After the destruction of the Sith in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, there are several non-Sith villains Rey Skywalker could face in Star Wars: New Jedi Order. After the death of the clone of Sith Lord Sheev Palpatine (aka Darth Sidious), it appears that the Sith Order is destroyed once and for all. With the destruction of the Jedi Order’s most ancient enemies, who will replace them as the big bad in Rey’s new Star Wars movie is up in the air. However, there are a few potential options that would make terrifying and formidable enemies.
Throughout both canon and Legends, Star Wars has had some great villains. While the movies have focused almost exclusively on the Sith, the extended universe has featured a wide variety of antagonists. Any one of these 10 villains would be perfect for Rey’s new movie, and they would be a nice switch-up from the Sith.
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10 Barriss Offee
Dark Jedi & Ahsoka’s Ex-Friend
Dark Jedi Barriss Offee was a friend of Ahsoka Tano before she fell to the dark side and framed Ahsoka for murder. During the Clone Wars, Barriss was a dedicated and strict Jedi Padawan who played by the rules and believed in the original mission of the Jedi. However, throughout the Clone Wars, she became disillusioned, feeling that the Jedi had abandoned their Code and morality in favor of war and politics. As such, Barriss committed murderous acts of terrorism against the Jedi Temple and framed her former friend for the attack.
It is not known in canon whether Barriss survived Order 66 and beyond. However, if she did, she could appear as a villain in New Jedi Order. Since Barriss lost faith in the Jedi Order, she may see the creation of a new one as a repetition of history. After all, Rey’s Jedi Order was born out of a rebellion. Rey was a Resistance fighter and a soldier as well as a Jedi. It’s likely that, if Barriss survived, she would see Rey as unfit to lead a Jedi Order and attempt to sabotage it.
9 The Yuuzhan Vong
Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Mortal Enemies From Legends
Originating outside a galaxy far, far away, the Yuuzhan Vong are a terrifying race of alien conquerors from Legends. Grand Admiral Thrawn tried to save the galaxy from the Vong, but was unsuccessful due to his death at the hands of the New Republic. These villains are heavily opposed to technology for religious reasons, instead creating weapons from organic matter. They glorify pain and thus love to inflict it upon both themselves and others. They exist outside the known Force, and thus cannot be sensed by Jedi.
Because the Vong can’t be sensed by the Jedi, they would make terrifying enemies for Rey’s new Jedi Order. While the Grysks have replaced the Yuuzhan Vong in canon, that doesn’t mean that the Vong themselves can’t be brought back into canon. Nothing is preventing the Vong from existing, even though Thrawn is not fighting them the way he did in Legends. If Star Wars wants to bring back the Vong as villains, having them fight Rey and her Jedi Order would be a great way to do it.
8 The Vagaari
Violent Alien Race Of Pirates From The Unknown Regions & Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Enemies
The Vagaari are a cruel race of alien pirates from the Unknown Regions. They believe in their own superiority and conquer and enslave anyone they can. They hold no regard for the lives of their slaves, placing them in capsules around their ships to act as living shields. Such villains would pose a serious risk to Rey and her Jedi Order, as the Jedi value life and they couldn’t bring themselves to fire on innocent victims. Thus, the Vagaari’s use of living shields would prove a serious problem for the Jedi.
7 The Nikardun Destiny
Alien Civilization Of Conquerors And Enemies Of Grand Admiral Thrawn
The Nikardun Destiny is an alien Empire that operated under a dictator called Yiv the Benevolent. The Nikardun conquered several worlds before being defeated by Thrawn and the Chiss. Yiv was defeated, imprisoned, and later exiled by the Chiss Ascendancy. However, while Yiv is gone, the Nikardun and their colonial values are not. It is possible that a new Nikardun leader could rise and attempt to conquer the New Republic. Further, since Yiv was exiled and not killed, there is a possibility that he was quietly picked up by his people and reinstated.
6 Rakata
Alien Race Who Tried To Build An Infinite Empire In Legends
The Rakata are an amphibious alien race originating in Legends. However, while they have yet to be shown in canon, an Andor name-drop has officially reintroduced them into the Star Wars universe. They are conquers and slavers, attempting to build their own Infinite Empire. They are connected to the dark side of the Force. Their dark side connections and imperial ambitions make them a great replacement for the Sith.
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5 Grysks
Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Mortal Enemies In Canon
Grand Admiral Thrawn’s mortal enemies throughout the canon in Thrawn: Ascendancy and the Thrawn trilogies, the Grysks are a terrifying race of conquerors. They use insidious means to take over other worlds. They use conquered and allied species to sow discord among peoples and incite civil wars. Once their target has weakened themselves from the inside, the Grysks swoop in and take over their world. Due to their ability to hide in the shadows and sabotage from the inside, they would make terrifying and shadowy villains for Rey and her Jedi Order to face.
4 Dark Jedi
Jedi Who Have Left The Jedi Order And Turned To The Dark Side
Dark Jedi are Jedi who have fallen to the dark side but are not Sith. There have been many dark Jedi in canon, including Kylo Ren and Ahsoka‘s Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati. Wherever there is a Jedi Order, there is almost guaranteed to be dark Jedi. As such, one or more Dark Jedi would be an obvious villain choice for New Jedi Order.
3 Nightsisters
Dark Force Witches
At the end of Ahsoka, Thrawn brings both the Great Mothers and, likely, the dead but soon-to-be-resurrected Nightsisters from Peridea to Dathomir. With the rebuilding of this race of Force witches with a penchant for necromancy, it’s possible that they could appear to haunt Rey and her students. Because Thrawn did them a favor, they are indebted to him and his cause. As such, they may want to fight the New Republic in his honor, even after Thrawn’s attempts have failed.
2 The Son
Evil God Of Mortis
The Son is the Mortis god who embodies the dark side of the Force. He is power-hungry and full of hatred. He is connected to the Sith as the embodiment of the dark side, but he is far more terrifying than any Sith could ever be. His return was already set up at the end of Ahsoka season 1, and, given that he is a Force god, it is unlikely that he’s going anywhere. As the personification of darkness, he could wreak havoc on Rey’s new Jedi Order.
1 Abeloth
Mortal Woman-Turned-Mortis Goddess Who Went Insane
The Mother, also known as Abeloth, is the mortal woman who became part of the family of Mortis gods. Over time, she became afraid of losing her family to aging and death. This eventually drove her insane and caused her to corrupt herself with forbidden power, drinking from the Font of Power and bathing in the Pool of Knowledge. This transformed her into a Force being of entropy and chaos.
She was eventually banished from Mortis, as she was deemed too dangerous. Ahsoka set up Abeloth’s return as a villain. While it is possible Ahsoka will defeat Abeloth once and for all, Abeloth’s position as a powerful immortal Force being means that it’s entirely possible she could return to attack the galaxy in New Jedi Order.
Star Wars: New Jedi Order
The tenth mainline installment in the Star Wars franchise is the first movie to follow the sequel trilogy, where Mark Hamill’s Luke, Carrie Fisher’s Leia, and Harrison Ford’s Han Solo gave their final farewell. After the release of The Rise of Skywalker, development on a direct sequel had become dormant as Disney shifted focus on other parts of the galaxy, namely, Disney+ shows such as The Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka. However, a movie starring Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
- Director
- Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
- Cast
- Daisy Ridley
- Writers
- Steven Knight
- Studio(s)
- Lucasfilm
- Distributor(s)
- Disney
- prequel(s)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace , Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith , Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope , Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back , Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi , Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens , Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi , Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
