An aide to Bail Organa (PrincessLeia Organa) is sent to Lothal with ships for the rebel fleet, but an Imperial lockdown forces the rebels to create a new plan to steal the vehicles. Princess Leia, the unstoppable Rebel hero featured in both the originalStar Warstrilogy as well as the recentStar Wars: The Force Awakens, makes herStar Wars Rebelsdebut when an all-new episode ofStar Wars Rebelsairs Wednesday, January 20 (9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney XD. The network has released a new clip from the episode, entitledThe Princess on Lothal, along with photos that offer our first look at this iconic character on the animated series.
Taking place three years before the events ofStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Leia is introduced as a young leader on her way to becoming the strong, more resolute character portrayed in the original trilogy.TV Insiderspoke with executive producerDave Filoni, who revealed that this episode will show how Leia will learn how to be a leader. Here’s what the executive producer had to say in his statement.
“We thought we had an opportunity to show her learning to be a leader, experimenting with the personality that becomes the stronger more resolute character you see in A New Hope. One of the complex challenges of depicting Leia inStar Wars Rebelsis that we have to remind the audience that she is part of the Empire at this point. She doesn’t believe in the Empire, but she is acting the part, almost as a double agent. The Empire sees her as a privileged princess who runs mercy missions to wayward worlds, but in truth she is much stronger and more dangerous than they imagine. There really is no other character quite like her. And to quote The Force Awakens' Lor San Tekka, ‘She’ll always be royalty to me.'”
Appearing in her only episode of the season, the young Princess Leia is voiced by Julie Dolan, who also lent her vocal talents to the Rebel leader featured in Disney’sStar Toursattraction. Her character’s appearance inStar Wars Rebels. portrays the beginnings of the seasoned general we meet again in The Force Awakens, her royal heritage all but eclipsed by her hard-won military stature. We’ll have to wait and see if Leia will come back in future seasons of the show.
We reported in November that Disney XD has already renewed the hit series forSeason 3, scheduled to premiere sometime in 2016. TheStar Wars Rebels Season 2voice cast includesFreddie Prinze Jr.as Kanan, Vanessa Marshall as Hera, Steve Blum as Zeb,Tiya Sircaras Sabine, Taylor Gray as Ezra, Ashley Eckstein asAhsoka Tano, Dee Bradley Baker as Captain Rex, Captain Gregor and Commander Wolffe,David Oyelowoas Agent Kallus and Sarah Michelle Gellar as theSeventh Sister Inquisitor. Take a look at the new clip and photos from theStar Wars Rebelsepisode,The Princess on Lothal, and stay tuned for more on this hit series.
