Wikipedia

Captain Rex

This article is about the clone trooper. For the droid pilot RX-24, seeStar Tours.

Captain Rex(designation numberCT-7567[a]) is a fictional character in theStar Warsfranchise created byGeorge Lucas.He was introduced as a main character in the animatedThe Clone Wars2008 film and the relatedtelevision series of the same name.Rex is aclone trooperof the Grand Army of the Republic, cloned from the Mandalorian bounty hunterJango Fett,and serves theGalactic Republicunder the command ofJediGeneralAnakin Skywalkerand Jedi CommanderAhsoka Tano.Since his introduction inThe Clone Wars,he has also appeared in the 2014Star Wars Rebelstelevision series, the 2021Star Wars: The Bad Batchtelevision series, the 2022Tales of the Jeditelevision series andvarious spin-off media.Like all clone troopers inThe Clone Wars,Rebels,The Bad BatchandTales of the Jedi,Rex is voiced byDee Bradley Baker.InAhsoka,Rex made his live-action debut in the episode "Part Five: Shadow Warrior",voiced byTemuera Morrisonin sequences set during theClone Wars.

Rex
CT-7567
Star Warscharacter
Clone trooper Captain Rex with his helmet resting on his knee
Captain Rex in season four ofThe Clone Wars
First appearanceThe Clone Warsfilm(2008)
Created byGeorge LucasandDave Filoni
Voiced byDee Bradley Baker(animated)
Temuera Morrison(Ahsoka)
In-universe information
OccupationClone trooperof the Grand Army of the Republic
Affiliation

He is physically distinguished from other clone troopers by his close shaved blond hair, and he is identified by blue markings on his armor and by stylized hawk eyes painted on his helmet. Rex was also distinguished by his use of twin blaster pistols in combat.[3]He is described as a reliable and exemplary soldier, considered by Anakin to be his "first-in-command". Rex is characterized as believing it is his duty to not only carry out orders but also to protect the men under his command; however, his belief in the Republic wavers over the course of the series.

Initial development forThe Clone Warsfilm chose Alpha-17, featured inStar Wars: Republic,to be the primary clone trooper character. However, Lucas felt this created too muchalliterationwith the existing principal cast, and a new character was created instead. Rex was developed as the central personality to which the troopers around him aspired and featured in story arcs exploring his character development. Rex became a fan favorite, consistently placing in fan polls andStar Warscharacter ranking lists.

Creation and development

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Baker (pictured) and Filoni approached Rex as the central character type to which the clones around him aspired.

Initial development forThe Clone Warsfilm chose Alpha-17, featured in theStar Wars: Republiccomic, to be the principalclone troopercharacter. However, becauseAnakin Skywalker,Ahsoka Tano,andR2-D2(Artoo) were also principal characters,Star WarscreatorGeorge Lucasfelt Alpha's name created too muchalliterationbetween the main cast, and a new character, Captain Rex, was created instead.[4]The name "Rex" was chosen by Lucas. Previously, the name Captain Rex was used for the error-prone rookiedroidpilot RX-24 ofStar Tours,[5][6][7]who replaced an earlier concept of an unpredictable and risk-takingClone Warsveteran.[8][b]

Voice actorDee Bradley Bakervoices all the clone trooper characters inThe Clone Wars,including Rex. To differentiate the characters, Baker considered the personality traits of every clone, choosing one or two adjectives for each, and recorded each character separately.[10]To aid with the vocal performance, Baker and supervising directorDave Filonideveloped a "clone triangle" that arranged the characters by personality. Rex, characterized as the central personality type to which the other clones aspired, was placed in the center, and the other clones, who represented an excess of certain traits relative to Rex, were placed around the edges of the triangle.[11][12]

Filoni wished most for the series to address the fates of Rex and Ahsoka because they do not appear inStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,which was released beforeThe Clone Warsbut is set after the series' timeline.[13]In April 2011, he hinted that the two characters' stories were possibly connected[13]and remarked: "A lot of people say they want to know more about [Ahsoka], and along with that goes Rex."[14]He also voiced the production team's conscious effort to write story arcs for Rex: "I think one of the other things is we have such a great development of Rex that we really want to keep telling Rex's story and things centered around Rex."[15]

Characterization and appearance

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The officialStar WarsDatabank describes Rex as a "no-nonsense, by the book" and "exemplary clone trooper, brave under fire and dedicated to the men serving under him" who must adjust to his "maverick" and "headstrong" Jedi commanding officers. His training is described as having instilled a belief that a soldier's highest calling is duty, though his belief wavers over the course of the Clone Wars and he comes to question the purpose of the conflict. The entry characterized Rex as coming to admire and even imitate Anakin Skywalker's improvisation and willingness to bend rules.[2]In "Darkness on Umbara", Anakin describes Rex as his "first-in-command" and second-to-none in loyalty or capability.[16]

Rex's later helmet design (right) is a hybrid of his original helmet (left) and the regularEpisode IIIclone trooper helmet (center).

