sw-ep-label\">A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away \u00b7 Eight Questions<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"sw-main-title\">How Well Do You Know Star Wars?<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"sw-crawl-sub\">\u201cThe Force will be with you. Always.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"sw-theme-previews\">\n<p><span class=\"sw-theme-icon\">\ud83d\udde1\ufe0f<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-name\" style=\"color:#7ec4e8\">Jedi Order<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-words\">Light-side guardians<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sw-theme-icon\">\u26a1<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-name\" style=\"color:#e85060\">The Sith<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-words\">Rule of two<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sw-theme-icon\">\u2699\ufe0f<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-name\" style=\"color:#e8c870\">The Rebellion<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-words\">A new hope<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sw-theme-icon\">\ud83e\ude93<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-name\" style=\"color:#d4a574\">Bounty Hunters<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-words\">This is the way<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sw-theme-icon\">\ud83d\udc51<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-name\" style=\"color:#a8a8b8\">The Empire<\/span><span class=\"sw-theme-words\">Order 66<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-primary\" for=\"sw-s1\">PUNCH IT! \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- Q1: 1977 release --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl1\">\n<div class=\"sw-question-card\">\n<p>01<\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-question-text\">The original Star Wars film \u2014 later retitled Episode IV: A New Hope \u2014 opened in just 32 American theatres and proceeded to become the highest-grossing film of its era, redefining what summer blockbusters could be. In which year did it premiere?<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-1a\" for=\"sw-q1a\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">A<\/span>1975<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-1b\" for=\"sw-q1b\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">B<\/span>1977<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-1c\" for=\"sw-q1c\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">C<\/span>1979<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-1d\" for=\"sw-q1d\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">D<\/span>1980<\/label>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-feedback\">\n<p>\u2713 Correct! 1977 \u2014 specifically May 25. 20th Century Fox had so little faith in the project they only opened it in 32 theatres at first; queues quickly stretched around the block, and the film expanded to over 1,000 screens within months. It earned $307 million in its initial domestic run, won six Academy Awards (with another four nominations) and inverted Hollywood\u2019s economics for the next 50 years.<\/p>\n<p>\u2717 Wrong. The answer is 1977. 1975 is when the script was being shopped around. 1979 is when Star Trek: The Motion Picture released as a Star Wars-shaped countermove. 1980 is The Empire Strikes Back. The original Star Wars is May 25, 1977.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-next\" for=\"sw-s2\">NEXT \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- Q2: Lucas \/ director --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl2\">\n<div class=\"sw-question-card\">\n<p>02<\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-question-text\">A New Hope\u2019s writer-director was a then-32-year-old American Graffiti veteran who\u2019d struggled to get the project greenlit and famously took back-end profit and merchandising rights in lieu of a higher salary \u2014 the deal that would build a billion-dollar company. He returned to direct the prequels but stepped away from the original-trilogy sequels. Name him.<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-2a\" for=\"sw-q2a\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">A<\/span>Steven Spielberg<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-2b\" for=\"sw-q2b\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">B<\/span>George Lucas<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-2c\" for=\"sw-q2c\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">C<\/span>Francis Ford Coppola<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-2d\" for=\"sw-q2d\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">D<\/span>Irvin Kershner<\/label>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-feedback\">\n<p>\u2713 Correct! George Lucas. The merchandising rights he kept (because Fox didn\u2019t value them) became the financial bedrock of Lucasfilm and the basis of the modern toys-and-licensing megabusiness. After A New Hope, Lucas produced but didn\u2019t direct Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kershner) or Return of the Jedi (Richard Marquand), then directed all three prequels (1999\u20132005). He sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 and stepped away from creative control of the sequels.<\/p>\n<p>\u2717 Wrong. The answer is George Lucas. Steven Spielberg was Lucas\u2019s close friend (and the godfather of his post-A-New-Hope career) but never directed a Star Wars film. Coppola was Lucas\u2019s mentor at USC and at American Zoetrope. Irvin Kershner directed Empire Strikes Back. The original is Lucas\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-next\" for=\"sw-s3\">NEXT \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- Q3: I am your father --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl3\">\n<div class=\"sw-question-card\">\n<p>03<\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-question-text\">In 1980\u2019s The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader delivers cinema\u2019s most-misquoted line at the climax of his Cloud City duel with Luke Skywalker. Vader severs Luke\u2019s hand and reveals their relationship. The exact line is \u2014 for the record \u2014 \u201cNo, I am your father.\u201d What relationship does it confirm?