The upcoming Jedi origin film, tentatively titled Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, could detail the ancient history of Starkiller Base. Starkiller Base was introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a major weapon in the early timeline of Star Wars’ First Order. Despite being a major part of the first sequel movie, Starkiller Base received little in the way of proper exploration, contributing to complaints that the sequel trilogy is among Star Wars’ worst.

That said, while the sequel films did not explore much about Starkiller, the opportunity remains for upcoming Star Wars movies to do so. One such film was announced alongside Dave Filoni’s New Republic film and Rey’s New Jedi Order story. Through this project, Star Wars’ Dawn of the Jedi story, the ancient history of Starkiller Base can finally be explored in a way that ties several sections of the Star Wars franchise together.

Starkiller Base Was Actually The Sacred Jedi Planet Ilum

A planet integral to the Jedi Order, Ilum, is Starkiller Base.

In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Starkiller Base was shown as a barren, cold, and icy planet. The film failed to divulge where the planet was in the galaxy, though the novelization of Episode VII revealed a massive fact about the superweapon. The novelization confirmed that Starkiller Base was built into the core of the planet Ilum, a planet vital to the Jedi Order for generations.

In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, among other projects, Ilum was shown as an icy planet where Jedi younglings would find Kyber crystals to construct their first lightsaber. After Starkiller Base was revealed as Ilum, it was similarly revealed that the Kyber foundations of the planet were being used to partially power the superweapon used by the First Order to destroy the New Republic. However, these details were left out of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, meaning future Star Wars movies have the opportunity to explore the base’s history.

Will James Mangold’s Dawn Of The Jedi Show The Discovery Of Ilum?

In the wider areas of Star Wars canon, it has been confirmed that Ilum was discovered in the earliest days of the Jedi Order. Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi is set to focus on exactly this: the beginning of the Jedi Order and their connection with the Force. As such, it could be the case that the discovery of Ilum and its Kyber-based properties are included in James Mangold’s upcoming movie.

This would certainly make sense, as a story about Star Wars’ first Jedi will likely include the origin of many aspects audiences have come to associate with the Order. For instance, the origins of Jedi lightsabers would certainly be a logical inclusion of Mangold’s movie. If this is the case, it would be equally logical for Ilum – a place confirmed as synonymous with first lightsabers – to be included in some capacity. Through this, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi can provide the backstory and history of Starkiller Base via the founding of Ilum, something the sequels failed to adequately explore.

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi

Announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2023, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi is a prequel focusing on the first-ever Jedi. Taking place 25,000 before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Dawn of the Jedi will explore the events set prior to the Old Republic and the Disney+ series, The Acolyte.