Are you thinking, “What or Who is the Prime Jedi?” If so, the Agents of Fandom are thrilled you are here because this character is sure to rock your droid slippers right off your feet.
ICYMI, the great James Mangold has been called up by Star Wars to create a legacy film—his choice will focus on the genesis of the Force. When it was announced the Skywalker Saga was finished, there were some sad fans, but an origin story?! This is going to be an intergalactic geek frenzy.
Mangold announced during Star Wars Celebration that Dawn of the Jedi is coming to explore how the Jedi came to be the defenders of the Old Republic. And if we are getting an origin story, this means two things will happen:
- There will also be an origin story of the Sith.
- We will meet an enigmatic figure in Star Wars lore, The Prime Jedi, as well as a diabolical figure named Ajunta Pall. Even if it’s only a reference.
This is a thrilling time to be a Star Wars fan because an entirely new era of the Jedi (and Sith) is coming. No Skywalkers, no connections to known characters. An all-new canon and a refreshing perspective that starts from the beginning, as all dynamic stories should.
This post will focus on the two primary characters who should be at the center of this plot.
The first sight of The Prime Jedi
Did you see The Prime Jedi during The Last Jedi? Rey did. See that seal in The Mirror Cave? As Rey discovered the Jedi Order—and her place in it—that stone engraving is easy to miss.
What millions of fans may not recognize is this story coming full circle. Today, we’re discussing the origin of the intergalactic guardians, and it seems Rian Johnson was there long before we were.
Say what you will about The Last Jedi, but that seal is no accident, and it may have created all the inspiration James Mangold needs to share Star Wars’ genesis.
That seal is The Prime Jedi. Note the paradox—light side and dark side. That duo-chromatic floor mat resonates with all hardcore fans. The existential makeup of the Force demands an origin story, as it was created to “awaken a certain type of spirituality.”
Is The Prime Jedi the first priest or dogmatic leader of these magical swashbucklers? They are actually much more complex than that, which is going to bode well for a magnificent storyteller in James Mangold.
How did this Jedi become “Prime”
About 25,000 years ago, on the balmy, oceanic planet of Ahch-To (where Rey went sightseeing), there was a soldier. The odd thing is we don’t know their name.
This champion of the Force was a member of the Je’daii Order on a nearby planet, Tython. To become whole, the order achieved unity among a triune core:
- Ashla (Light)
- Bogan (Dark)
- Bendu (Balance)
All creation requires inspiration. Those three things are inspired by Tython’s two moons—one remained in the light of the galaxy’s sun, Ashla, and the other couldn’t escape the darkness of space, Bogan.
Only when they are on the horizon—in the direction of Bendu—do they appear “balanced.” It is unheard of to achieve this facet of life. The Prime Jedi is the first soul in the universe to master that balance within themselves. That achievement is admirable and quickly increased their street cred and notoriety.
Amid the Halycon Days of the High Republic was the Battle of Yavin on Ahch-To. This was the first encounter between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, creating an intergalactic feud like the Hatfields and McCoys.
Incidentally, we have BC/BCE and AD, noting the mark between modern and ancient times. In Star Wars lore, you will see “BBY” and “ABY” creating the same timeline—the Battle of Yavin is that benchmark.
There was a need for a leader, a “Force-sensitive” warrior. Long, detailed story short, that’s when people looked to The Prime Jedi for guidance and protection. This is the inception of the Jedi Order.
What is light can turn dark
It should not go unnoticed that the sequel trilogy is the motivating factor for Mangold to consider the origins of the Force and discover The Prime Jedi. However, if we meet the light side of the Force, one flip of that switch, and we’re in the dark.
And that must be an epic introduction. Just ask Mangold.
“When I first talked to Kathy Kennedy about it, I just said, ‘I just see this opening to make kind of a ‘Ben-Hur’ or ‘The 10 Commandments’ about the birth of the force.’ The force has become a kind of religious legend that spans through all these movies. But where did it come from? How is it found? Who found it? Who was the first Jedi? And that’s what I’m writing right now.”
– James Mangold, Variety, April 2023
It’s essential to understand one thing about Star Wars—in any movie, any animation, any book—where there is balance, there is a battle looming.
This is a hypothetical diatribe, a moment of hope, but Mangold’s genesis epic will be disappointing if we aren’t introduced to another figure pre-eminent in the Force named Ajunta Pall.
Meeting Pall would be a fantastic kicker to a sequel because he had nothing to do with leading the Jedi against the Empire during the Battle of Yavin.
Shortly after the universe entered ABY time came the “Hundred-Year Darkness.” This is when the Dark Side prevailed, and at the head of that universal ball of fire was Ajunta Pall.
The Force family tree
James Mangold can show us things about the Star Wars universe that many of us have only heard in forums: rumors, ideas, and things people still don’t believe. For example, as awe striking and powerful Darth Vader is, Anakin barely makes it into the Top 10 of the most powerful Sith Lords.
(Trust me. I have broken this down like a grueling science experiment.)
There have been some galactic powerhouses on the Light Side, beginning with The Prime Jedi. Likewise, there have been malevolent whirlwinds of the Dark Side, stemming from the inspiration Ajunta Pall left behind.
From The Prime Jedi, we get teases and musings of Shaak Ti of Order 66, Sifo-Dyas of Clone Wars, Plo Koon who discovers Ahsoka Tano, and that old codger, Ben Kenobi. From Ajunta Pall, we have direct connections and inspirations to Ulic Qel-Droma and Exar-Kun from Tales of the Jedi, Darth Malgus from The Old Republic, Darth Revan as in KOR, and Vader.
All unforgettable journeys begin with the first step. In Star Wars, James Mangold will show us how to put that first foot down once and for all.
Follow the Agents of Fandom on socials for all the latest Star Wars news.
