Did Star Wars Just Unveil The First Member Of Rey’s New Jedi Order?

The Star Wars franchise is heading into exciting new territory with the upcoming reveal of Rey’s first student for her new Jedi Order. Rey’s project, tentatively titled the “New Jedi Order, ”is among several theatrical releases anticipated to grace the screens in the next few years. Despite facing some production hurdles, primarily concerning its script and a changing lineup of screenwriters, Rey Skywalker’s much-awaited return to the cinematic universe remains on the horizon.

There has been considerable speculation regarding Rey’s upcoming film since its announcement, particularly regarding potential students for the newly minted Jedi Master. This forthcoming storyline is set in a timeline well beyond the period of the New Republic, which will be explored in another upcoming film. The narrative post-Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is expected to be rich and deep, featuring elements from both The Mandalorian and the popular character Grogu. Recent developments suggest we might be getting more insight into Rey’s potential students through a newly announced story.

A New Jedi Emerges in the Sequel Era

Introducing a Promising New Jedi

Rey Skywalker and New Jedi Order Member Nioka Custom Star Wars Image — Custom Image by Kevin Erdmann

A fascinating part of this new story involves an upcoming manga titled Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber, which Lucasfilm unveiled in 2025. This narrative seamlessly intertwines the sequel trilogy with the High Republic era. It follows a young girl named Nioka, who aspires to become a Jedi like the legendary Luke Skywalker. During her adventure scavenging an abandoned ship from the High Republic, Nioka discovers a remarkable treasure: a lightsaber.

The narrative focuses on Nioka’s quest to master the lightsaber’s power and achieve her dream. Notably, her story unfolds during the reign of the First Order, establishing her as the first new Jedi of the sequel era following Rey Skywalker. While the only other Jedi from this time frame have transitioned into the Force, it remains unclear the precise timeline in which Nioka’s tale is set. However, one thing is for certain: a new Jedi is emerging during the sequel trilogy’s timeline.

Nioka’s Journey: In Search of a Mentor

Nioka Cannot Embark on This Journey Alone

Intriguingly, one key point in the Path of the Lightsaber plot summary emphasizes that while anyone can wield a lightsaber, only a Jedi can truly harness its power. This potential conflict between Nioka and the lightsaber’s Kyber crystal hints that she might just possess the Force abilities necessary to become a Jedi. However, she cannot unlock her full potential alone.

According to the manga’s plot summary, Nioka recognizes that, “if she’s going to stand a chance, she’ll need someone to teach her the ways of the Jedi.”While her dream mentor is noted to be Luke Skywalker, he has been withdrawn on Ahch-To and ultimately became one with the Force. Consequently, Rey Skywalker emerges as the only viable candidate to train Nioka during this time in the Star Wars saga.

Is Nioka the First Trainee of Rey’s New Jedi Order?

Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker — Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic

Putting the pieces together, Nioka might very well be the inaugural student of Rey’s new Jedi Order. Given the limited presence of Jedi during Nioka’s storyline, she may find herself contending against various dark forces alone. This character introduction, paired with an engaging storyline that connects back to the sequel trilogy, opens doors for Nioka’s potential live-action appearance in future Star Wars projects.

Set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, Rey’s “New Jedi Order”film may well have seen the establishment of her Jedi Temple years earlier—perhaps five or even ten years back. This timeline could neatly align Nioka’s story with Rey’s journey, confirming Nioka as Rey’s first student. The Star Wars franchise is known for intricately weaving its narratives together, and this development is poised to continue that tradition while brilliantly introducing a compelling new Jedi into the mix.

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