Admiral Gial Ackbar's son, Col. Aftab Ackbar, appears among the Resistance fighters as they face off with the First Order and Emperor Palpatine's fleet in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Admiral Ackbar led the Rebel forces against the Galactic Empire and second Death Star in The Return of the Jedi, famously, shouting, "It's a trap!" In The Last Jedi, he later tragically died when the First Order destroyed his ship. Many fans of the Mon Calamari admiral, as well as one of the actors who played him, were devastated by his sudden death.
Aftab Ackbar is an unnamed Mon Calamari Resistance fighter throughout The Rise of Skywalker, but his name appears in the credits, confirming his heritage as the son of the famous Admiral. When Poe Dameron announces the Emperor's return, Aftab shouts out, "It cannot be! The Emperor is dead!" Given Admiral Ackbar's role in the destruction of the second Death Star, it's no surprise that Aftab would be especially shocked and dismayed at Palpatine's return. Later, in the battle over Exogal, Col. Aftab Ackbar piloted a Resistance Y-wing against the Final Order fleet, helping to blow up the Emperor's star destroyers and save the galaxy.
Fans had speculated whether or not Aftab Ackbar would appear in The Rise of Skywalker after his character was introduced in the Allegiance comics earlier this year. In the comic, Leia visits Mon Cala, both to pay respects to Admiral Ackbar's life and to strengthen the Resistance fleet. Aftab Ackbar greets Leia with open arms and agrees to help the Resistance. He reveals to Leia that, while he didn't know his father well, he has studied his strategy and intends to follow in his footsteps. Like many of the characters featured in the sequel trilogy, Aftab Ackbar is forced to navigate his parent's legacy and his own limits while facing new obstacles.
Aftab Ackbar is voiced by Chris Terrio, an Oscar-winning screenwriter who co-wrote The Rise of Skywalker with J. J. Abrams. While Terrio won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Argo in 2013, he is perhaps best known for writing the scripts for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Terrio is one of many celebrity cameos that appear within The Rise of Skywalker.
Terrio is himself an Admiral Ackbar fan, and decided with Abrams to feature Aftab Ackbar in The Rise of Skywalker after Admiral Ackbar's death. The inclusion of Admiral Ackbar's son among the Resistance fighters is a subtle nod to the legacy of the Mon Calamari leader.