Star Wars authors including Thrawn creator Timothy Zahn say Lucasfilm has stopped them introducing Mara Jade to canon

It sounds like Mara Jade won't be making the jump from Star Wars Legends to canon, at least not right now.

That's according to comments from Star Wars authors Claudia Gray and Timothy Zahn – Zahn created Mara Jade and Grand Admiral Thrawn in his Thrawn trilogy, published in the '90s, and Gray is the author of Star Wars novels like Bloodline and Lost Stars.

Mara Jade is introduced as a Force-sensitive assassin working for Emperor Palpatine. Initially sent to kill Luke Skywalker, she ultimately ends up marrying him, having a child with him named Ben, and becoming a Jedi.

Notably, Thrawn has crossed over into canon and has appeared in Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka, but Mara Jade has never been reintroduced to canon after the old Extended Universe was re-categorized as Legends.

"A couple of times I was like, 'Really? Really, no Mara Jade?' And they were like, '[Stern voice] Nope,'" said Gray during the Writing the Star Wars Universe panel at this year's MegaCon (H/T The Popverse). "I asked them too," Zahn added.

This isn't the first time Zahn has said he's tried to bring Mara Jade back and has been rebuffed. "The obvious one, Mara Jade," he said in 2024 when asked which Legends character he wants to see in canon. "I keep nudging Lucasfilm, asking them if I could write a book. The answers come back basically some place between 'no' and 'heck no.'" (via The Popverse)

Next up for Star Wars is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which brings the saga back to the big screen for the first time since 2019 this May 22. Maul – Shadow Lord is also currently releasing weekly on Disney Plus.

You can keep up with our Maul – Shadow Lord release schedule, or check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.