Few Star Wars characters have left as strong an impression on fans as Starkiller, the powerful Force user from The Force Unleashed video games. His incredible abilities, connection to Darth Vader, and journey from a secret apprentice to a hero of the Rebellion have made him one of the most memorable Legends characters. But is Starkiller canon?
The short answer is no. Starkiller, whose real name is Galen Marek, belongs to the Star Wars Legends continuity. His story was originally part of the Expanded Universe before Lucasfilm reorganized Star Wars continuity in 2014. Although Galen Marek's story is not part of the current canon, the character remains hugely popular among fans.
Is Starkiller Canon?
There is no place for the original version of Starkiller in the current Star Wars canon established by Lucasfilm in 2014. The games that the character features in, The Force Unleashed and The Force Unleashed II, fall into the category of Legends rather than the current canon of the Star Wars universe.
All works of fiction that made up the Expanded Universe of Star Wars were relabeled as Legends as part of Lucasfilm's continuity reset in 2014. This move affected hundreds of plots, characters, and events in the Star Wars universe. One of the most famous characters whose original story was moved into Legends was Starkiller.
Was Starkiller Ever Canon?
To understand whether Starkiller was ever considered part of the official Star Wars continuity, it is important to understand how continuity worked before 2014. Starkiller was part of the old Expanded Universe continuity before Lucasfilm decided to classify that material as Legends.
At the time, the Expanded Universe worked alongside the films as part of the broader Star Wars continuity. The Force Unleashed was created with the participation of Lucasfilm and was designed to fit into the existing timeline between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
However, there were different levels of continuity within the Expanded Universe. The films had the highest level of authority, while television series, books, comics, and games occupied different levels. The Force Unleashed was generally classified as C-canon, which covered much of the Expanded Universe.
With the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney in 2012, the future of this continuity changed. In 2014, Lucasfilm reorganized the Expanded Universe as Legends and established a new canon for future Star Wars stories. The initial announcement described the new canon as consisting of the six live-action films and The Clone Wars, while future stories would expand that continuity.
Therefore, it is more accurate to say that Starkiller was part of the old Expanded Universe continuity rather than simply saying that he was canon in exactly the same way as the movies.
Is Galen Marek Canon?
In response to the question, "Is Galen Marek canon?" the answer is no. Starkiller and Galen Marek are the same person. His original story, history, and adventures belong to the Star Wars Legends continuity.
There has not been an officially released Star Wars project that introduces Galen Marek as the same character from The Force Unleashed. His role as Darth Vader's secret apprentice also belongs to Legends.
Some people ask whether parts of Galen Marek's story could be part of the official canon without the character himself being canon. While some ideas and elements associated with The Force Unleashed have appeared or influenced later Star Wars material, there is no current-canon version of Galen Marek in his original role.
Why Isn't Starkiller Canon?
The reason Starkiller's original story is not part of current canon is connected with the changes Lucasfilm made to Star Wars continuity. After Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012, the company found itself dealing with a complex universe full of interconnected stories. Some of these stories did not match one another, while others established events and characters that could limit future storytelling.
Instead of selecting individual Expanded Universe stories to remain in the new continuity, Lucasfilm decided to reorganize the existing material. As a result, in 2014, the Expanded Universe became Legends and a new canon was established for future Star Wars stories.
This decision was not based on whether a particular story was good or bad. Many popular stories, including The Force Unleashed, became part of Legends because of the continuity change.
Several elements of Starkiller's story would also need changes to fit into the current canon. The formation of the Rebel Alliance is one of the biggest differences. In the Legends timeline, Starkiller's actions helped bring together key figures such as Bail Organa and Mon Mothma. In the current canon, the Rebel Alliance developed through a different series of events.
Vader's role also creates differences. In The Force Unleashed, Vader secretly trains Starkiller as his apprentice and uses him to hunt surviving Jedi. In current canon, Vader works with the Inquisitorius to hunt Jedi who survived Order 66. This established history leaves less room for Starkiller's original role as Vader's secret apprentice.
The Death Star timeline creates additional differences. The Force Unleashed features Starkiller infiltrating the unfinished station. However, the current canon has established its own history surrounding the Death Star and its construction. These differences do not mean Starkiller could never be adapted into canon. They simply mean that his original Legends story could not be transferred into the current continuity without substantial changes.
How Starkiller Fits Into Star Wars Legends
According to the Legends continuity, the tale of Starkiller begins on the planet of Kashyyyk, where Vader killed Kento Marek, Galen's Jedi father, and then took the young Force sensitive as his secret apprentice. Vader wiped Galen's memories of his past and taught him to use the Force through the dark side.
For many years, Starkiller served as a Jedi hunter, killing surviving Jedi of Order 66 throughout the galaxy. Among them were Jedi Master Shaak Ti from Felucia, Kazdan Paratus from Raxus Prime, and Rahm Kota, a skilled Jedi warrior. Each mission made Starkiller more powerful but also isolated him further from the world around him. However, an encounter with Juno Eclipse, the pilot of Starkiller's ship, the Rogue Shadow, revealed his compassionate nature, which he thought had died long ago.
Vader's eventual betrayal finally changed Starkiller's path. He turned against the Empire and became involved with the Rebel movement, with his actions contributing to the formation of the Rebel Alliance.
