Fans are suggesting that a notable character from the prequel would play a role in the Star Wars The Acolyte series. A trailer actually shows a Jedi from behind, who strongly resembles a fairly famous member of the Jedi order.
It’s an understatement to say that the release of the first trailer for the series The Acolyte agitates the fans. Some people thought they saw it as a betrayal of the prelogy. Others were excited about some new features, like this Wookie Jedi or these yellow lightsabers. And then there is this persistent theory that some of the public gives credence to.
According to Internet users, the trailer contains a clue announcing the presence of a character from the prelogy. It all started with a scene taking place halfway through the trailer. We see a group of Jedi knights, from behind, facing a forest. And it is the silhouette of the rightmost Jedi that is the subject of all the speculation.
Warning, the following may contain spoilers.
Is Plo Koon in The Acolyte ?
For proponents of the theory, the Jedi seen on the right can only be Plo Koon, a Jedi master who appears in the three prequel films, as well as in various media from the extended universe. Plo Koon, who belongs to the Kel Dor species, has a particular look: he has very wrinkled skin, protective glasses and a respiratory mask.
Upon closer inspection, the character shares these traits: the color of the outfit he is wearing appears to be the same. We find a very similar physique and a sort of device seems to hide the front of his face. On Reddit, this proximity is in any case disturbing enough to be discussed.
Chronologically, The Acolyte takes place a century before episode I of Star Wars (The Phantom Menace). So that would mean that Plo Koon is at least 120 years old in this film, if not more, because he already looks like he has a few years on his clock, if the series is anything to go by. Indeed, the Jedi order would not send children on missions.
Of course, we know that there are species capable of living very long lives — think of Yoda, who was 900 years old at the end of Episode VI (Return of the Jedi). The whole question is therefore to verify whether this hypothesis is compatible with the usual life expectancy of the Kel Dor species — or with what we know about Plo Koon’s age.
“ It could well be Plo Koon. He is around 250 years old when he dies (Acolyte takes place a hundred years before the Battle of Yavin). He was well known for having a yellow lightsaber in legends and this visual represents him well », says for example an Internet user on Reddit, in another discussion thread.
Uncertainties about the age of Plo Koon (and Kel Kor)
The most circumspect Internet users did not fail to point out that not all Kel Dor in the galaxy are Plo Koon. In other words, just because an alien is a Jedi and shares the traits of this hero does not mean that it is him. Like not all Wookies are Chewbacca or not all Gungans are Jar-Jar Binks.
The official encyclopedic entry for Plo Koon does not specify his age or date of birth. Nothing in particular is said either than the life expectancy of a Kel Dor. However, a comic published in 2009, The Clone Wars 9 (that is to say before the repurchase of the Star Wars license by Disney, in 2012), gave a first indication.
In it, a discussion between Plo Koon, a soldier, and Kit Fisto (another Jedi) reveals that the Jedi is 382 years old. However, he immediately clarifies that this age is calculated according to Kel Dorian years. It is not specified whether these years are equivalent to normal years or whether a special calculation rule must be applied to make a comparison.
In 2003, the work Ultimate Alien Anthology indicated that the average life expectancy of a Kel Dor is a little over 70 years — this time, it was indicated that these were indeed standard years. It is unclear whether the 382 years that Plo Koon claims fits in one way or another with this life expectancy.
Otherwise, two other possibilities must be considered: either Plo Koon had an exceptional organism, allowing him to live well beyond what a Kel Door can hope for. Either his mastery of the Force allowed him in one way or another to prolong his existence. However, it is not certain that this would be very well seen by the Jedi order.
Still, this comic is no longer considered canon since the acquisition of Lucasfilm. Its content is therefore no longer considered viable. And on the encyclopedic sites maintained by fans, and which refer, we do not find any indication of age or life expectancy on the entries linked to Plo Koon or his species.
A Jedi prank?
Discussions on Reddit reflect this relative uncertainty about the Jedi’s date of birth and Kel Dorian characteristics. Others think that Plo Koon’s little line in the comic could simply be false — a prank to confuse Kit Fisto and the soldier. This is the analysis made by member Rogue_Shadow45 on Reddit.
The person concerned affirms that we can calculate the age of the Jedi: “ in fact, we know Kel Dor’s orbit statistics from the sources in the guidebooks. Its age in Kel Dor years can be calculated to be approximately 350 years. I know this because I’ve done it. » But beyond this allegation, it opens another perspective.
“ I think the original intention of this sentence was a jokehe writes, and that it was not intended to be taken seriously. Koon is regularly featured in legends as Qui-Gon’s best friend in the order. They were supposed to be the same age or very close in age. » Qui-Gon Jinn was 48 years old at the time of his death.
If Plo Koon was also in his fifties, it is therefore impossible for him to appear in The Acolyte. But we are not immune to a surprise – we know that director Leslye Headland has confided to having a certain tenderness for the stories of the extended universe (grouped in the Legends category) and her desire to incorporate them .
“ I decided to incorporate elements from the extended universe because I thought they were so cool and no one told me I couldn’t do it “, she said. Will it go so far as to use Plo Koon and dare to place it differently on the timeline of Star Wars, by adding years to the clock? Nothing is less sure.
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