Rex is distinguished by close-shaved blond hair (where most other clones have dark hair) and stylized hawk eyes adorning his helmets; like all members of the 501st, his armor bears blue markings.[17]Later in the series, Rex's armor bearstally marks,representing kills, and Filoni felt it communicated that Rex "is becoming something of a little legend" because he is "a long term survivor of the Clone Wars".[18]He also bears a scar on his chin in homage to actorHarrison Ford,who playedHan Soloin theoriginal trilogy.

In season four of the show, Rex begins wearing a modified helmet composed of elements from both the olderEpisode II-style and the newerEpisode III-style designs. Rex's new helmet uses theEpisode III-style design as a base and has theEpisode II-style visor in place of theEpisode III-style visor, requiring some elements to be modified to fit.[19][20]Filoni developed an in-universe backstory for the design and felt that Rex "trying to wear the same armor" by welding together a hybrid version was a good character trait that added to his uniqueness.[11]Filoni also characterized this specialized helmet and "hodgepodge of old gear and new gear" as indicative of Rex's distrust in the quality of the new armor and Rex's belief that with "classic stuff, the craftsmanship is a little better".[18]Rex continues to wear his helmet and parts of his clone trooper armor in hisRebelsappearances.[21]

Appearances

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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Introduced inThe Clone Warsanimated film and featured throughout thetelevision series of the same name,Captain Rex, designation number CT-7567,[a]is thecommanding officerof Torrent Company within the501st Legionunder the command ofJediGeneralAnakin Skywalkerand Jedi Padawan CommanderAhsoka Tano.He fights as a soldier of the Grand Army of the Republic in numerous campaigns of theClone Warsagainst the Separatistbattle droidarmy.[2]As aclone trooper,he was cloned onKaminofrom bounty hunterJango Fettand ages at an accelerated rate, aging twenty years in ten years.[22][23]As Anakin's Clone Captain, he goes on many missions with Anakin and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano, sharing Anakin's quick-thinking skills and recklessness at times.

In a season four story arc, the 501st Legion is temporarily led by Jedi General Pong Krell. In the face of Krell's callousness toward clone lives and refusal to treat the troopers as individuals instead of numbered units, Rex is caught between his duty to follow Krell's orders and his responsibility to protect his men.[16]Despite growing discontent in the ranks and calls for dissent fromFives,Rex does not openly defy Krell.[16][24][25]However, Rex supports a mission led by Fives that is expressly forbidden by Krell but saves numerous clone trooper lives.[25]After orders causes the 501st Legion and the 212th Attack Battalion to unknowingly attack one another, Rex leads the troopers to arrest Krell, who reveals he has turned to the dark side, admits he has been deliberately sabotaging the clones, and is later executed by clone trooper Dogma.[26]Rex is also involved in a season six story arc centering on a conspiracy regarding the clone troopers. Fives discovers that inhibitor chips are secretly implanted into the clone troopers' brains and can be used to turn them against the Jedi. He reveals this to Rex before he dies.[27]

Rex is a principal character in theBad Batch[28]story arc, an unfinished story arc released as completedanimatics;the arc was released in completed form as part of the seventh season ofThe Clone Wars,released onDisney+in 2020. Shortly after Fives' death, Rex discovers a transmission from Echo, previously thought to have beenkilled in action,and leads a successful mission to rescue him, with help from Anakin and Clone Force 99 (aka "the Bad Batch" ), a squad of clone troopers with genetic mutations. Rex also appears in the final story arc of the series, theSiege ofMandalore,set duringRevenge of the Sith.After being promoted to commander, he leads half of the 501st Legion reassigned to Ahsoka, who previously relinquished command upon leaving the Jedi Order, into an assault of Mandalore, with the intent of capturing the formerSith LordDarth Maul.Though the assault is successful and Maul's forces are defeated, with Maul himself captured, Palpatine, who has revealed himself as Darth Sidious, issuesOrder 66,causing Ahsoka's clone troopers to turn on her, including Rex; however, Rex is able to resist the order long enough to warn Ahsoka. As a result, Ahsoka escapes and manages to remove Rex's chip, restoring his free will. For his treachery against the Republic, ARC TrooperJessethreatens to demote Commander Rex to captain and orders his execution. Rex and Ahsoka manage to escape the cruiser they are on before it crashes into the planet below. After the impact, Rex and Ahsoka bury Jesse and the dead clones in a mass grave, marking it with the helmets of the fallen clones. The pair then fake their deaths and go their separate ways.[29][30][31]