Could Starkiller Return to Canon?
Will Starkiller ever become canon? The answer is unclear because Lucasfilm has not announced plans to bring the original character into the current canon. However, Starkiller's continuing popularity means that Lucasfilm could theoretically reimagine him in the future. There is also evidence that the idea of adapting Starkiller for canon has been considered before.
Sam Witwer, who provided the voice and likeness of Starkiller in The Force Unleashed games, has discussed the possibility of the character appearing in other Star Wars projects. According to Witwer, Dave Filoni considered using Starkiller as an Inquisitor for Star Wars Rebels, although the idea was ultimately not used.
This does not mean that Starkiller is currently being brought into canon. It simply shows that a canon adaptation of the character has been considered in the past. Certain aspects of Starkiller's character have also been reflected in later Star Wars stories. However, these similarities should not be treated as proof that Galen Marek himself exists in canon. The main problem with adapting the original version of Starkiller is the Inquisitorius. It is already established in canon that Vader worked with the Inquisitors to hunt Jedi who survived Order 66. This leaves very little room for the exact role Starkiller occupied in Legends as Vader's secret apprentice.
How Could Lucasfilm Reintroduce Starkiller?
There are several ways Lucasfilm could theoretically incorporate a version of Starkiller into canon. One possibility would be to portray him as an Imperial Inquisitor. He could continue being a powerful Jedi hunter while still fitting into the established Imperial structure.
This idea is not entirely without precedent. Sam Witwer has explained that Dave Filoni considered Starkiller as an Inquisitor for Star Wars Rebels. Although this version of the character was never used, it demonstrates one possible approach to adapting Starkiller.
Another way to incorporate a version of him into canon could be to make him the result of dark-side experiments conducted by the Emperor. Canon already includes stories involving Imperial experiments and attempts to create powerful Force-sensitive individuals. A new version of Starkiller could potentially be given a similar origin. However, this is only a hypothetical possibility and is not an established part of current Star Wars canon.
It is also possible to create an entirely new character inspired by Starkiller. Elements such as his aggressive lightsaber style, powerful Force abilities, and redemption story could be adapted into a new canon character. Even though such a character would not be the same Starkiller who appeared in Legends, some of his most recognizable characteristics could live on in a new form.
Why Fans Still Want Starkiller Back
Starkiller is widely known for several reasons, making him a fan favorite. The Force Unleashed allowed players to control his powerful Force abilities firsthand. The emotional appeal of his transformation from Vader's apprentice into a hero connected to the Rebellion also resonates deeply with his fans. Sam Witwer gave the character a human touch, depicting his inner conflict and personal development through his performance.
His distinctive lightsaber fighting style is also recognizable among Star Wars fans. Starkiller could wield a lightsaber in a reverse grip and, in The Force Unleashed II, could also use two lightsabers.
People continue to discuss his potential return in fan communities and conventions. His reputation as one of the most powerful Force users in Star Wars is another reason for his lasting popularity. His appearances in merchandise, fan art, and video game discussions show that many fans would still like to see some version of Starkiller return to Star Wars.
A Hero Who Never Truly Left
While the story of Galen Marek is not part of current canon, his impact on Star Wars cannot be underestimated. He remains one of the most recognizable characters from the franchise's Legends era. His story of redemption, extraordinary Force abilities, and ultimate sacrifice helped make The Force Unleashed memorable for many fans. The 2014 continuity reset moved Starkiller's original story into Legends, but it did not erase the character's legacy. Lucasfilm could theoretically reimagine him for canon in the future, although no official return has been announced.
Either way, Starkiller will remain one of the most iconic characters from Star Wars video games.
FAQs
Did George Lucas have any plans to include Starkiller in the movies?
There is no established evidence that George Lucas planned to make Starkiller appear in the Star Wars movies. George Lucas was involved in the development of The Force Unleashed, but Starkiller was created specifically for the game's story.
Does Starkiller inspire any canon characters?
Some elements associated with Starkiller and The Force Unleashed have appeared in later Star Wars projects. For example, the Grand Inquisitor's lightsaber in Star Wars Rebels was based on a lightsaber design originally created for The Force Unleashed. There are also similarities between Starkiller and some later Force-sensitive characters, but those similarities do not establish that the characters were directly based on him.
What became of Starkiller in The Force Unleashed II?
Starkiller's fate was explored in the sequel through a clone created by Darth Vader after the original Starkiller's death. The clone was tormented by fragments of memories from the original Starkiller before escaping and eventually confronting Vader. The story also reveals that Vader created multiple clones while attempting to reproduce Starkiller.
Is Starkiller present in any other form of Star Wars media besides games?
Yes. Starkiller also appeared in the novelizations of The Force Unleashed games by Sean Williams, as well as comics and reference material connected to the Star Wars Expanded Universe. These appearances are part of the Legends continuity.
Why is there a dispute about Starkiller's canonicity when he is now categorized under Legends?
The debate continues because Starkiller remains highly popular among Star Wars fans, and Lucasfilm has adapted several Legends ideas and characters into the current canon.
The fact that Starkiller was also reportedly considered for an appearance as an Inquisitor in Star Wars Rebels has contributed to speculation about whether he could return someday.
However, being considered for a past adaptation does not make him canon. At present, Starkiller's original story remains part of Star Wars Legends.
