Star Wars Quietly Releases Redesigns For Their High Republic Characters

John F. Trent |

Oct 7, 2020

The Star Wars and Lucasfilm team have quietly released redesigns for their High Republic characters.

Back in April, Star Wars originally released designs for their upcoming High Republic characters that included Avar Kriss, Loden Greatstorm, Keeve Trennis, Stellan Gios, and Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh.

Here’s Avar Kriss.

Next is the Twi’lek Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm.

They followed him up with young Jedi Keeve Trennis.

Then they showed off Jedi Master Stellan Gios.

Finally, they showed off the Mirialan Jed Knight Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh.

The designs would be panned by most Star Wars fans. Artist Steven Wayne even offered up a redesign of Avar Kirss writing, “I just had to fix Avar from StarWars The High Republic (the bestest Jedi Avar!) because her original design is boring, uninspired, and way too masculine.”

He added, “I mean, if your lead character is basically an overpowered and flawless goddess, at least make her look like one, right?”

You can see a better look at his redesign below.

Star Wars would quietly begin releasing new designs for these High Republic characters in July.

In a blog post revealing the Trandoshan Jedi Master Sskeer, they would also sneak in a new design for Avar Kriss.

You can see the portly “Trandoshan” below.

And here is the new design for Avar Kriss.

They would also upload new designs for Keeve Trennis and Stellan Gios by artist Jeff R. Thomas. These new designs also indicated that the Jedi have two separate outfits, mission attire and temple attire.

The above image of Avar Kriss showcased in July was her mission attire. Here’s her temple attire below.

Here’s the redesign of Stellan Gios.

Here’s his mission garb.

And lastly, here’s the redesign for Keeve Trennis.

Here’s her mission garb.

The High Republic is Lucasfilm’s latest publishing initiative, which will tell stories set in the world of Star Wars 300 years before the events of The Phantom Menace.

Lucasfilm describes the The High Republic stating, “The galaxy is at peace, ruled by the glorious Republic and protected by noble and wise Jedi Knights.”

“As a symbol of all that is good, the Republic is about to launch Starlight Beacon into the far reaches of the Out Rim. This new space station will serve as a ray of hope for all to see,” they add.

Lucasfilm concludes, “But just as a magnificent renaissance spreads throughout the Republic, so does a frightening new adversary. Now the guardians of peace and justice must face a threat to themselves, the galaxy, and the Force itself….”

The publishing initiative was delayed to January 2021 by Lucasfilm Publishing Creative Director Michael Siglain. Siglain stated, “Given these unprecedented times, we have made the decision to move the launch of Star Wars: The High Republic to January 2021 to ensure that the launch is as grand and epic as it deserves to be.”

The initiative will launch with the Marvel Comics series The High Republic and the novels A Test Of Courage and Light of the Jedi. They will follow that up with the novel Into The Dark in February.

What do you make of these redesigns? Do you think they are an improvement from the initial designs? Do you think they could have done better?