Check Out Yoda’s Star Wars Rebels Cameo In This Clip

By Brent McKnight | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

Since the very beginning, we knew that Disney XD’s animated series Star Wars Rebels was not only going to serve the new, ever expanding Star Wars universe, but that it was also going to connect to what came before. Set between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, this is obviously a prime spot to reveal some hidden corners of the galaxy far, far away, but we’ve also seen familiar faces like Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi show up. Another favorite blast from the past is going to make an appearance, and now we have your first peek at Master Yoda’s upcoming cameo.

You don’t actually get to see Yoda in this clip from IGN, or even the upcoming episode “Path of the Jedi,” as you only hear the aged Jedi. But the exciting thing is, as with when James Earl Jones lent his legendary vocal chords to Darth Vader once again earlier in Rebels, Frank Oz, who voiced Yoda in the movies, is back in what is likely his most beloved role. Just hearing that voice is enough to give you goose bumps.

If we had to hazard a guess, it looks like this clip takes place in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, or some similar locale, but that’s nothing more than a shot in the dark. Kanan (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.) is frustrated by his apprentice Ezra’s apparent lack of progress in his Jedi training, and Yoda, as is his jam, preaches patience as only he can. And while it’s not explicitly stated, when Yoda asks Kanan if he remembers his own training, you get the definite impression that perhaps he also studied under the venerable master. If true, this provides another layer of connection throughout the franchise.

There is something different going on here where the Force is concerned. As far as I recall, there is no precedent for two Jedi being able to communicate in this manner, at least not two living Jedi. Of course we heard Obi-Wan counsel Luke from beyond the grave on occasion, telling him to “use the Force” and whatnot, but I don’t recall an instance where two individuals can speak directly like this. If Kanan is in fact in the Jedi Temple, perhaps that has something to do with it, or maybe Yoda is just that badass and powerful.

If this is something that is being introduced now, you have to wonder if it is going to be a factor moving forward in the movies, like Star Wars: The Force Awakens. We’ve heard that Luke Skywalker has become more powerful than any Jedi ever, so perhaps he’ll be able to communicate with other Force-inclined folks throughout the galaxy in a similar manner (that actually sounds a little like Cerebro from X-Men). That, of course, is just wild speculation on my part, but it will be interesting to see if this plays a part in the future.