Star Wars Rebels set up a lot of the background for the rebel alliance seen in the original Star Wars trilogy. This meant that many characters made cameos, were referenced or had their origin stories shown on screen. Overall, Rebels made gave greater context to how the rebel alliance formed and some of the major players in it that weren’t in the original trilogy.
Rebels season 1 takes place 5 years before the first Star Wars movie (later retitled A New Hope), and the animated TV show ended about a year before Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star. Over the course of those four seasons, Rebels showed all the groundwork that had been set for the rebel alliance to be successful. This means failures or setbacks were also a large part of the show. Different rebel bases that hadn’t been previously seen were highlighted, as well as further refining how the alliance got so many members. Seeing the origins of some of the most beloved characters from the original trilogy in a new light further humanizes them and allows audiences to become further invested in them.
C-3PO and R2-D2
Though the famous duo of droids were only featured in one episode of Star Wars Rebels, their appearance set a precedent for the show. C-3PO and R2-D2 were featured in the third-ever episode of Rebels, season 1’s “Droids in Distress.” This episode saw the Specters try to steal canons from the Empire only to run into C-3PO and R2-D2 who were trying to make sure the Empire didn’t get their hands on them either. The end of the episode showed Jedi Kanan Jarrus meeting Senator Bail Organa, but not knowing who the other was.
The end of the episode showed Senator Organa asking R2 for all the information he had on the rebels the droids had encountered. This ending set up the entire trajectory for the members of the Ghost crew. It takes from being people who steal from the Empire for themselves to rebels who were integral in ending the Empire.
Princess Leia Organa
Star Wars Rebels season 2, episode 12 features Princess Leia, in an episode appropriately titled, “A Princess on Lothal.” While Leia was portrayed as a little less sure of herself than what audiences were used to in the original trilogy or the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ TV show, it saw Leia becoming comfortable lying to further the rebel cause. Unfortunately, Carrier Fisher did not return to voice the younger version of her iconic character; Leia was instead voiced by Julie Dolan.
It was exciting to see Leia out of her element and working closely with her father Bail, even though he did not appear in the episode. While their relationship has been important throughout Star Wars, the two are rarely ever seen on screen together, so having Leia do rebel work for her parents felt special. Though Princess Leia only appeared once on Rebels it was great to further connect the Specters’ story to the larger galaxy.
Darth Vader (and Anakin Skywalker)
Darth Vader was an interesting addition to Star Wars Rebels because of his connection to Fulcrum, Ahsoka Tano. Vader appeared in five episodes of the show but was often mentioned by the fearful Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger. Most notably Darth Vader faced off against his former apprentice in the Rebels season 2 finale, “Twilight of the Apprentice Part 2.” In their duel, Ahsoka slices Vader’s mask in half, which leaves him struggling to breathe through his respirator. This imagery was recreated in Obi-Wan and Vader’s duel in the Obi-Wan Kenobi final duel.
While Vader made plenty of appearances, his former self, Anakin Skywalker also appeared in Holocron form. In a recording Anakin made for Ahsoka, he instructs her in some lightsaber techniques he thinks she’d like. Ahsoka and Ezra discuss her former master and how good of a Jedi he was. It also marked Matt Lanter’s return as the voice of Anakin, Lanter’s voice would also be mixed into Vader’s when Ahsoka fought him in the Rebels season 2 finale.
Emperor Palpatine
While Emperor Palpatine doesn’t show his face often in Star Wars Rebels he is always a looming threat, just as in the original trilogy. Most notably Palpatine was featured in the series finale of Rebels, season 4, episode 15, “Family Reunion—and Farewell.” In the episode, Palpatine tries to trick Ezra to come to the dark side and work with him. Palpatine's true goal was to gain control of the power of the World Between the Worlds, but Ezra saw through him.
Lando Calrissian
One of the more interesting guest spots in Star Wars Rebels was the appearance of Lando Calrissian, who was voiced by the original actor Billy Dee Williams. Lando was featured in Rebels season 1, episode 11 “Idiot’s Array” in which Zeb accidentally loses Chopper to Lando in a game of Sabacc and to get him back, the Ghost Crew has to help Lando with a job. By the end of the episode, Lando owes the Specters and repays them when he made a cameo in the season 2 episode “The Siege of Lothal Part 2.”
Master Yoda
Master Yoda acted as a long-distance guide to Ezra Bridger, even though Yoda was yet to become a Force ghost. Yoda appeared multiple times, and always as a guide for Ezra and Kanan when they were losing their way. Yoda also made a guest appearance in Star Wars Rebels season 4 in communication with Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Kanan Jarrus.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Master Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared in two episodes of Rebels, in season 1, episode 2 “Spark of the Rebellion Part 2” and season 3 episode 20, “Twin Suns.” The former episode was the warning that Kenobi sent out to the Jedi warning them to not go back to the Jedi Temple. “Twin Suns” is the episode in which both Ezra and Darth Maul find Kenobi after having similar visions. This is also Maul’s final episode as he and Obi-Wan have a duel in which Kenobi kills Maul.
Grand Moff Tarkin
Grand Moff Tarkin had a few appearances in Star Wars Rebels, mostly in season 1 as he was trying to deal with the annoying rebel cell. Tarkin appeared mainly as an overseer to other Imperial officials like Kallus before he became a part of the Rebels. Tarkin also appeared in season 4 where he name-dropped Krennic, the Imperial officer in charge of the Death Star.
Wedge Antilles
Ace pilot Wedge Antilles got his origin episode in Star Wars Rebels season 3, episode 4, “The Antilles Extraction” but made more appearances as part of the rebel alliance from then on. In the episode, Sabine is sent into an Imperial TIE fighter school to rescue some deserters, and Wedge is one of them. It lets audiences know where Wedge became such a good pilot and how he became a leader of a squadron during the original trilogy.
Mon Mothma
Rebel leader Mon Mothma appeared in one episode of Star Wars Rebels, season 3's “Secret Cargo.” The episode shows the aftermath of Mothma denouncing the rule and overreach of the Empire. She promptly was ousted from the Senate and was wanted by the Empire. The Ghost Crew and Phoenix squadron stepped in to help Mothma outrun the Empire and get to safety.
Luke Skywalker
Luke was more of a blip on the radar than anything else. At the end of Star Wars Rebels season 3's “Twin Suns” Obi-Wan looks over the Lars’ moisture farm and a figure can be seen running around. While Luke’s face is never shown, it’s implied the figure is the future Jedi.
Captain Rex
Many viewers believe Rex was at the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi, and Star Wars Rebels' series epilogue strongly hinted that was the case. Rex was a major character in the animated TV show, even joining the team for a while. Hopefully more of his rebellion years will eventually be told.
Other Characters
General Dodonna—appeared in the later seasons of Star Wars Rebels and was part of the reason why rebel forces were able to escape Chopper Base before it was destroyed by the Empire. The General also appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Derek “Hobbie” Klivian—was most notably one of the other deserters Sabine rescued alongside Wedge Antilles. Hobbie was Luke Skywalker’s wingman during the battle of Hoth and died at the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back.
Jon “Dutch” Vander—was part of the rebel forces that helped Senator Mon Mothma escape the Empire after her expulsion from the Senate.
So many minor and major characters from the original Star Wars trilogy made appearances in Star Wars Rebels. While not all of them were integral in furthering the Ghost Crew’s story, they played a role in helping defeat the Empire. It’s awesome to see Star Wars include old characters and give them new life in a different one of their newer projects.