Star Wars may have hinted that Qui-Gon Jinn was not the first Force Ghost in the franchise, indicating that a member of the Order from the High Republic may have achieved this first. Star Wars Force Ghosts were first introduced to the franchise in The Empire Strikes Back, with Obi-Wan Kenobi appearing as an apparition to Luke above the snowy wastelands of H๏τh. Concerning the chronological release of Star Wars movies and shows, however, the concept of the Force Ghost came long before.
That said, it was not thought that this concept went as far back as Star Wars’ High Republic era. The High Republic era lasted for a few centuries and ended around 50-70 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. During this era, the Jedi Order and the Republic were at their most powerful due to the absence of Star Wars’ dark Sith Lords, with shows like The Acolyte being set in this period. Thanks to a recent High Republic story, a hint has been provided that perhaps Force Ghosts did debut further back on the Star Wars timeline than first thought.
The Acolyte: Wayseeker Hints There Was A Force Ghost In The High Republic Era
Long Before The Time Of The Prequels
The hint of this comes from a new book тιтled The Acolyte: Wayseeker. The story features characters from The Acolyte before the show’s events, specifically Jedi Masters Indara and Vernestra Rwoh. One of the pᴀssages in this novel sees Indara recounting an experience she once had from being trapped in a mine, with the Jedi insisting she thought she saw a Kessurian man wearing Jedi robes. Indara states that this man knelt before her and rested his hand on her forehead.
Indara asked about the Kessurian Jedi when she awoke from her injuries, only to be told that no Kessurians were part of the rescue operation nor worked in the mines…
Indara goes on to say that this touch made her feel calm and restorative, “like someone tucking you into bed when you’re sick.” The book then states that Indara asked about the Kessurian Jedi when she awoke from her injuries, only to be told that no Kessurians were part of the rescue operation nor worked in the mines. These mysterious circumstances, as well as Indara insisting that she knows what she saw and felt was real, somehow, indicate that a Kessurian Jedi could have manifested as a Force Ghost to keep her alive.
Star Wars Canon Seems To Hint Qui-Gon Was The First Jedi To Become A Force Ghost
Qui-Gon’s Journey Implied He Invented The Technique
As alluded to previously, however, this implied Force Ghost from the High Republic era would clash with the canon depiction that Qui-Gon Jinn uncovered the technique for the first time in the prequels. This storyline was hinted at in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith when Yoda told Obi-Wan Kenobi that Qui-Gon had found a way to manifest after death and that he could teach Obi-Wan to do the same. In 2022, the ending of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series saw Qui-Gon appear as a Force Ghost, further implying he invented the technique.
This was hinted more than ever in the final arc of Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 6. In this arc, Yoda undergoes the spiritual journey to become a Force Ghost himself, being guided by none other than Qui-Gon Jinn. All of this implied that Qui-Gon was the Jedi who first uncovered the ability to prolong a form of life after death, yet The Acolyte: Wayseeker hints otherwise.
A High Republic Force Ghost Doesn’t Break Canon, Despite Qui-Gon’s Story
Both Stories Can Coexist
What is worth mentioning is that both of these stories can exist together without one of them breaking canon. The Acolyte: Wayseeker is set over a century before Qui-Gon’s journey in the prequel era. Even then, this potential Force Ghost could be hundreds of years older than that. Moreover, it has been made clear throughout Star Wars that it requires a great journey to become a Force Ghost, rendering it exceedingly rare and not something that is taught in the Jedi Temple.
Therefore, it is simply a high probability that some Jedi spread across the centuries when the Order was at its strongest learned to manifest as a Force Ghost. It then also makes sense that this ability was lost to time as it has never been shown to be an ability that is taught to the mᴀsses. This explains why Qui-Gon could have “invented” the technique in the Star Wars prequels without diminishing his ability to do so, as he did it alone without help, regardless of whether Jedi from centuries past had done so before him.
Star Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