Star Wars Rebels

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An aging Rex as he appears in the second season ofStar Wars Rebels.

Rex was added to the main cast ofStar Wars Rebelstelevision series, set fifteen years afterThe Clone Wars,in the second season. Now seemingly a much older man due to accelerated aging, Rex lives with fellow clone troopersCommander WolffeandCaptain Gregor.In the episode "The Lost Commanders", the three are sought by theGhostcrew upon instructions from Ahsoka, and they ask the troopers for help in establishing a new rebel base. Though the three have had their inhibitor chips removed, allowing them to ignoreOrder 66,former PadawanKanan Jarrusinitially distrusts them. Wolffe, fearing the consequences for aiding rebels and Jedi, contacts theGalactic Empireto protect the clones.[32]However, Rex convinces Wolffe the rebels can be trusted and repels the Empire, in turn earning Kanan's trust. Rex leaves Wolffe and Gregor to join theRebel Allianceand to fight alongside theGhostcrew and Ahsoka against the Empire.[33]In the epilogue of the series finale "Family Reunion - and Farewell", it is revealed that he was promoted to commander again and fought with Hera at theBattle of Endor.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

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Rex appears inThe Bad Batchanimated series, which continues the story of the eponymous clone trooper team in the immediate aftermath ofThe Clone Wars.He is first mentioned in the episode "Cut and Run" by clone deserterCut Lawquane,whom Rex visited shortly after the events of Order 66. Rex told Cut about the inhibitor chips that caused regular clones to turn on the Jedi, and Cut relays this information to the Bad Batch when they visit him the following day. In the episode "Decomissioned", sisters Trace and Rafa Martez have a run-in with the Bad Batch onCorelliawhile attempting to retrieve data from a tactical droid for Rex. After their mission, the sisters inform Rex that the Bad Batch have rebelled against the Empire and tell him how to find them. In the following episode, "Battle Scars", Rex tracks down and reunites with the Bad Batch, but is alarmed to learn they have not removed their chips like he did. He takes them to a crashed cruiser on Bracca to use its medical bay, but during their mission, one of the Bad Batch members, Wrecker's, chip activates and he attacks them. Rex helps the others subdue Wrecker, after which the Bad Batch have their chips removed and they part ways with Rex. He later returns in the episode "War-Mantle" as a hologram, where he asks the Bad Batch to investigate a distress signal sent by Captain Gregor from Daro.

Rex appears in the second season, revealed to have been organizing an underground network of rogue clone troopers with the help of other clones and sympathetic senators.

Rex makes an appearance in episodes six and seven, "Infiltration" and "Extraction", of the third season.[34]

Tales of the Jedi

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Rex appears inTales of the Jedianimated series. He helps Anakin train Ahsoka with his troopers in the episodePractice makes Perfectand has a non-speaking cameo inResolvehaving flown Ahsoka toNabooto attendPadmé Amidala's funeral.

Ahsoka

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Rex made his second live action appearance in theAhsokaepisode "Part Five: Shadow Warrior",during flashback sequences in theClone Wars.[35]

In other media

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Since his introduction inThe Clone Wars,Rex has also appeared in comics, novels, and video games of theStar WarsExpanded Universe,also known asStar Wars Legends.

