This month, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic release of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, marking the end of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. Released on May 19, 2005, it was the last Star Wars film overseen by George Lucas before he handed over the reins to Disney seven years later.
Going into Revenge of the Sith, fans were keenly aware that this was the pivotal moment where Anakin Skywalker would embrace the Dark Side and transform into Darth Vader. A major mystery was the fate of the other Jedi. The film introduced Order 66, a sinister scheme orchestrated by Palpatine, where Clone Troopers, who had previously fought alongside the Jedi during the Clone Wars, were commanded to turn against and execute them. Given the thousands of Jedi in service, it was plausible that some would evade Palpatine’s deadly command, especially those we knew had to survive for the Original Trilogy.
Among the dozens of Jedi survivors introduced in canon Star Wars narratives, we've compiled a list of the top 10 who've left a significant mark. Some of these survivors lived only a short while longer, while others continued their journey well into the future, with the fate of a few remaining undisclosed. What unites them is their ability to endure beyond Palpatine's chilling command, "Execute Order 66."
For this list, we've set specific criteria: the characters must have been under the Jedi Order's jurisdiction before Order 66, regardless of their rank—be it Padawan, Jedi Knight, Jedi Master, or even a Jedi Initiate. This excludes Force-users like Maul and his former Master, Palpatine, as well as individuals like Jod Na Nawood, who, despite receiving some Jedi training, were never officially part of the Jedi Order or set foot in the Jedi Temple.
We debated the inclusion of Asajj Ventress, who was trained by Jedi Ky Narec for over two decades on Rattatak. Although Narec considered her his Padawan, Ventress never visited Coruscant or met with the Jedi Council or other Jedi before Narec's death. Her subsequent shift to the Dark Side under Dooku's tutelage complicates her status as a Jedi, making her an honorable mention.
Ranking the Jedi Who Survived Order 66
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