<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-3a\" for=\"sw-q3a\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">A<\/span>Vader is Luke\u2019s uncle<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-3b\" for=\"sw-q3b\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">B<\/span>Vader is Luke\u2019s father (Anakin Skywalker)<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-3c\" for=\"sw-q3c\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">C<\/span>Vader is Obi-Wan\u2019s brother<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-3d\" for=\"sw-q3d\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">D<\/span>Vader is Han\u2019s father<\/label>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-feedback\">\n<p>\u2713 Correct! Vader is Anakin Skywalker, Luke\u2019s father. The reveal was so jealously guarded that Mark Hamill was only told the real line on set the day they shot it (the script said \u201cObi-Wan killed your father\u201d), and even James Earl Jones recorded the dub without knowing the full plot context. The line \u2014 commonly misquoted as \u201cLuke, I am your father\u201d \u2014 rewrote what trilogies could pull off and is broadly considered cinema\u2019s most famous twist.<\/p>\n<p>\u2717 Wrong. The answer is that Vader is Luke\u2019s father, Anakin Skywalker. The whole foundation of the Skywalker saga collapses to this single twist: Anakin (the Jedi prodigy of the prequels) becomes Vader after his fall. Luke and Leia are revealed in Return of the Jedi to be his twin children, separated at birth.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-next\" for=\"sw-s4\">NEXT \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- Q4: Yoda voice \/ Frank Oz --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl4\">\n<div class=\"sw-question-card\">\n<p>04<\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-question-text\">Yoda \u2014 the green, ear-twitching Jedi Master \u2014 was puppeted and voiced from his Empire Strikes Back debut through the prequels and the sequels by a single Muppet-show-veteran performer who also voices Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear. Name him.<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-4a\" for=\"sw-q4a\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">A<\/span>Jim Henson<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-4b\" for=\"sw-q4b\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">B<\/span>Frank Oz<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-4c\" for=\"sw-q4c\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">C<\/span>Steve Whitmire<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-4d\" for=\"sw-q4d\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">D<\/span>Brian Henson<\/label>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-feedback\">\n<p>\u2713 Correct! Frank Oz \u2014 longtime Jim Henson collaborator and voice\/puppet work on Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle and Grover. Oz puppeted Yoda directly through The Phantom Menace before CGI took over for Attack of the Clones onward, but he\u2019s continued to voice the character through the sequels and animated series. Yoda\u2019s syntax was developed jointly by Lucas and Oz to feel old, foreign and hard-won.<\/p>\n<p>\u2717 Wrong. The answer is Frank Oz. Jim Henson was Oz\u2019s mentor and collaborator (he created the Muppets) but didn\u2019t voice Yoda. Steve Whitmire took over Kermit after Henson\u2019s 1990 death. Brian Henson is Jim\u2019s son and runs the Henson company today. Yoda is Frank Oz\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-next\" for=\"sw-s5\">NEXT \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- Q5: Disney acquisition year --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl5\">\n<div class=\"sw-question-card\">\n<p>05<\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-question-text\">In a deal that reshaped Hollywood, Disney acquired Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 billion in cash and stock \u2014 bringing Star Wars, Indiana Jones, ILM and Skywalker Sound under the Disney umbrella. The deal also kicked off the sequel trilogy production. In what year did Disney close the acquisition?<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-5a\" for=\"sw-q5a\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">A<\/span>2009<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-5b\" for=\"sw-q5b\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">B<\/span>2010<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-5c\" for=\"sw-q5c\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">C<\/span>2012<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-5d\" for=\"sw-q5d\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">D<\/span>2014<\/label>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-feedback\">\n<p>\u2713 Correct! 2012 \u2014 specifically October 30. The deal was announced with simultaneous reveal that a Star Wars Episode VII was being developed for a 2015 release. Lucas had been quietly preparing his exit from Lucasfilm for years; Kathleen Kennedy had been brought in as co-chair months earlier specifically to take over. The Force Awakens came out three years later, in December 2015, kicking off the modern era.<\/p>\n<p>\u2717 Wrong. The answer is 2012. 2009 is when Disney acquired Marvel ($4 billion). 2010 is the year before Lucas began signalling exit plans. 2014 is when production proper began on The Force Awakens. Lucasfilm joined Disney on October 30, 2012.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-next\" for=\"sw-s6\">NEXT \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- Q6: Mandalorian --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl6\">\n<div class=\"sw-question-card\">\n<p>06<\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-question-text\">The Mandalorian launched as Disney+\u2019s flagship original on November 12, 2019 \u2014 the day the streaming service itself launched. Created by Jon Favreau and run by Dave Filoni, the show centres on a helmeted bounty hunter who reluctantly becomes a foster father to \u201cThe Child\u201d (Grogu). What is the Mandalorian\u2019s real name?