In March 2016, Filoni supported the former fan theory of Rex being the older member ofHan Solo's raiding party, previously known inLegendscontinuity as Nik Sant, onEndorinReturn of the Jedi.[36]In August 2017, writer Steven Melching shared concept art for the fourth season ofStar Wars Rebels,and it was reported as a confirmation of this theory.[37]Melching later clarified that at that time he was not aware if Rex and Sant are the same character, stating that due to the progression of the series, Rex's costume would naturally come to resemble those worn by Rebel Alliance commandos inReturn of the Jedi.[38]Rebelsultimately did not state whether Rex and Nik Sant are the same character, which Filoni later said was a purposeful decision to allow either possibility, although the animated web seriesStar Wars Forces of Destinywould ultimately display Rex in place of Sant in that series' animation style.[39]

Merchandise

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Rex was the featured character for the 2010Star Warsmerchandisetrade dresscreated by Pilot Studio.[40]The concept initially featured Anakin Skywalker, but discussions of other characters best suited to representing the brand led to Rex, "a strong, courageous character who is clearly one of the heroes ofThe Clone Wars".Pilot Studio was initially reluctant to use Rex because his helmet did not allow for eye contact, an emphasized element in the initial trade dress concept.[41]In 2020,Hot Toysproduced a sixth scale action figure of Rex, featuring a head sculpt, which is modeled afterTemuera Morrison,and a second helmet.[42]

Reception

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Captain Rex became a favorite among fans. Filoni noted that while older fans were excited to seeGrand Moff TarkinandChewbaccaappear in the series, younger fans appeared to prefer characters like Rex.[14]Baker was surprised Rex became well-liked because the clone troopers were not established as distinct characters in the films.[43]

Rex was ranked 36 inIGN's Top 100Star Warscharacters, where he was described as having a "silly name" but "bad ass". His ability to evolve and adapt as a character and as a soldier was noted, especially his change from scorn to sympathy toward a clone trooperdeserter.[44]Eric Goldman felt that theRebelsreunion between Rex and Ahsoka was a poignant moment and the emotional highlight of "Relics of the Old Republic". He also noted that Rex's reintroduction and Ahsoka's complete trust in him raised more questions about Rex in the time betweenThe Clone WarsandRebels.[45]

Notes

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  1. ^abIn August 2011, the officialStar WarsDatabank entry for Captain Rex gave his designation number as CC-7567.[1]The designation CT-7567 is stated in dialogue in the episodes "Darkness on Umbara" and "The General" and is given in a subsequent version of the Databank entry.[2]
  2. ^RX-24 also appears inStar Wars Rebels,along with Captain Rex. Disney acknowledged RX-24's nickname by renaming him R-3X for theDisney Parksthemed areaStar Wars:Galaxy's Edge.[9]

