Yes, That Was Wullf Yularen In 'Star Wars: Andor'

Star Wars

Oct 20

Wullf Yularen in Andor — Image Source: YouTube

I don’t think any Star Wars series has explored the Galactic Empire as thoroughly as Andor. Since the series premiere, the prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has explored aspects of the Empire rarely seen in onscreen Star Wars media. From the lifestyles of the rich and powerful on Coruscant to the lowly sectors of corporate business running security, we have seen various aspects of the Empire as well as the unique officers and bureaucrats who maintain the pace of the Imperial war machine. But the section of the Empire that has been the most prominently represented has been the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB).

Since its introduction, the ISB has been responsible for some of the deadliest and most merciless acts of oppression carried out by the Empire. At this point, we have been introduced to a handful of agents in the ISB, including Dedra Meero, Blevin, Heert, and Partagaz. Each of these characters has their own personality, motivations, and interpersonal goals. Although in the latest episode of the series, “Announcement,” we were reintroduced to a prominent member of the ISB whose role in the Empire goes back to the Clone Wars. This agent is none other than Colonel Wullf Yularen.

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First seen in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie and animated series back in 2008, Yularen was originally a fleet admiral who frequently fought alongside Jedi General Anakin Skywalker against the Separatist Alliance. Voiced by now-retired voice-acting veteran Tom Kane, Yularen served as a strong presence to represent the more militaristic side of the Galactic Republic. As the animated series went on, Yularen became noticeably more brutal and ruthless in his tactics, even suggesting the destruction of a civilian shuttle passing through military airspace in the series’ seventh and final season.

Yularen working with Anakin Skywalker in The Clone Wars animated series — Image Source: StarWars.com

With the Republic’s reorganization into the Empire, Yularen adopted a fully fascist worldview and was even promoted to a colonel in the ISB. As a colonel, Yularen quickly gained a reputation for his unrelenting pursuit and punishment of Rebels, spies, and dissidents within the ISB and Empire as a whole. The colonel would even work alongside Grand Admiral Thrawn in his search for Imperial enemies, including Nightswan and former ISB agent Alexsandr Kallus.

Yularen working with Grand Admiral Thrawn in Rebels — Image Source: StarWars.com

However, the character actually first debuted in A New Hope as one of the Imperials present for the famous meeting scene with Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin on the Death Star. Now, forty-five years later, the seventh episode of Andor has brought Yularen into live-action once more. Played by Malcolm Sinclair, Yularen is seen rallying the rest of the ISB in response to the heist on Aldhani. With an appearance eerily similar to that of his original movie actor Robert Clarke and a voice quite similar to that of his animated incarnation, this Yularen seems like the ultimate merging of each take on the character.

As Andor continues to bring new characters, elements, and themes to the Star Wars universe, I am glad to see that they were willing to bring back a more obscure character for even a minor role. Not to mention, said character has one of the best mustaches in the entire franchise.