Summary
As the roster of original characters created forStar Warscontinues to growwith every movie, TV show, and video game, there emerge lots of new Jedi, but also plenty of non-Force-powered individuals who sometimes prove their stories can be just as intriguing. Not all Star Wars heroes need to have robes and carry lightsabers.
The number of characters that exist within Star Wars is overwhelming and seemingly endless, but there are also countless non-Jedi main characters who likewise bring something iconic to the table and become instant favorites. Below might be some of them!
Star Wars: Episode 8 - The Last Jedi
Star Wars: Episode 9 - The Rise of Skywalker
The Star Wars sequel trilogy tried to live up to the originals but had lots of problems with story, character arcs, and direction. However, arguably one of the best characters to come out from that entire continuation was Finn, a protagonist who was more likable and interesting than even the main Jedi hero Rey.
Finn is a Stormtrooper who defected from the First Order and is also force-sensitive, though not a full-on trained Jedi. There’s a mysteriousness and complexity to him that should’ve been better explored. He also had some of the most memorable moments in the sequels, whether it was his fight with FN-2199 and Captain Phasma, a sidequest to Canto Bight, being a resistance co-general with Poe Dameron, and wielding a lightsaber.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Andor
Andor turned out to be a compelling enough character in Rogue One to spawn an entire prequel series exploring his backstory and journey of becoming a spy for the rebellion. The show gives you plenty of insights into where he came from, what kind of trouble he was in before retrieving the Death Star plans, and his relationships with the important people in his life.
He’s the adoptive son of Maarva Andor and grew up on the planet of Ferrix after being rescued by her as a child from a wreck in Kenari. Andor turned to a life of crime and gained notoriety as a thief hunted by the empire, which eventually led him to become involved with Luthen Rael, a leader of a network of Rebel spies, as well as having to serve time in an Imperial prison on Narkina 5.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Greez Dritusfirst appeared in the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, where he joins former Jedi Cere Junda and former Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis on a search for the Jedi Holocron going up against the Inquisitors.He’s the pilot of the Stinger Mantis shipthat takes you on your planet-hopping adventure, and he’s a unique four-armed species called Latero, an original creation for Fallen Order.
Greez’s character has one of the best personalities in the entire game, his moody and sarcastic tone never disappointing in dialogue interactions. He’s also got a penchant for cooking for his crew, and that’s part of what inspires him in the sequel, Jedi: Survivor, to be the new owner of Pyloon’s Saloon on Koboh, a bar he names in honor of his great-grandmother who taught him his culinary skills.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
Although her daughter Princess Leia gets most of the recognition, Padmé deserves icon status in her own right as an outstanding non-Jedi female protagonist. From her debut as Queen of Naboo in The Phantom Menace, styled in her iconic royal garb, to her life with Anakin and as a Senator that’s even more fleshed out in the animated series, Padmé is a leader you’re able to admire.
She strives for peace and is one of the last beacons of hope for preserving the Republic and democracy during the Clone Wars, ultimately betrayed by Anakin and the Sith forces that corrupted him. She’s also pretty good with a blaster and won’t shy away from a fight.
The Mandalorian
The Book of Boba Fett
You might like to refer to him as ‘The Mandalorian,’ or ‘Mando’ for short, but the actual name for this protagonist is Din Djarin. He’s a Mandalorian foundling-turned-bounty hunter who finds himself in the care of a Jedi youngling named Grogu and must balance his bounties and responsibilities as a protector with the customs of the Way of the Mandalore.
As comes with the price of harboring an affiliate of the Jedi Orderwho survived Order 66, Din Djarin is put at odds with the remnants of the Imperial forces led by Moff Gideon. He and Grogu have some riveting quests across the galaxy, and his silver beskar armor and Amban disruptor sniper rifle are even sleeker than Boba Fett’s.
Appears In
The only other character in The Mandalorian who can outshine an iconic duo like Mando and Grogu is Nevarro’s Greef Karga. Karga is also played by late Hollywood icon Carl Weathers, who delivers one more unforgettable performance and has one of the best arcs in the series.
In the beginning, Karga works as a Guild Master to assign bounties to hunters based in Nevarro, with The Mandalorian being one of his regulars. He’s not kind to Mando and even plots to kill him in order to ensure the bounty on Grogu is met, but has a change of heart along the way and becomes an ally. He would go on to be in a new leadership role as the High Magistrate of Nevarro.
Ahsoka
Mon Mothma isone of the best and most underrated female Star Wars charactersin the series, period. When all the hype is about Leia and Padmé, or Jedis Ahsoka and Cere, Mon Mothma has an edge over them due to her importance in the Rebellion, essentially the de facto leader of the Rebel Alliance and, before that, a powerful political figure in the Galactic Senate.
Mon Mothma made her first appearance in Return of the Jedi planning the second attempt at destroying the Death Star, but has also been the one to set in motion the recovery of the Death Star plans in Rogue One. She’s been more and more fleshed out in prequel shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and especially Andor, where you really gain a new respect for her as a character, and Ahsoka features Mon in the aftermath of the fall of the Empire.
Star Wars Rebels
The Bad Batch
Clone troopers are, by and large, disposable characters that served the Jedi in the Republic army prior to the activation of Order 66, but not if you’re Captain Rex or Clone Force 99 (aka The Bad Batch). Rex and the members of Clone Force 99 are perfect examples of well-developed clone trooper main characters in the Star Wars universe who’ve turned into fan-favorite characters.
Rex is the clone trooper captain in blue-and-white gear and wielding dual blaster pistols, who’s been by Ahsoka Tano’s side throughout all of the Clone Wars and the events in Rebels. The Bad Batch is made up of a disobedient bunch of clones unaffected by Order 66, like Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, and Echo, who are tasked with protecting Omega, the sole female clone of Jango Fett’s.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
When it comes to the best droid protagonists in Star Wars, there are really only two that fit the description. Those would, of course, be C-3PO and R2-D2, the droid odd couple who always tend to bicker and disagree in wholesome and charming situations that arise. They’re seen for the first time in A New Hope, but they’ve been by Obi-Wan’s side for even longer, their origins going back to The Phantom Menace and The Clone Wars.
C-3PO and R2-D2 come with their own set of skills and are like the droid versions of Han Solo and Chewbacca. Out of all the OG characters, they’ve probably had the most appearances across all Star Wars media, with C-3PO even getting a cameo in the first season of Ahsoka. But it never gets old, and you’ll only delight in it.
Speaking of Han Solo and Chewbacca, there’ll never be a more iconic duo in Star Wars than them. And Lando Calrissian, Han’s close friend and former smuggler, completes the holy trinity of Star Wars protagonists. It all started in the prequel spin-off movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and they’ve stuck with each other during the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy.
When you think of non-Jedi characters, Han Solo immediately stands out thanks to the iconic delivery Harrison Ford gave to this captain of the Millennium Falcon. Lando is likewise a decorated pilot for the Rebellion and has lots of charisma, whether it’s Donald Glover or Billy Dee Williams in the role. Chewie is the sweet, funny, and menacing Wookiee that completes them.