References

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  2. ^abc"Clone Captain Rex".StarWars.Lucasfilm.RetrievedAugust 8,2016.
  3. ^"Clone Captain Rex".StarWars.Retrieved2019-11-26.
  4. ^Parisi, Frank; Scheppke, Gary (2009).The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.Chronicle Books.p. 106.ISBN978-0-8118-6889-1.
  5. ^Epstein, Jeffrey (August 9, 2011)."Star Tourswith Paul Reubens ".D23.Disney.Archived fromthe originalon October 25, 2011.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  6. ^Granshaw, Lisa (October 16, 2015)."Thank the Maker! The 59 best droids in the Star Wars universe, ranked".Blastr.Archived fromthe originalon December 1, 2016.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  7. ^West, Jay (March 10, 2011)."'Star Tours' flashback: The rapping C-3PO of 1987 ".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  8. ^Gordon, Bruce; Mumford, David; Tietz, Chris (May 1987)."Star Wars: The Disneyland Journey, Part 1".Starlog.No. 118. p. 49.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  9. ^Mithaiwala, Mansoor (July 30, 2019)."How Star Wars Introduced The Original Captain Rex Into Canon In 2014".ScreenRant.RetrievedAugust 6,2019.
  10. ^"The Voice of" Rookies "".StarWars.Lucasfilm.October 23, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon March 28, 2010.RetrievedAugust 9,2016.
  11. ^abFiloni, Dave;Plunkett, Kilian; Tucker, Jason; Kellog, Keith (2012).Darkened World of Umbara(DVD).Star Wars: The Clone WarsSeason 4.Lucasfilm.
  12. ^Filoni, David;Aron, Joel; Collins, Dave (2012),Star Wars Celebration VI: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5
  13. ^abGoldman, Eric (April 3, 2011)."WC 11: Clone Wars Season 4 - Grievous vs. Gungans!".IGN.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  14. ^abTruitt, Brian (March 24, 2011)."Chewbacca highlights an epic end to third season of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'".USA Weekend.Archived fromthe originalon August 31, 2011.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  15. ^Goldman, Eric (August 26, 2011)."Star Wars: The Clone Wars - What's to Come in Season 4".IGN.p. 1.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  16. ^abcMichnovetz, Matt (October 28, 2011). "Darkness on Umbara".Star Wars: The Clone Wars.Season 4. Episode 7.
  17. ^"Clone Captain Rex".StarWars.Lucasfilm.Archived fromthe originalon September 25, 2011.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  18. ^abGoldman, Eric (August 26, 2011)."Star Wars: The Clone Wars - What's to Come in Season 4".IGN.p. 3.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  19. ^"Darkness on Umbara Trivia Gallery".StarWars.Lucasfilm.RetrievedAugust 8,2016.
  20. ^"Darkness on Umbara Concept Art Gallery".StarWars.Lucasfilm.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  21. ^"The Lost Commanders Concept Art Gallery".StarWars.Lucasfilm.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
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  23. ^"Clone troopers".StarWars.Lucasfilm.Archived fromthe originalon June 2, 2009.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
  24. ^Michnovetz, Matt (November 4, 2011). "The General".Star Wars: The Clone Wars.Season 4. Episode 8.
  25. ^abMichnovetz, Matt (November 11, 2011). "Plan of Dissent".Star Wars: The Clone Wars.Season 4. Episode 7.
  26. ^Matt, Michnovetz (November 18, 2011). "Carnage of Krell".Star Wars: The Clone Wars.Season 4. Episode 7.
  27. ^Lucas, Katie (February 15, 2014). "Orders".Star Wars: The Clone Wars.Season 6. Episode 4.
  28. ^"Who Are the Bad Batch?".StarWars.2021-04-26.Retrieved2022-02-22.
  29. ^"Ahsoka's Untold Tales Panel | Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016".Official Star Wars YouTube Channel.PanelistsDave Filoni,Ashley Eckstein,Pablo Hidalgo.Moderated by Dave Collins.YouTube.July 15, 2016. 33:01-33:33.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.RetrievedAugust 9,2016.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  30. ^Koch, Cameron (July 15, 2016)."Ahsoka May Return In 'Star Wars Rebels' Season 3".Tech Times.RetrievedAugust 8,2016.
  31. ^Whitbrook, James (July 15, 2016)."The Untold Stories of Ahsoka Tano Broke Our Hearts—And Ahsoka's, Too".io9.RetrievedAugust 8,2016.
  32. ^Michnovetz, Matt (October 14, 2015). "The Lost Commanders".Star Wars Rebels.Season 2. Episode 3.
  33. ^Melching, Steven (October 21, 2015). "Relics of the Old Republic".Star Wars Rebels.Season 3. Episode 3.
  34. ^Young, Bryan (2024-03-13)."The Bad Batch Season 3 Just Delivered A Star Wars Rebels Clone Trooper Reunion".SlashFilm.Retrieved2024-03-13.
  35. ^Peralta, Diego (2023-09-16)."'Ahsoka' Finally Introduces a Fan-Favorite Animated Character ".Collider.Retrieved2024-02-26.
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  37. ^Mithaiwala, Mansoor (August 5, 2017)."Star Wars Rebels Concept Art Confirms Return of the Jedi Connection".ScreenRant.RetrievedAugust 6,2017.
  38. ^Steven Melching [@stevenmelching] (August 5, 2017)."Friends, please allow me to clarify my provocative and badly-worded tweet from earlier today. 1/"(Tweet).RetrievedAugust 7,2017– viaTwitter.
  39. ^Huver, Scott (August 12, 2017)."Star Wars Rebels Creator Dave Filoni Reveals How Season 4 Almost Ended and His Clone Wars Revival Plans".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon May 24, 2020.RetrievedOctober 21,2022.
  40. ^"A Saga of Work".Pilot Studio. Archived fromthe originalon July 4, 2016.RetrievedAugust 8,2016.
  41. ^"2010Star WarsPackaging Revealed ".StarWars.Lucasfilm.January 13, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon September 4, 2011.RetrievedAugust 8,2016.
  42. ^"Hot Toys: Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Captain Rex 1/6th scale Collectible Figure".Hot Toys.Retrieved2021-11-17.
  43. ^Amaya, Eric (October 14, 2015)."Dee Bradley Baker and Ashley Eckstein On Returning To Star Wars Rebels".Bleeding Cool.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
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  45. ^Goldman, Eric (October 21, 2015)."Star Wars Rebels:" Relics Of The Old Republic "Review".IGN.RetrievedAugust 8,2016.
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