Hera Syndulla Is The Perfect Candidate For 'Rangers Of The New Republic'
A new exciting Star Wars rumor has surfaced recently: Hera Syndulla of Star Wars Rebels could be leading the Rangers of the New Republic Disney+ show. If this ends up being the case, she would be the absolute perfect fit.
With the incredible success of The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm/Disney decided last December to announce multiple Star Wars shows coming to Disney+ for the coming years. Most of them are going to be live-action. Some of these shows include The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Rangers of the New Republic, all of which are set after the destruction of the Galactic Empire.
Rangers of the New Republic was rumored to be headed by The Mandalorian’s Cara Dune, played by Gina Carano. However, a few weeks ago, Lucasfilm confirmed that Gina Carano did not have her contract renewed following a series of offensive social media posts. Therefore, it does not look like Cara Dune will be able to head up Rangers of the New Republic if they are not planning on recasting the character.
Because of this development, new rumors have started around about how the show could be headed up and led by a different character whom fans of Star Wars Rebels know and love: Rebellion turned New Republic pilot Hera Syndulla.
Hera is an extremely complex character, and her history in the Star Wars universe sees her at the forefront of the Rebellion’s efforts against the Empire. In Star Wars Rebels, she expertly pilots the Ghost alongside Order 66 survivor Jedi Kanan Jarrus, Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren, Lasat survivor Garazeb Orrelios, astromech droid Chopper, and, eventually, young Lothal street thief Ezra Bridger. Hera and her crew join one of the various rebel cells throughout the galaxy known as Phoenix Cell, and she becomes Phoenix Leader. They end up on many adventures fighting against the Empire, particularly on Lothal, and run in to many other Star Wars characters like Ahsoka Tano and Grand Admiral Thrawn. It is canon that Hera Syndulla, who became a captain and then a general, was on Yavin IV during Rogue One and fought in the Battle of Endor during Return of the Jedi.
Ahsoka Tano already has her own Disney+ show in the works, and it is rumored that Grand Admiral Thrawn will be a part of that show since she mentions in The Mandalorian that she is looking for him. Since Star Wars Rebels ends with the major question of where Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger are, it stands to reason that if Grand Admiral Thrawn is brought into the picture, then Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and the rest of the Phoenix Cell would be involved somehow. Plus, Hera does play a large role in the Rebellion in canon lore, so it would make sense for her to be a major part of Rangers of the New Republic.
Star Wars fans got their first look at the New Republic forces in The Mandalorian. On several of occasions, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his group have had run-ins with New Republic pilots serving as the galaxy’s lawmen. The New Republic overlook the arrest warrant on Din. They also recruit Cara Dune because they desperately need the extra help and they want the local support of the galaxy’s remote systems. It is clear that they are having a hard time adjusting to their new role in charge and keeping the galaxy safe from the remnants of the Empire.
To explore this complicated storyline, it just makes sense to have Hera Syndulla be a major part of it since she has already been a part of the Rebellion for years. She was already the Rebellion’s point of contact to the wider Rebellion when she was captain of the Ghost and her team. Hera was the one who made contact with Bail Organa and Ahsoka Tano and started the Ghost crew's joining Phoenix Squadron. They would be one of the first cells to join up in the formal Rebel Alliance.
Through the Star Wars novels and video games, we see Hera's post-Rebellion role as general in the New Republic. Rangers of the New Republic could explore this further with Hera’s role in what happened after the events of Return of the Jedi. She could lead a team of New Republic “Rangers,” who could look in depth at the transition from fighting in a rebellion to rebuilding a safe galaxy.
Hera’s role in the New Republic could also link in with the Ahsoka series, as mentioned above, since they already have a history, and it would be the perfect connection between the two series. Especially if the Ahsoka series has Sabine Wren involved in it, which has been rumored for a while now. Hera’s history with Grand Admiral Thrawn would give her another link to the Ahsoka series (if Ahsoka goes in that direction).
There is a very good chance that regardless of how the character of Hera Syndulla is introduced to us, she will be in one of the live-action Disney+ series scheduled for the next few years. She is a big part of the Star Wars canon as a pivotal player within the Rebellion that it just wouldn’t make sense to not include her. Star Wars Rebels established Hera Syndulla as a central figure in the Rebel Alliance, the embodiment of spirit and ideals of the Rebellion. For many fans, she is the face of the Rebellion, and a complex and strong character that could, perhaps, in the future, warrant a series of her own. Hopefully we will see more of her in the years to come!
Source(s): CBR, Wookieepedia