The 13 Best Star Wars Characters Introduced In 2024

Star Wars released several new shows in 2024, and these characters are the best brand-new additions from the year. Among the 2024 Star Wars releases were Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3, Star Wars: Tales of the Empire, The Acolyte, LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Although many characters in shows like The Bad Batch and Tales of the Empire had appeared in Star Wars movies and TV shows already, several characters were new.

This was especially true of The Acolyte, which was set in an era of the Star Wars timeline that hadn’t yet been shown on screen and therefore required a number of new characters, and Skeleton Crew, which focuses on a group of children lost in the galaxy. Although there was backlash to The Acolyte and 2024 was a bit of a turbulent year for the franchise, many of these characters were truly brilliant. Of all the Star Wars characters introduced in 2024, these represent the very best.

13

Kelnacca

The First Live-Action Wookiee Jedi Master Was A Truly Exciting Concept

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When the trailer for The Acolyte was first released, there was significant excitement about Jedi Master Kelnacca being the very first live-action Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars. This was a major moment for Star Wars primarily because George Lucas himself had previously said Wookiees could not be Jedi. Star Wars had already undone that rule with characters like Gungi, the Wookiee Padawan in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

This was nevertheless a significant change for the franchise, and it promised something new and exciting. Unfortunately, there was very little of Kelnacca in action. He died off screen, killed by Qimir on the planet Khofar before he’d had the opportunity to demonstrate his full strength. However, when The Acolyte finally revealed what really happened on Brendok, viewers did get to see how formidable he could be. While it’s a shame Kelnacca wasn’t given more screen time, he was an excellent addition to Star Wars.

Mae standing on Ueda in The Acolyte with her mask and hood up and a ship and mountain in the background

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Mae

Mae’s Story Started Strong

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Initially positioned as the ‘evil’ twin between Osha and Mae, Mae’s story in The Acolyte ended up being so much more than it seemed at first. In the first two episodes of The Acolyte, it seemed confirmed that Mae had killed Osha and Mae’s family and nearly killed Osha in the process, and her attacks on the Jedi seemed to solidify that characterization. However, it was fairly clear from the moment the Witches of Brendok died that Mae was not as culpable as Osha and Master Sol claimed she was.

In the end, it was revealed that Mae had not attacked the witches at all but rather had tragically watched her mother die at the hands of Master Sol and then was framed. In addition to this complex arc, which made her compelling enough, Mae proved to be a powerful, capable fighter. Sadly, her arc ended on a bit of a confusing point, with her being willing to have her memory wiped and turn herself in to the Jedi. Presumably, season 2 would have provided insight into her path forward, but with The Acolyte’s cancelation, that’s unlikely to come.

11

Wim

Wim’s Love Of The Jedi Is Genuinely Charming

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Originally, it seemed as though Wim was going to be the main character of Skeleton Crew, and the first two episodes of the brand-new Star Wars show seemed to confirm as much. However, more recent episodes of Skeleton Crew have seen Wim more to the side, with characters like Fern and Jod Na Nawood becoming the focus. Even so, Wim is a truly lovable Star Wars character, especially because of his adorable adoration for the Jedi.

Wim brought Star Wars viewers the precious moment of children within the Star Wars galaxy having a pretend lightsaber fight, just as kids do in real life, to the screen for the very first time. His interest in adventure and in space is also endearing. While Wim hasn’t proven to be the focal point as he originally seemed to be, he has nevertheless been a great addition to Star Wars.

10

KB

There’s Something Very Intriguing About This Skeleton Crew Character

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KB is yet another of the kids introduced in Skeleton Crew, and although she has easily been the quietest of all four children, making her the most difficult to read, it’s clear there’s something very interesting going on with this character. At present, KB almost feels more like a sidekick to Fern, which was depicted quite directly when she rode in the sidecar of Fern’s speeder. Yet, with Skeleton Crew currently being only halfway through, it seems likely there’s more to come in KB’s story.

The most interesting aspect of her character so far has been KB’s parents’ fears about her being lost in space because she has an unknown ‘medical condition.’ Many have theorized that this could be Force-sensitivity that, on her strange planet of At Attin, could be seen as an illness. If that proves true, KB will become a much more thrilling character in Skeleton Crew.

