‘Phasma’ Novel Debuts Red Stormtrooper

Captain Phasma, whose chrome-plated and cape-wearing stormtrooper appearance caught the eye of fans leading up to the release of The Force Awakens, isn’t the only unique-looking stormtrooper to come out of the newest era of Star Wars.

Phasma, a novel detailing the history of its titular rogue, contains the first appearance of a crimson-armored stormtrooper aptly named “Cardinal,” a character sure to become a new fan-favorite.

Cardinal (also known as Archex or CD-0922) not only looks similar to Phasma — he wears First Order stormtrooper gear, but his armor is red and he sports a black cloak — the new ‘trooper has ties to Phasma, and from the novel’s official description, it sounds personal.

“Deep inside the Battlecruiser Absolution, a captured Resistance spy endures brutal interrogation at the hands of a crimson-armored stormtrooper — Cardinal,” the synopsis reads. “But the information he desires has nothing to do with the Resistance or its covert operations against the First Order.”

The synopsis continues: “What the mysterious stormtrooper wants is Phasma’s past — and with it whatever long-buried scandal, treachery, or private demons he can wield against the hated rival who threatens his own power and privilege in the ranks of the First Order.”

Gwendoline Christie will reprise her role as Phasma in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, with the actress having revealed she had “long conversations” about Phasma with writer and director Rian Johnson. “I was utterly delighted in how willing he was to listen to my ideas and really thrilled to exchange them with him and hear his,” Christie said. “He really is a master writer and director, and I think we’ve seen that in the films that he’s made but I think that we truly will see that in the depths to which he goes in The Last Jedi.”

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Phasma is written by author Delilah S. Dawson and is part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi series, released as part of Force Friday on September 1. The book is currently available to order on Amazon for 39-48% off. Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens December 15.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and Kelly Marie Tran.