'Star Wars Rebels' Unveils Sinister New Villain: The Empire's Inquisitor

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By Brian Anthony Hernandez2013-10-12 21:25:22 UTC

Lucasfilm premiered the villain of its upcoming animated television show Star Wars Rebels at New York Comic Con on Saturday, introducing fans to the Empire's new sinister agent: the Inquisitor.

Star Wars Rebels executive producer Dave Filoni debuted the lightsaber-wielding bad guy, who is "tasked by Darth Vader to hunt down the remaining Jedi Knights," in a video shown during a panel that ended with the Inquistor's reveal.

See also: 'Star Wars Rebels' Teaser Includes Surprise Plot Twist

Flanked by Stormtroopers, the onscreen animation of the Inquisitor prompted loud applause. Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo, who hosted the one-man panel, said fans can now reasonably assume "there is a Jedi that is involved somewhere" in Star Wars Rebels, which is set to arrive in fall 2014.

"The big question is, 'What is the Jedi's role on the show?'" Hidalgo said. "Exactly who the Inquistor works with or connects to, I cannot get into." He did, however, say the new villain's main duty is ensure the Jedi is "wiped out."

Aside from unveiling the Inquisitor, Hidalgo displayed show art, including sketches of planet Lothal and animated renderings of characters and Imperial vehicles created specifically for Star Wars Rebels. Check out the gallery, below, to see photos.

Lucasfilm and Disney XD had said Star Wars Rebels takes place between Episodes III and IV, but Hidalgo elaborated further, revealing the show will occur 14 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. At that time, the Empire is seeking to expand power on other planets, such as Lothal, where it begins to recruit young residents to become TIE fighters and Stormtroopers.

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StarWars.com describes the art shown at New York Comic Con as follows:

The show is fully embracing the Star Wars legacy, taking direct inspiration from the original trilogy and its concept artist Ralph McQuarrie. Hidalgo displayed new Star Wars Rebels imagery and animation models for Stormtroopers, Star Destroyers, TIE fighters, and TIE fighter pilots, all of which fit seamlessly with classic Star Wars. Additionally, Hidalgo introduced several new Imperial vehicles and designs created for the series: the All Terrain Defense Pod (AT-DP), a ground attack walker based on an early Joe Johnston (the filmmaker who designed Boba Fett's armor and speeder bikes, and made other major contributions to Star Wars) illustration from 1979; the new AT-DP pilot, which blends designs of the classic AT-AT walker driver from Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and the AT-ST walker pilot from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi; the Imperial Troop Transport, which comes from an early Kenner toy that was actually not based on designs from the films; and the Imperial freighter, a reimagining of an Imperial-style craft designed for Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace by concept artist Doug Chiang, featuring a dock to transport TIE fighters from system to system.

Are you excited to watch Star Wars Rebels? Tell us in the comments, below.

Image: Lucasfilm

Topics: Entertainment, new york comic con, Star Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Television