<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-6a\" for=\"sw-q6a\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">A<\/span>Boba Fett<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-6b\" for=\"sw-q6b\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">B<\/span>Cobb Vanth<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-6c\" for=\"sw-q6c\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">C<\/span>Din Djarin<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-6d\" for=\"sw-q6d\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">D<\/span>Bo-Katan Kryze<\/label>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-feedback\">\n<p>\u2713 Correct! Din Djarin \u2014 played by Pedro Pascal under the helmet (with body double Brendan Wayne handling much of the physical work). The Mandalorian is widely credited with reviving Star Wars on TV, popularising the StageCraft LED-volume virtual production technology now used across Hollywood, and turning baby Yoda \u2014 Grogu \u2014 into the meme-economy phenomenon of late 2019. Three seasons have aired with a feature film, The Mandalorian &amp; Grogu, set for May 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u2717 Wrong. The answer is Din Djarin. Boba Fett is the famous bounty hunter from the original trilogy, with his own Disney+ spinoff (The Book of Boba Fett, 2021). Cobb Vanth is the Tatooine marshal played by Timothy Olyphant. Bo-Katan Kryze is the Mandalorian princess played by Katee Sackhoff. The Mandalorian himself is Din Djarin.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-next\" for=\"sw-s7\">NEXT \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- Q7: Order 66 \/ Revenge of the Sith --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl7\">\n<div class=\"sw-question-card\">\n<p>07<\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-question-text\">Order 66 \u2014 the secret directive that turns the Republic\u2019s clone troopers against their Jedi commanders and effectively ends the Jedi Order \u2014 is dramatised in the climactic third act of which prequel film?<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-7a\" for=\"sw-q7a\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">A<\/span>Episode I: The Phantom Menace<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-7b\" for=\"sw-q7b\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">B<\/span>Episode II: Attack of the Clones<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-7c\" for=\"sw-q7c\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">C<\/span>Episode III: Revenge of the Sith<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-7d\" for=\"sw-q7d\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">D<\/span>Rogue One<\/label>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-feedback\">\n<p>\u2713 Correct! Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). Palpatine\u2019s \u201cExecute Order 66\u201d comm to the clone armies leads to the methodical, planet-by-planet liquidation of the Jedi Order \u2014 one of the saga\u2019s most operatic sequences, scored to John Williams\u2019 \u201cAnakin\u2019s Betrayal\u201d cue. The same film features Anakin\u2019s fall to the Dark Side, the Mustafar duel with Obi-Wan, and his rebirth as Darth Vader in the suit. Widely re-evaluated as the best of the prequels.<\/p>\n<p>\u2717 Wrong. The answer is Revenge of the Sith. Phantom Menace ends with Qui-Gon\u2019s death and the unveiling of Darth Maul. Attack of the Clones ends with the Clone Wars beginning. Rogue One is set just before A New Hope, after Order 66 has long since happened. The Order 66 sequence is the climax of Episode III.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-next\" for=\"sw-s8\">NEXT \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- Q8: Andor \/ Tony Gilroy --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-sl8\">\n<div class=\"sw-question-card\">\n<p>08<\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-question-text\">Andor (2022\u201325) is widely regarded as the most adult, politically literate Star Wars project ever made \u2014 a slow-burn prequel to Rogue One charting Cassian Andor\u2019s radicalisation against the Empire. The series was created and showrun by a writer\/director best known for the original Bourne trilogy and Michael Clayton. Name him.<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-8a\" for=\"sw-q8a\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">A<\/span>Tony Gilroy<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-8b\" for=\"sw-q8b\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">B<\/span>Rian Johnson<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-8c\" for=\"sw-q8c\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">C<\/span>Jon Favreau<\/label><br \/>\n        <label class=\"sw-option-btn sw-opt-8d\" for=\"sw-q8d\"><span class=\"sw-option-letter\">D<\/span>Dave Filoni<\/label>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-feedback\">\n<p>\u2713 Correct! Tony Gilroy. He\u2019d previously been brought in for extensive Rogue One reshoots in 2016, and Lucasfilm gave him near-total creative independence on Andor. Season 1 (12 episodes, 2022) is widely regarded as Star Wars\u2019 finest dramatic writing ever; Season 2 (also 12 episodes, in four three-episode jumps across 2025) closes the gap to Rogue One\u2019s opening scene. Gilroy\u2019s prior credits: Bourne Identity \/ Supremacy \/ Ultimatum \/ Legacy, plus directing Michael Clayton (2007).<\/p>\n<p>\u2717 Wrong. The answer is Tony Gilroy. Rian Johnson directed The Last Jedi (2017). Jon Favreau created The Mandalorian and is Lucasfilm\u2019s Disney+-era animation\/live-action lieutenant. Dave Filoni runs the Filoniverse (Clone Wars, Rebels, Ahsoka, the upcoming Heir to the Empire film). Andor is Tony Gilroy\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-next\" for=\"sw-sR\">REVEAL MY RATING \u2192<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>    <!-- RESULTS --><\/p>\n<section class=\"sw-slide sw-slR\">\n<p>\n        <span class=\"sw-result-label\">The Force Has Spoken \u00b7 Final Tally<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"sw-result-title\">Your Galactic Standing<\/span>\n      <\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-score-box\">\n        <span class=\"sw-score-icon\">\ud83d\udde1\ufe0f<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\n          <span class=\"sw-score-num\"\/><span class=\"sw-score-of\"> \/ 8<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"sw-score-msg\">Jedi Master \u2014 or moisture farmer on Tatooine?<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<p><label class=\"sw-btn-restart\" for=\"sw-s0\">\u2934 ANOTHER GO<\/label><\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>The Republic&#8217;s overreliance on the Jedi \u2014 and the Jedi&#8217;s submission to the Republic \u2014 opened the Jedi up to another wave of darkness and war. They stopped being true peacekeepers and became more like super-powered soldiers, losing sight of what it meant to protect the light side of the Force and the balance of all living things. Instead, they participated in the very conflict that caused the Force&#8217;s corruption, blinded to Palpatine&#8217;s power within the dark side and his manipulative nature until it was too late.