As we come closer to the premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, more theories about who will and won't appear in the conclusion to The Skywalker Saga are popping up. Fans have come up with theories regarding how Emperor Palpatine will be used, what C-3PO's eyes are all about and what the deal is with that Dark Rey footage, as well as have guessed any surprise cameos that could occur.
One of the more recent theories is that a beloved Jedi Master who many have assumed was dead isn't, and he actually might appear in the upcoming film. A Redditor's theory that Windu is alive is gaining steam, as they've made a pretty damn convincing argument that he survived his encounter with Palpatine.
That doesn't necessarily mean Windu will appear in The Rise of Skywalker, however, so let's run down the theory, examine why Star Wars would bring back Windu and the probability of it actually happening. What are the odds we'll see the purple lightsaber-wielding Jedi Master again? Let's find out.
The Mace Windu Lives Theory
For those who don't remember, Mace Windu was last seen in Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith when he attempted to kill Senator Palpatine after learning he was actually Darth Sidious. Anakin, not wishing to see Palpatine die, severed Windu's saber hand and Palpatine sent the Jedi Master sailing out a window with a massive blast of Force lighting. That, many fans would believe, is where Mace Windu died.
Then you have u/shahkabra, who believes that Mace Windu survived the encounter for some very good reasons. Though Windu had a limb severed, was hit with Force lighting and was sent out the window of a high rise down to the streets below, the Redditor has a point that can't be ignored. Every single one of those things has happened to other Jedi throughout Star Wars, and none of them have died from any of those things.
There are plenty of examples to support this, but let's just look at the best example: Darth Maul. Maul was literally sliced in half and fell several stories down a hole. Death doesn't look more sure than that, and yet the dude bounced back and was around for runs in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels and a cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story! Is it so crazy to believe Windu wouldn't persevere in this universe?
Would Mace Windu Be Alive During Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker?
In the hypothetical situation that Mace Windu survived his fight against Darth Sidious, would it even be possible for him to be alive during Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? Windu was middle-aged around the Clone Wars, so he'd be close to around 100 by the time Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker happens.
According to Legends canon (which is not official canon anymore) the average lifespan of a human in Star Wars is around 100-120 years of age. Those that are one with the Force can live much longer, however, and even reaches ages of up to 200. Again, official canon may have changed on human lifespans, but Legends states that even if Mace Windu wasn't a Jedi Master, there's a chance he would still be alive during Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
If Mace Windu survived this long in the Star Wars universe, however, it would honestly be surprising. A lot of things have happened in this universe, and at any point Windu could've resurfaced and lent a hand (literally just one) to a struggling Rebel Alliance or the current Resistance. Windu doesn't seem like the type to go into hiding, so why haven't we heard anything about his whereabouts?
Windu was one of the best Jedi duelists and lost his dominant hand in that fight. There's a chance he recovered, but his lightsaber abilities diminished greatly even if he got a replacement arm. Pride sent him into hiding, and Windu has keeping a low profile from the universe ever since after suffering what he believed was a shameful defeat and betrayal of the Jedi Council. Now, with news of the Emperor's return, now might be his time to return and atone for years of indifference. Again though, he may not be around because he's dead.
Will And Should Mace Windu Appear In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker?
Will Mace Windu appear in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? We can only speculate of course, and provide some evidence in support or against the idea. The most obvious evidence that supports it is that Disney already has Samuel L. Jackson in pocket as a frequent performer in the MCU. With Jackson always appearing as Nick Fury, it wouldn't be hard for Disney to slide a Star Wars script by him without the general public being aware.
Then, let's remember that both Samuel L. Jackson and George Lucas maintain that Mace Windu survived the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. While the decision-making of the franchise is out of both men's hands, it is worth noting that Lucas was consulted about the script for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ahead of it being written. It's possible Abrams spotted an opportunity to bring back Jackson as Windu, and asked Lucas if he would give his blessing to pull the trigger on that.
Should Mace Windu appear, though? Remember, this era of Star Wars has given the franchise some of its more shocking moments on film. Seeing Mace Windu alive and well would certainly qualify on that front, though justifying his presence is a hurdle The Rise of Skywalker would be a creative challenge. The film already has to wrap up the stories of several recent and bigger characters in the story as is; adding a living Windu seems like putting a Jenga tower on top of a very tall order.
Do Star Wars fans want to see Mace Windu again? Absolutely, but personally, I believe if there were to be a cameo, he'd appear as a Force Ghost. Samuel L. Jackson is 70 years old, and there comes a point where one has to ask what re-opening this can of worms would accomplish. This is supposed to be a conclusion to the Skywalker Saga, and re-introducing Windu with no immediate plans for Episode X doesn't make sense given the actor's age.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker could bring in a living Mace Windu, but would probably end up killing him all over again hopefully in some redemptive act. It seems far more likely to have Windu appear as a Force Ghost, although one has to wonder what knowledge he could grant Rey that Luke, Yoda, Obi-Wan, or even Anakin couldn't give already. So while it's possible Jackson could return, the whole "why" behind it has me thinking it probably won't happen.
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