Star Wars: The Acolyte's fourth episode, which features a surprising cameo from Ki-Adi-Mundi, has sparked a significant debate.
Set about a hundred years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – Phantom Menace, many believe that during the tail-end of the High Republic Era, the Cerean Jedi Master wasn’t even born yet.
However, several franchise characters are alive during The Acolyte, especially those who belong to various alien races.
Though it remains to be seen whether they turn up in the Disney+ series or not, they may have known the show’s main characters, like Vernestra Rwoh.
So, here are the eight original Star Wars characters alive during The Acolyte.
Oppo Rancisis
Oppo Rancisis was a Jedi Master who served the Jedi Council during the High Republic Era.
He, too, was around during the Invasion of Naboo and the Clone Wars.
Aside from being one of the oldest Jedi, he was also known for being among the wisest Council members, respected for his wisdom and devotion to the Force.
Though his lifespan is unknown, it’s much longer than humans.
Dexter Jettster
Dexter Jettster was already famous during the High Republic Era for his hyperspace prospecting.
He had worked closely with Maz Kanata as he spread stories about her and her pirate crew across the galaxy.
Dex had remained part of the galactic underworld for centuries and even crossed paths with Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars novel Padawan by Kiersten White.
Though his appearance in The Acolyte this season is quite impossible, with Headland teasing there can be a second season, there may still be a chance for his cameo.
Maz Kanata
Maz Kanata was born over a millennium before the war between the First Order and the Resistance brewed.
She’s known for being the “pirate queen,” letting smugglers stay in her home as long as they don’t talk about politics and war.
Kanata has a long history with the Jedi, which is fleshed out in Star Wars: The High Republic.
She even referred to Yoda as an old flirt, while the books revealed a Jedi Temple on Takodama, which she claimed to be her base of operations.
With this connection, Kanata might still be working with the Jedi and might be a useful contact in the criminal underworld that might help investigate Mae and her mysterious Sith Master in The Acolyte.
Jabba the Hutt
Born in 600 BBY, Jabba the Hutt had lived for centuries by the time The Acolyte was set.
However, he wasn’t the powerful and influential villain then and might have been one of many Hutt leaders.
It was also possible that he wasn’t on Tatooine yet and was still establishing himself in Nal Hutta or Nar Shaddaa.
The Acolyte referenced Nar Shaddaa after Osha’s fellow Mekneks had travelled there shortly before Episode 1.
Though there might be no way for Jabba the Hutt to appear in the series, mentioning the smuggler’s moon was probably the closest Easter egg to the crimelord we will get.
Chewbacca
Like other alien races, the Wookie Chewbacca lives much longer than humans.
He was born during the High Republic Era and became a Wookie military leader. Throughout his lifetime, he met numerous Jedi.
He even crossed paths with Ahsoka Tano during the Clone Wars and Yoda in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
He was also present during the Galactic Civil War, the Cold War, and the First Order-Resistance War.
Though The Acolyte featured another Wookie, Kelnacca, it remains to be seen if Chewbacca will appear in the series.
Ki-Adi-Mundi
The franchise made a change to Legends when Ki-Adi-Munti appeared in The Acolyte.
The series showed that he was already a respected Jedi during the High Republic Era, which is the opposite of what Star Wars Legends established.
He was only 60 when The Phantom Menace occurred.
With his The Acolyte cameo, many accused the show of ruining the canon, even though Legends references have been considered non-canon since 2014.
However, as Ki-Adi-Mundi insisted that the Sith were extinct in The Phantom Menace and with his knowledge about Mae’s mysterious Sith Master in The Acolyte, there were concerns about a possible continuity problem.
Yaddle
Another Jedi Master of the same species as Grand Master Yoda and Grogu is Yaddle.
Unlike Yoda, she was in charge of Jedi Initiates during the High Republic Era. She, too, was a member of the Jedi High Council during the last years of the Galactic Republic.
Though younger than Yoda, she was already an established Jedi Master during The Acolyte.
Yaddle enjoyed working with Jedi Younglings and often travelled the Galaxy with them.
With her focus on the aspiring Jedi, she might have worked with Jedi Master Sol when he was young. Hence, he was also seen teaching Younglings in the series.
Though it remains to be seen if she will appear in The Acolyte, considering she’s not a go-to contact when investigating the Jedi assassinations, the idea is still exciting.
Grand Master Yoda
A legendary Jedi Master, Yoda was born in 896 BBY and served the Jedi Order for centuries.
He led the Jedi Order through the time of the High Republic and in the years leading up to the destruction by the Sith.
He, too, had been around since the transformation of the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire.
That said, given the importance of his voice in the Jedi Council and that Vernestra seems to be the Master of the Order, she may have worked closely with Yoda.
Sadly, showrunner Leslye Headland revealed that Yoda would not make a cameo in The Acolyte.
But that could easily be a bluff to keep his appearance a surprise.
Several alien races in the franchise could appear in The Acolyte. They have much longer lifespans than humans, so they can easily make an exciting cameo in the show.
The Acolyte Episodes 1 to 4 are available on Disney+, while new episodes come out every Tuesday.
READ MORE: 7 Star Wars Novels That Complement The Acolyte