Star Wars Rebels Actors Confirm Heartbreaking Death Was Planned for “Years”

Kanan Jarrus’s gut-wrenching sacrifice in Star Wars Rebels remains one of the most impactful and emotionally resonant moments in the entire Star Wars canon. For fans, the sudden and heroic death of the beloved Jedi (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.) in Season 4, Episode 10 – “Jedi Night” – was a devastating shock; a twist that ripped at the heartstrings and left a lasting impression that continues to ripple through Star Wars canon today. Now, years after the episode first aired, the cast of the beloved series has shed new light on this pivotal moment, revealing in an exclusive interview with ComicBook that Kanan’s heartbreaking fate wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a carefully considered plan that had been brewing behind the scenes for years. The cast of Pod of Rebellion – the Star Wars Rebels rewatch podcast featuring Vanessa Marshall (Hera Syndulla), Tiya Sircar (Sabine Wren), Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), moderator Jon Lee Brody and producer JC Reifenberg – delved deep into their memories of crafting the episode, their initial reactions to the script, and the enduring impact Kanan’s death had on them as performers, fans, and as storytellers.

Their candid discussion unveils a deeper understanding of the choices leading to Kanan’s death and the emotional weight that came along with the making of this unforgettable Star Wars chapter.

The Seeds of Sacrifice Were Sown Early, Though Not Everyone Was Aware of the Looming Tragedy

Looking back at the entirety of Star Wars Rebels, certain lines and character interactions now carry a heavier emotional weight knowing Kanan Jarrus’ ultimate destiny. Tiya Sircar, reflecting on the experience of re-watching the series for the podcast, expressed how the foreshadowing, once unnoticed, now feels like a march towards the inevitable.

“I have been dreading [watching ‘Jedi Night’] since we started this podcast,” Sircar confessed. “In certain episodes, there’s certain lines or exchanges between Hera and Kanan – things that Kanan says, or things that we say about Kanan in the show that are so much more. They hold so much more weight now because when we recorded the first season, we had no idea what was going to happen down the road. So hearing those things now, my heart breaks. I know what’s coming. It’s all foreshadowing that I was complicitly, woefully unaware of back then, on my first watch. It’s going to be painful to relive it.” 

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Vanessa Marshall echoed this sentiment, anticipating the difficulty of revisiting the aftermath of Kanan’s death, particularly considering the relationship between Hera and Kanan.

“I agree [with Siracar], and also everything after that will be hard to watch,” she stated; a nod to the enduring legacy Kanan’s loss had on the characters and actors. Sircar further emphasized the emotional toll of filming the episode, revealing, “It was really hard to record. That was our last day with Freddie – recording and working with Freddie. And, it was really emotional. We were all really emotional. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that. Our characters were saying goodbye, we were saying goodbye. It was a lot. So, I think [‘Jedi Night’] is going to be a tough one. But also everything that comes after, because then we as characters grapple with the immense loss. And then as actors, we were also grappling with that loss. Obviously not the same loss, but it’s not just the one episode. It’s everything that comes after that, too.” 

When asked about their initial reaction to the script, both Marshall and Sircar confirmed their shock.

“I didn’t see it coming,” Marshall admitted, with Sircar emphatically adding, “I was shocked.” 

Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Foresight and the Inevitability of a Jedi’s Path in the Star Wars Saga

While the on-screen deaths often blindside audiences, the actors revealed that Freddie Prinze Jr., who voiced Kanan, had long foreseen his character’s end. Taylor Gray shared Prinze Jr.’s repeated sentiment, “Freddie was very funny. Freddie would always say, ‘Kill me off the show.’ Not like, ‘Get me out of it.’ But he would always say, ‘The way I have to go is that I have to be killed.’ And I’d always be like, ‘Are you sure?’ But he would always say it.”

Gray also recalled noticing a shift in Dave Filoni’s reactions whenever theories edged closer to the truth, particularly regarding Kanan’s fate.

“I remember at one point, Dave – he had this very cheeky smile when you would get on to something, because we were always throwing out theories of where things are going,” the actor expressed. “And I started to get a sense when we were on to something because he would respond a little differently. And I remember Freddie saying this over and over, and eventually this response came from Dave where I was like, ‘I think Freddie might actually die.’” Sircar shared her own experience with Prinze Jr.’s conviction, “Freddie was adamant that Kanan’s end must be that he has to die. He made no bones about it. And I didn’t think for a second that he was going to get killed off the show.” 

Though tragic, Kanan’s death went on to signify something way larger than a singular sacrifice.

Discussing the impact of Kanan’s sacrifice within the Star Wars universe, Gray said, “Now it makes sense though, right? Star Wars – the theme is the selfless act to ascend oneself and transcend your own needs and desires.”

Continuing on Gray’s heels, JC Reifenberg offered an insightful perspective connecting Kanan’s death to the broader Star Wars timeline and the established lore, “And also just from listening to you guys talk about behind the scenes, it sounds as if, in the recording booth, Freddie was the lore master. And Kanan, the Jedi Knight, cannot exist at the same time that Luke Skywalker is training, which is also why Ezra had to disappear to the unknown regions with Thrawn. Because at that point in the story, Luke needs to be the guy. And Freddie knew because Freddie was the lore master.” 

Reifenberg admitted to anticipating significant character deaths, even considering the possibility of both Kanan and Ezra being killed off, and being particularly interested in how such a dramatic and dark plot point would be handled in a children’s show. Marshall, on the other hand, held onto hope for Kanan’s survival, as Kanan’s Jedi training was never completed.

“I did not see that happening. And because [Kanan’s] not quite a Jedi – he did not finish his training –  I didn’t know that that would apply. So I thought maybe he would live because his Jedi Master was slain and he didn’t finish. So technically, he is not necessarily a Jedi. Why does he have to die?” Marshall pointed out. “I thought there was a workaround. I didn’t know I was going to birth his child.” 

The revelations from the Pod of Rebellion interview gave a fascinating glimpse into the long-term planning and the emotional investment behind one of Star Wars Rebels’ most pivotal and heartbreaking moments, confirming that Kanan Jarrus’ heroic sacrifice was a carefully crafted point of inevitability years in the making.

Pod of Rebellion is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.