<\/p>\n<p>Palpatine may have been the one to destroy the Jedi Order in one fell swoop, but what if Marchion Ro and his Nihil had never invaded the galaxy? If the Jedi hadn&#8217;t let their fear of the Nameless consume them, or sequestered themselves on Coruscant? Palpatine certainly wouldn&#8217;t have been able to challenge them so easily. Perhaps the Jedi would still have been able to spread their light across the <strong><em>Star Wars<\/em><\/strong> galaxy for the years, decades, and centuries to come, rather than fighting for survival in a galaxy destined to forget they ever existed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card tag type-generic large \" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"false\" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"1505-42d3-9e3fa9e28e7f\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column large\">\n<p>                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img \" data-stnl-group-once=\"TBVQRVdKJ5\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><img width=\"280\" height=\"420\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Star Wars Franchise Poster\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/star-wars-franchise-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n<p>                    <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info\">\n<dl>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<div>\n<dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>TV Show(s)<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/the-mandalorian\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Mandalorian<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/andor\/\" target=\"_blank\">Andor<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/obi-wan-kenobi\/\" target=\"_blank\">Obi-Wan Kenobi<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/the-book-of-boba-fett\/\" target=\"_blank\"> The Book of Boba Fett<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/ahsoka\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ahsoka<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/the-acolyte\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Acolyte<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/star-wars-skeleton-crew\/\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars: Skeleton Crew<\/a>, Lando, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/star-wars-the-clone-wars\/\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars: The Clone Wars<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/star-wars-rebels\/\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars Rebels<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/star-wars-the-bad-batch\/\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars: The Bad Batch<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/star-wars-resistance\/\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars: Resistance<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/star-wars-young-jedi-adventures\/\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/star-wars-visions\/\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars: Visions<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<div>\n<dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Cast<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/mark-hamill\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mark Hamill<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/person\/james-earl-jones\/\" target=\"_blank\">James Earl Jones<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/david-prowse\/\" target=\"_blank\">David Prowse<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/carrie-fisher\/\" target=\"_blank\">Carrie Fisher<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/person\/harrison-ford\/\" target=\"_blank\">Harrison Ford<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/person\/daisy-ridley\/\" target=\"_blank\">Daisy Ridley<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/adam-driver\/\" target=\"_blank\">Adam Driver<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/ian-mcdiarmid\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ian McDiarmid<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/ewan-mcgregor\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ewan McGregor<\/a>, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/person\/rosario-dawson\/\" target=\"_blank\">Rosario Dawson<\/a>, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, <a data-id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/person\/pedro-pascal\/\" target=\"_blank\">Pedro Pascal<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong> Movie(s)<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStar Wars: Episode I &#8211; The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II &#8211; Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III &#8211; Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV &#8211; A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V &#8211; The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI &#8211; Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII &#8211; The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII &#8211; The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card main info widget end -->\n                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Default Description or Custom one added by creator ( override )--><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-1505-42d3-9e3fa9e28e7f\" name=\"extra-content-1505-42d3-9e3fa9e28e7f\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Affiliate links section --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Palpatine&#8217;s devastating Clone Wars schemes would have failed had another, severely underrated Star Wars villain not paved the way for the Jedi&#8217;s and the Republic&#8217;s destruction centuries earlier. Over the decades, Star Wars has introduced many memorable villains; the franchise wouldn&#8217;t be what it is today without Darth Vader, Darth Sidious, Maul, Count Dooku, Kylo&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ian-mcdiarmid-as-chancellor-palpatine-in-star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=49351"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49351\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/49352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}