The Star Wars Expanded Universe created so many iconic Jedi, and here are ten members of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Order who really need to become canon. It’s hard for modern viewers to understand, but there was a time when the future of the Star Wars franchise lay not in movies but in novels.

The classic Star Wars Expanded Universe began with Timothy Zahn’s iconic “Thrawn trilogy,” introducing readers to the post-Return of the Jedi galaxy. These stories continued for years, building up to a 19-novel epic called the “New Jedi Order,” which told the story of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Order and a galactic invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong.

All these stories are considered non-canon (or “Legends”) now, erased from continuity so Disney could tell a different tale. But the New Jedi Order stories have a notable legacy, not least in some incredible characters. Here are ten Jedi from Luke’s New Jedi Order in Legends who really need to become canon.

Kirana Ti

The Nightsisters of Dathomir have become a mᴀssive part of modern Star Wars lore, making their live-action debut in Ahsoka season 1. Kirana Ti originates from the Mountain Clan of Dathomir, a rival sect who serve the light side of the Force. They were actually canonized in Tales of the Empire.

Kirana Ti helped the New Republic against the Witches of Dathomir in Legends, and she was recruited by Luke Skywalker as one of his inaugural class of students at his Jedi Academy. Considered an expert in the physical manipulation of the Force, Kirana Ti was a skilled warrior noted for wearing her traditional reptilian armor.

Dorsk 82

Modern Star Wars canon has become fascinated by the question of how to grant Force-sensitivity to clones, and it’s striking that Legends explored this question all the way back in 1994. Introduced in Kevin J. Anderson’s “Jedi Academy Trilogy,” Dorsk 82 was a member of a clone race who had somehow become powerful in the Force.

The Khommites have been name-dropped in canon, and their planet was confirmed to exist in the Deep Core according to the recent Star Wars galaxy map. It would be fascinating to see what a single “natural” Force-sensitive clone would mean in the modern Star Wars lore.

Cilghal

Cilghal was a Mon Calamari Force-sensitive, and she specialized in using the Force to heal others. Her powers are far more remarkable than anything we’ve seen in canon, and they don’t bear any resemblance to those used by Rey in Star Wars: The Force of Skywalker; Cilghal didn’t transfer her life, she genuinely healed others with a touch.

Cilghal was created in 1994, long before anyone realized the question of how to heal his wife would draw Anakin Skywalker to the dark side. This kind of Force power is all the more intriguing after the prequels, because a light side Force heal power underlines the tragedy of Anakin’s fall.

Kyp Durron

Now let’s move on to one of the more infamous Jedi of Luke Skywalker’s Order in Legends. Kyp Durron was manipulated by the dark side spirit of Exar Kun, a Sith Lord whose soul haunted the temples of Yavin 4, and he literally destroyed an entire star-system under the Sith’s influence.

Kyp Durron became one of the most complex characters in the “New Jedi Order” series, an impetuous warrior who didn’t fear the dark side – and who served as a rival to Luke Skywalker. Such a character would add so much to canon, whether in Luke’s era or perhaps even as part of Rey’s New Jedi Order.

Corran Horn

Created by Michael Stackpole in his “X-Wing” novels, Corran Horn was a Corellian pilot who became one of the Rebel Alliance’s celebrated Rogue Squadron. He ultimately unlocked his potential in the Force, becoming a key member of Luke’s Jedi Order, and even starring in his own book – appropriately called “I, Jedi.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi set up Corran Horn in canon, introducing a Force-sensitive child named Corran who was taken to Corellia to be hidden from the Inquisitors. His mother’s name was Nyche – the name of Corran Horn’s mother in Legends. This initially felt like setup for the now-canceled Rogue Squadron movie, and the idea surely needs to be developed.

Mara Jade

Mara Jade is surely the most important original character in Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order. Created by Timothy Zahn, Mara was originally the Emperor’s Hand, his sworn agent; she went on to become a key player in the Jedi, and Luke Skywalker’s wife.

Mara is, sadly, the most difficult to adapt into Star Wars canon. The character was created before anyone knew Jedi weren’t supposed to marry, and the Disney era seems to have decided to honor Lucas’ prequel era vision with its portrayal of Luke. Still, we can only hope the franchise pivots and somehow introduces Mara.

Tenel Ka

The daughter of Prince Isolder of Hapes and a Dathomiri woman named Teneniel Djo, Tenel Ka became a close friend of Han and Leia’s children in Legends – and actually fell in love with Jacen Solo. Their daughter Allana was used by the Sith to turn Jacen to the dark side, but Tenel Ka never fell.

Tenel Ka was a complex character, an honorable warrior who had to navigate the treacherous politics of the Hapes Consortium – which she eventually ruled. Jedi are ill-suited to power, as the prequels proved, and she could easily be brought into canon to explore just why that is the case.

Kyle Katarn

Created for the epic Dark Forces games, where he was portrayed by actor Jason Court, Kyle Katarn is an iconic figure in Legends. He was involved in the theft of the Death Star plans, successfully defeated the Dark Jedi Jerec, and became a key player in the war against the Yuuzhan Vong.

Given Kyle Katarn’s prominence, it’s surely only a matter of time before the character is made canon. His story is too strongly linked to the Rebellion, though, meaning he’d only work as part of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Order – presumably meaning he would have to be killed by Kylo Ren.

Lowbacca

Wookiee Jedi are undeniably cool, even if George Lucas did once mandate that Star Wars stop creating them. Lowbacca is perhaps the most famous Wookiee Jedi in the franchise’s history, the nephew of Chewbacca, created by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta in the Young Jedi Knights range.

Modern Star Wars has embraced Wookiee Jedi again (even if The Acolyte‘s Kelnacca did prove somewhat ill-fated). This hopefully means Lowbacca could make his way into canon, a bright star shining in the galaxy once again.

Tionne

She may not be the most powerful, but Tionne was arguably one of the most important members of Luke’s Jedi Order in Legends. A skilled researcher, she spent much of her time rediscovering the forgotten history of the Jedi Order, helping recover so many secrets of the past.

Rey in particular could use someone like Tionne, especially given it’s already clear her canon Jedi Order will be rooted in the ancient past rather than the prequels – given she’s learned from the sacred Jedi texts Luke owned on Ahch-To. Tionne would be a perfect fit for the new Star Wars story.