New references to Star Wars: The Force Unleashed have reignited fans' dreams of a threequel

It's been over a decade since Star Wars: The Force Unleashed effectively disappeared along with the old expanded Star Wars canon. But it seems Star Wars itself can't quite let go of Starkiller's legacy. New Easter eggs in the Andor series and especially in the Star Wars animated project. Darth Maul: Lord of Shadows" once again united fans in the hope that the cult series will one day receive a full return.

Mola is especially actively discussed. Viewers immediately noticed several direct visual and atmospheric references to The Force Unleashed. One of the most talked about scenes was the moment where Maul literally destroys an AT-ST with the same spectacular brutality that was once Starkiller's calling card. But the main trigger for fans was the final episode of the season: Maul uses a reverse grip and fights with two halves of a lightsaber in a stance that almost completely replicates the style of Galen Marek.

An additional emotional effect is created by the participation of Sam Witwer, the actor who gave the voice to Starkiller. For many fans, this no longer looks like random nostalgia, but like careful testing of the waters on the part of Lucasfilm. And although officially The Force Unleashed remains part of the “legends” and not the canon, interest in it clearly has not disappeared.

What is especially curious is that modern Star Wars projects are increasingly returning to the darker and more personal atmosphere for which The Force Unleashed was once loved. The Star Wars Jedi: Survivor games came close to this feeling, but Starkiller still remains for fans a symbol of the era when Star Wars allowed itself to be a little more crazy, violent and experimental.

Of course, the likelihood of a full-fledged Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 3 still looks extremely small. But the current wave of references shows the main thing: Lucasfilm is well aware of how strong the audience's love for this series remains. And if the studio ever decides to bring back Starkiller, fans have been ready for a long time.