Fern from Skeleton Crew in the foreground in front of an image of Port Borgo in Star Wars Skeleton Crew in blue and red hues

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9

Master Sol

Sol Was A Great Character, Even If He Was Wrong In The End

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Master Sol was perhaps the most shocking aspect of The Acolyte, as he initially seemed like a kind, compassionate, and dedicated Jedi. Over the course of The Acolyte, Sol was instead revealed to be largely responsible for the fates of Osha, Mae, and the Witches of Brendok. Worse, he had clearly and intentionally framed Mae for all that he had done on Brendok, and he allowed Osha to believe her sister had tried to kill her, all to keep his name clean.

While he was obviously quite flawed, Sol was still a great character. He proved to be excellent with a lightsaber, and his duels with Qimir in particular were some of the best not only in The Acolyte but also in all of Star Wars. His story would also have ended whether The Acolyte was renewed or not, so his arc felt complete and satisfying (which wasn’t true for many other Acolyte characters), even if it revealed that Sol was far from perfect.

8

Master Indara

Indara Was Revealed To Have More Genuine Intentions Than It Initially Seemed

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Carrie-Anne Moss’s appearance as Jedi Master Indara in The Acolyte was highly anticipated, especially because Moss’s other roles, such as Trinity in The Matrix, suggested she was perfectly suited to Star Wars. That made it very disappointing when she died in the first scene of the show, but that luckily wasn’t the last of Indara in The Acolyte. She returned in both episodes that revealed more about what transpired on Brendok, and, interestingly, the representation of her character changed drastically between those two episodes.

Carrie-Anne Moss’s appearance as Jedi Master Indara in The Acolyte was highly anticipated.

At first, it seemed as though Indara was a bit cold and perhaps even antagonistic to the Witches of Brendok, but The Acolyte ultimately revealed that Indara had actually wanted to leave the Witches of Brendok alone. It was really Master Sol who believed the Witches of Brendok had ill intentions and wanted to take Osha and Mae from them. Indara was in fact a much better representation of how the Jedi were meant to interact with the larger galaxy. (Of course, that became much more complicated when she killed the Witches of Brendok, but that seemed accidental.)

7

Yord Fandar

The ‘Yord Horde’ Loved Yord For A Reason

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Yord Fandar was immediately popular with Star Wars audiences, so much so that fans quickly began referring to themselves as ‘the Yord Horde.’ This was likely due in large part to actor Charlie Barnett’s charm in The Acolyte, although Yord was also a great character in his own right. Although he often seemed a bit goofy compared to Jedi Padawan Jecki Lon’s seriousness, Yord was clearly optimistic and really believed in the way of the Jedi.

Fans quickly began referring to themselves as ‘the Yord Horde.’

Yord also proved that he was a truly brave Jedi in The Acolyte episode 5. Even after watching Qimir/the Stranger cut down multiple Jedi, and having no frame of reference for fighting a powerful dark side Force-user, much less a Sith, he fought against Qimir bravely. Sadly, it cost him his life, but Yord is certainly deserving of the love he received from Star Wars viewers.

6

Jecki Lon

Jecki Was An Incredible Character Who Didn’t Get Enough Time

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Jecki Lon was easily one of the best characters in The Acolyte. Despite still being a Padawan, Jecki was one of the most impressive duelists in the show, and it was Jecki who finally unmasked Qimir. In the same episode in which Yord died, Jecki went toe-to-toe with Qimir and was impressively holding her own. It was only because of Qimir’s lightsaber design, which concealed a dagger blade inside the standard blade, that he was able to stab Jecki through, killing her.

Jecki Lon was easily one of the best characters in The Acolyte.

It was also clear that Jecki upheld the mentality of the Jedi. Rather than fearing death—something that even some of Star Wars’ most powerful Jedi have struggled with at times—Jecki commented on how beautiful it was for someone to become one with the Force. It was truly sad that she died as a Padawan and didn’t get to become the no doubt incredibly powerful Jedi she was on her way to being.

5

Fern

Fern’s Bravery And Attitude Have Made Her A Hit In Skeleton Crew

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Fern has surprisingly proven to be the leader of the four kids in Skeleton Crew, rather than Wim as many expected, and that began in the very first episode of the show. When Wim finds what he believes is a hidden Jedi Temple, he, Neel, KB, and Fern go to check it out. Fern tricks Neel and Wim into clearing the weeds off the mysterious door, establishing herself as quite witty.

