At Star Wars Celebration 2023, the first full-length Ahsoka trailer confirmed that Hera Syndulla, one of the Rebellion’s top generals, will make the jump to a live-action series for the first time since her Star Wars Rebels debut. The fan-favorite Star Wars character is a Twi’lek revolutionary who saw the horrors of war — both the Clone Wars and the early days of the Empire — up close on her homeworld of Ryloth. The expert pilot learned how to lead by watching her father, Cham Syndulla, who was nicknamed The Hammer of Ryloth during the Clone Wars.
Eager to build a coordinated, galaxy-wide rebellion against the Empire, Hera left Ryloth with her cantankerous astromech, Chopper, and her now-iconic ship, the Ghost. Before the events chronicled in Rebels, Hera builds a close-knit team, often referred to as the Ghost crew or Spectres. First to join was Kanan Jarrus, a Jedi Knight who survived Order 66. Of course, Hera gains a few other crew members too, including Mandalorian-turned-rebel Sabine Wren; Lasat survivor Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios; and, in the wake of Rebels’ premiere episodes, Kanan’s newfound Padawan, Ezra Bridger.
Who Is Hera Syndulla? The Rebellion’s Best Pilot, Explained
When they first meet on Lothal, Ezra’s homeworld and victim of Imperial occupation, Sabine tells Ezra:
“We're a crew. A team. In some ways, a family.”
The Hera-led rebellion on Lothal might have seemed like a small spark, but it certainly helps ignite a larger fire. Senator Bail Organa, one of the rebellion’s key figures (and Leia Organa’s adoptive father), takes notice of Hera’s efforts and leadership skills, and asks her to join his efforts in coordinating a rebellion across the various Empire-adverse cells throughout the galaxy.
Hera and her fellow Spectres join Phoenix Cell, and eventually, Hera helps the rebellion gain a foothold on the remote planet Atollon. The planet becomes one of the rebellion’s key bases — and just in time, too. The Empire has taken notice of the once-disparate rebellion’s increasingly united front, and has dispatched Grand Admiral Thrawn to crush said rebel cells. Despite being outmaneuvered by Thrawn on Atollon, Hera and the Ghost crew (along with a few other rebel ships) survive the Imperial attack.
While Hera’s Phoenix Cell was one of the first to join the newly formed Rebel Alliance, the group joins another cell on Yavin 4 following the destruction of the base on Atollon. Known as the Massassi Group, the cell was instrumental in securing the Death Star plans from Scarif, as chronicled in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). In fact, both Chopper and the Ghost make cameos in the film. Later, the Massassi Group leads the effort to destroy the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin, as seen in A New Hope.
The Massassi Group is one of the largest cells in the Rebel Alliance, complete with an impressive fleet. Because of this, Kanan believes that partnering with them can give Hera’s crew a real shot at finally reclaiming Lothal from the Empire, and destroying the planet’s Imperial factories. But convincing the Rebel Alliance to direct resources toward Lothal is a challenge.
Thrawn takes Hera prisoner and, without the larger rebellion’s support, the Spectres rescue their fearless leader — though, tragically, Kanan sacrifices himself during the mission. Eager to avenge Kanan, defeat Thrawn, and free Lothal, the Spectres and their allies launch a full-scale effort to reclaim Ezra’s homeworld, which they succeed in doing thanks to a well-timed assist from some space whales.
What Happened To Hera Syndulla?
“I am not wasting my life. I help people. I lead ships into battle,” Hera says in Rebels. “I am part of something bigger.” And General Syndulla stands by that statement even after liberating Lothal, proving herself to be one of the Rebel Alliance’s most crucial leaders. In addition to aiding the efforts on Scarif, Hera and her cell are part of some of the rebellion’s most deciding moments, including the battles on Hoth and Endor — the ground- and space-fought battle that resulted in the death of Emperor Palpatine.
After the Rebel Alliance reorganized into the New Republic, Hera continued to crush the now-fractured Imperial forces by leading the Barma Battle Group (including the game-changing Alphabet Squadron) and played a key role in the Battle of Jakku, which marked the official defeat of the Empire. Following the fall of the Empire, Hera serves as general in the military of the New Republic. So far, not much has been revealed about what happened to Hera during the eras of the New Republic or the rise (and subsequent defeat) of the First Order.
Did Hera & Kanan Have A Baby?
Hera and Kanan fall in love during their time together, and share a relationship that’s both grounding and empowering. While the last few episodes of Star Wars Rebels are marked by some tragic losses — most notably Kanan Jarrus’ death — there’s also some good news, especially during the series’ finale’s epilogue. During this post-Lothal montage, Rebels confirms the birth of Hera and Kanan’s child, Jacen Syndulla. Although Jacen never meets his late father, Sabine remarks that he shares hallmarks of Kanan’s personality and disposition.
Growing up during the height of the Galactic Civil War, and in the heart of the Rebel Alliance, Jacen is often separated from his mother. Thankfully, he has the companionship of Hera’s lifelong droid, Chopper. Even though the war keeps her away at times, Hera’s love for her son is clear:
"Everything we're doing right now…it's for the New Republic, not for us. But I've got a family. I've got a son who needs me [...] I want to live for them for a while, instead of [for] the galaxy.”
Is Hera Alive In “Rise of Skywalker”?
Not only does Hera’s signature ship, the Ghost, pop up in Rogue One, but it can also be seen battling Palpatine’s (somehow-secret) fleets in the skies above Exogol in The Rise of Skywalker. So, does the appearance of the Ghost in Rise of Skywalker mean that Hera is alive in the sequel trilogy?
Age-wise, it’s a possibility. Even if Hera had hung up her goggles, she’s always one to answer a call — and taking down the First Order (and Palpatine) is a battle worth finishing. Of course, it’s always possible that someone else, like Jacen Syndulla, is at the controls.
Will Hera Be In “Ahsoka”?
Ahead of the Ahsoka trailer’s reveal at Star Wars Celebration, fans wondered if Hera Syndulla might appear in the Dave Filoni-helmed series. After all, casting for both Sabine Wren and Ezra Bridger had been revealed, rumors were swirling about Thrawn’s inclusion in the show, and Zeb had an extended cameo in The Mandalorian Season 3. The stars seemed to be aligning for a live-action Rebels reunion of sorts, and, finally, the full-length trailer confirmed that Hera will be in Ahsoka.
Who Is Playing Live-Action Hera?
To the delight of fans, Ahsoka is expected to pick up where Filoni’s Star Wars Rebels left off. In Ahsoka, Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey; Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) will play the live-action iteration of Hera Syndulla. When it was announced that Winstead had joined the cast of the series, fans speculated she nabbed the role of the rebel pilot-turned-general.
Still, the official announcement has Star Wars devotees divided. Some Rebels fans wanted Hera’s voice actor, Vanessa Marshall, to reprise the role in the live-action show. This hope wasn’t too far-fetched, especially considering that Lars Mikkelsen, the voice of Thrawn, will be portraying the live-action admiral in Ahsoka. Marshall expressed her enthusiasm for the show, and for Winstead’s casting, while Winstead has publicly acknowledged Marshall’s key contributions to the character.