Was Rex in ‘Return of the Jedi’? Here’s What the Theories Are Saying

When ‘The Clone Wars’ series came out in 2003, Star Wars fans learned a lot more about the Clone Troopers. Originally appearing in the prequel trilogy, we never got to know any of the Clone Troopers personally or even by name. The one exception was Commander Cody, but fans never really got to know the character.  That was until we got ‘The Clone Wars,’ where we got to know the soldiers on a much more personal level. Captain Rex, in particular, was a fan favorite, and people have been wondering where he has been since ‘Star Wars Rebels’ and whether or not he was present in ‘Return of the Jedi.’

It is very possible that Rex was in ‘Return of the Jedi.’ However, due to his accelerated aging, he would have been much older than what we had seen in ‘Star Wars Rebels.’ We know that Rex was part of the Rebel Alliance before the original trilogy took place, so unless he was killed in action, there is no reason for him not to be present during ‘Return of the Jedi.’ 

Now that we have briefly discussed whether or not Rex was in ‘Return of the Jedi,’ let’s analyze it in more detail. If you are interested in the backstory of Captain Rex, his time in the Rebellion, and where he was during the original trilogy, stay with us and keep reading!

Captain Rex is one of the most notable Clone Troopers

Captain Rex was a Clone Trooper during the Clone Wars and was captain of the 501st Legion. He was second in command to Anakin Skywalker, with whom he became good friends. Rex was a well-respected soldier in the Clone Wars known for his bravery and loyalty to the Republic. One of the more notable battles Captain Rex was part of was the famous Siege of Mandalore. During this battle, the 501st were led by Ahsoka Tano to help Bo-Katan free Mandalore from Darth Maul. 

Shortly after their victory on Mandalore, Emperor Palpatine ordered the clones to execute Order 66, which branded the Jedi as traitors. The troopers were ordered to kill the Jedi and could not refuse due to an inhibitor chip planted in their brain. Rex manages to fight the chip and, with the help of Ahsoka, removes the chip from his head. He and Ahsoka then escape from the rest of the Clone Troopers and go into hiding until the events of ‘Star Wars Rebels.’

Rex’s time in the Rebellion

During ‘Star Wars Rebels,’ we once again meet Captain Rex, who, at this point, is much older than before. This is due to the accelerated aging programmed into the Clone Troopers to have them fully grown and ready to battle quickly. After helping out the Ghost Crew, he fully joined the Rebellion and took part in many battles against the Empire, the most notable being the Battle of Lothal when they defeated Grand Admiral Thrawn. This was the last we have seen of Rex so far, and people often wonder what he was doing during the original trilogy.

Where was Rex during the original trilogy?

It is safe to assume that Rex fought in the Rebellion during the original trilogy. Due to his accelerated aging, he would appear much older than he actually was. Sadly, they age two times faster than the typical human, shortening their lifespan.

This would mean that even though Rex could have been fighting during the Galactic Civil War, he would have certainly died not long after the Empire was defeated. While we have never gotten any official confirmation, Rex can have participated in events like the Battle of Yavin and the Battle of Hoth. 

Was Rex in ‘Return of the Jedi’?

By the time of ‘Return of the Jedi,’ Rex would have been roughly in his 70s, making it possible for him to have been present during the Battle of Endor. There is no reason for Rex not to have been fighting in the battle unless he had been killed prior, which is something that has not been confirmed.

What happened to Rex after ‘Return of the Jedi’?

After the fall of the Empire, Rex would have most likely joined the New Republic for the remainder of his years. Again, due to his accelerated aging, his body would roughly be in his 90s even though he is technically in his 40s by the time shows like ‘Ahsoka’ and ‘Mandalorian’ occur. It would be no surprise if he did turn up in these shows as an older man, as it is unlikely that they would kill off such a popular character off-screen.

The rest of this article will contain spoilers for ‘Ahsoka’, read at your own risk!

Will Rex appear in ‘Ahsoka’? 

So far, we have seen Captain Rex in a flashback during ‘Ahsoka’ Episode 5, but it is still to be seen whether or not we see him in the present. With how the story is going, it is very unclear whether he will appear. Due to his connection with Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka, we may get a glimpse of him even at the end of the show, but it is unlikely he would play a major part.

Temura Morrison has been vocal about wanting to play the character, so it remains to be seen whether or not he gets his wish. Whatever way it plays out, it was still great to see young Rex in a flashback interacting with a live-action Ahsoka and Anakin.

Do you think Rex was in ‘Return of the Jedi’? Let us know in the comments!

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