This characterization continued when the kids encounter SM-33, a pirate droid on the ship they find. Fern convinces the droid that she is the new captain, leading to SM-33 following her orders. Many viewers have pointed out that Fern is seemingly a Leia replacement, in terms of her take-charge attitude, sassiness, and intelligence. As Skeleton Crew releases its final episodes, it will be interesting to see what becomes of Fern, especially with Jod Na Nawood now having such a major role in their fates.

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Osha

Osha’s Transformation Was Thrilling To Watch

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Osha was the protagonist of The Acolyte, and her story was one of the most compelling in the show. As the opposite of Mae, Osha was seen as the ‘good’ twin, although that really only (at first) meant she wanted to become a Jedi, whereas Mae wanted to stay with the Witches of Brendok. She became so much more complicated from there, though.

Ultimately, Osha was unable to forgive Mae for the things she was accused of doing, most importantly killing their family. This anger and inability to let go led to Osha being kicked out of the Jedi Order. Even after this dismissal, Osha clearly longed to join the Jedi again and never really recovered from her removal from the Order. These complex feelings, along with learning the truth about all that had happened on Brendok, led to Osha tapping completely into her anger and hate, turning her to the dark side.

Not only did this mean that in The Acolyte finale, Osha was thrillingly standing at Qimir’s side, ready to train with him, but also, Osha’s turn to the dark side brought about the very first time a Kyber crystal was bled on screen in Star Wars. This was a genuinely stunning moment, as the lightsaber turned from blue to red in Osha’s hand, signaling her transformation. It’s genuinely devastating that Osha’s story will likely never return to the Star Wars screen, as it would have been fascinating to see what came next for her.

3

Jod Na Nawood

Star Wars New “Jedi” Undoubtedly Has More Mysteries Up His Sleeve

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Jod Na Nawood is easily one of Star Wars’ most thrilling characters introduced in 2024. Jude Law has long been cagey about the true nature of his character, referencing the fact that he has many names and refusing to confirm more about him. Star Wars had previously dropped several hints that Nawood was a Jedi, but many episodes into Skeleton Crew, it seems obvious that Jod Na Nawood is not a Jedi after all.

Jod Na Nawood and SM-33 in Skeleton Crew

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What/who he truly is likely hasn’t been revealed yet, and it may not be until the very end. Yes, he also goes by Crimson Jack, but he still carries an air of mystery about him that likely means there are more secrets to come. In addition to the mystery of his character, Jod Na Nawood has also become the latest addition to Star Wars’ long list of father figures, making him all the more popular with Star Wars audiences.

He still carries an air of mystery about him that likely means there are more secrets to come.

2

Qimir

Qimir Was The Clear Star Of The Acolyte

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The single best new Star Wars character in The Acolyte was Qimir/the Stranger. Although The Acolyte faced significant backlash and criticism, Qimir was almost universally celebrated. Not only was he a brand-new Sith in the franchise, but he also proved to be the latest Star Wars heartthrob, joining the ranks of Din Djarin, Kylo Ren, and Anakin Skywalker, among others. As with Osha’s story, Qimir’s Star Wars story being cut short was a major disappointment, as he had so much potential.

Qimir’s Star Wars story being cut short was a major disappointment, as he had so much potential.

Hopefully, more news on this matter is coming. Star Wars Celebration 2025 is just around the corner in April, and, interestingly, Qimir actor Manny Jacinto is on the celebrity guest list. This could simply be an appearance from one of Star Wars’ most beloved new actors, or, in a dream scenario, it could mean that a major announcement is coming, such as a Qimir spin-off show. While that is entirely speculative, hopefully, Qimir/the Stranger will return soon.

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Neel

Neel Is The Newest Adorable Star Wars Character

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The very best new Star Wars character of 2024 has to go to Neel from Skeleton Crew. Neel has joined the ranks of Grogu and the Porgs on the list of most adorable Star Wars characters. Not only is Neel incredibly cute, but he has also proven himself to be one of the most compassionate and brave Star Wars characters in recent memory. In Skeleton Crew episode 4, for example, Neel put himself in harm’s way with SM-33 to protect his friends. He truly stands head and shoulders above the rest of Star Wars’ 2024 additions.

Young Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi in the foreground, with Grogu to the left and Neel to the right in the background

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There were a number of thrilling additions to Star Wars this year, both in terms of new and returning shows and with brand-new characters. With Star Wars Celebration returning in 2025, there are sure to be even more new characters, shows, and movies on their way in the franchise. For 2024, however, these characters represent the very best new additions in Star Wars.

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