Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion is a two-part animated television film, totaling forty-four minutes in length (or one hour when commercials are included). It functions as the premiere of the Star Wars Rebels animated series. On September 26, 2014, the movie was initially released online for verified users of WatchDisneyXD.com. Its television premiere occurred on October 3, 2014, airing on the Disney Channel. On October 14, 2014, Spark of Rebellion was made available on DVD for purchase. The film was broadcast again on the ABC Network on October 26, complete with a fresh introduction featuring Darth Vader and the Grand Inquisitor.
Set five years prior to the events depicted in _Star Wars_: Episode IV A New Hope, this canon narrative introduces the Ghost crew. They are a group of rebels battling the Galactic Empire, destined to ignite the Rebel Alliance. The story primarily follows Ezra Bridger, a fourteen year old orphan, as he integrates into the Ghost crew and discovers his connection to the Force. Ezra, along with Kanan Jarrus (a former Padawan and survivor of Order 66), Hera Syndulla (the pilot), Sabine Wren (a Mandalorian warrior), Zeb Orrelios (a Lasat warrior), and Chopper (an astromech droid), uncover the Empire's enslavement of Wookiees for labor in the spice mines of Kessel. They then embark on a mission to liberate them, all while being hunted by Agent Kallus from the Imperial Security Bureau.
Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, and Greg Weisman served as executive producers for Spark of Rebellion. Kinberg penned the script, while Steward Lee and Steven G. Lee directed. The cast includes Taylor Gray as Ezra, Vanessa Marshall as Hera, Freddie Prinze Jr. as Kanan, Tiya Sircar as Sabine, Steve Blum as Zeb, and David Oyelowo as Agent Kallus. Jason Isaacs lends his voice to the Inquisitor. James Arnold Taylor reprises his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, appearing in a holographic recording. James Earl Jones once again voices Darth Vader. Initially, this episode was presented in two parts during its broadcast and DVD release. However, it was later offered as a single, continuous episode on digital platforms like iTunes.
In a bleak era, the Jedi's presence has vanished, and the Empire's oppressive rule casts a shadow over the galaxy, particularly on Lothal, a world in the Outer Rim. Hope for freedom and a better existence is dwindling, especially for Ezra Bridger, a 14-year-old orphan. However, fate intervenes when the young con artist encounters a small group of rebels who dare to challenge the Empire.
Following the Clone Wars and the rise of the Galactic Empire, [the Grand Inquisitor](/article/the_grand_inquisitor], a hunter of Jedi, stands on a Star Destroyer's bridge. He communicates via hologram with Darth Vader, a Sith Lord and former Jedi Knight. Vader informs the Inquisitor that despite the near extinction of the Jedi Knights, Emperor Sheev Palpatine has "foreseen a new threat" to the Empire—the "children of the Force." Vader commands the Inquisitor to prevent them from becoming Jedi and, if they refuse to join the Empire, to eliminate them. This, Vader emphasizes, is the Emperor's decree. The Inquisitor assures his master of his compliance.
Fourteen years after the Empire's ascent, on [Lothal](/article/lothal], an Outer Rim world, [Ezra Bridger](/article/ezra_bridger], a fourteen year old orphan, resides in an abandoned communication tower. Spotting a Star Destroyer flying over his tower towards Capital City, he speeds off on a speeder bike. In the city, he witnesses Commandant Cumberlayne Aresko and Taskmaster Myles Grint harassing Yoffar, a local merchant, along with a squad of stormtroopers. The merchant voices his disapproval of the Empire, blaming them for ruining Lothal and the galaxy, leading Aresko to accuse him of treason. Ezra intervenes, stealing Aresko's communicator and impersonating an Imperial officer to direct Aresko and Grint to a nonexistent emergency in the city's main square. With the Imperials gone, the merchant expresses his gratitude, and Ezra helps himself to some jogan fruits as compensation.
Ezra climbs onto a rooftop overlooking the city square, where Aresko and Grint discover the ruse. They encounter Yogar Lyste, an Imperial officer overseeing the transportation of valuable cargo crates via speeder bike. Annoyed by the deception, Aresko scolds Yogar for his slow work. Observing the chaos he caused, Ezra suddenly senses the presence of Kanan Jarrus, a former Jedi Padawan who survived the destruction of the Jedi Order. Jarrus also senses Ezra and turns toward him just as Ezra ducks out of sight. Ezra watches as Jarrus and his rebels attempt to steal the Imperial supply crates in a mission.
Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian warrior among the rebels, uses a detonator to destroy an Imperial speeder bike, forcing the Imperials to evacuate with the crates. Jarrus intercepts the Imperials, and with the help of Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios, a Lasat warrior, subdues them. Bridger steals a speeder and two crates, escaping before Jarrus and Orrelios can stop him. Wren spots Bridger from a rooftop and jumps onto his crates, managing to take one. Jarrus and Orrelios pursue Bridger on speeder bikes, leading to a chase outside the city where Imperial troops spot and pursue them. The rebels fight off the troops, and Jarrus intercepts Bridger, who claims he stole the crate fairly. Bridger flees again as a TIE fighter attacks, destroying Jarrus's speeder. The fighter pursues Bridger towards his tower, destroying his speeder until the Ghost, the rebels' ship, shoots down the fighter. Jarrus offers Bridger a chance to escape as more TIE fighters approach, and Bridger unknowingly uses the Force to leap onto the hovering ship with his crate, surprising Jarrus. With Bridger aboard, the Ghost heads into space, pursued by TIE fighters, as Bridger discovers the crate contains blasters.
Jarrus goes to the Ghost's cockpit, where Hera Syndulla, a Twi'lek, pilots the ship. Jarrus tells her what happened on Lothal, while Bridger and Orrelios argue over the blasters, with Bridger believing the rebels want to survive like him. Orrelios throws Bridger into a closet, but he enters an air vent and navigates the ship's interior. Syndulla is impressed by Bridger and thinks he would be useful, but Jarrus disagrees. Bridger falls through the vents into a gun turret, realizing he is in space and in a battle. Jarrus and Wren man the turrets, with Wren taking Bridger's, and hold off the TIE fighters, allowing Syndulla to jump the Ghost into hyperspace.
On Lothal, Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau inspects the scene of the rebels' theft. He tells Commandant Aresko that the rebels have attacked other Imperials on Lothal, relieving the officer. Kallus explains that the rebels' actions suggest a potential rebellion against the Empire. Kallus' job is to prevent this rebellion, and he plans to stop the Ghost crew's next attack.
The Ghost exits hyperspace, and Orrelios takes Bridger to the cockpit to meet Syndulla. Bridger wants to return to Lothal, but worries about attracting the Empire's attention. Syndulla says the Ghost can scramble its signal to avoid tracking. Back on Lothal, the Ghost lands near Lothal re-settlement camp 43, called "Tarkintown" by locals after Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin forced settlers into refugee status. The rebels bring the stolen crates to Tarkintown, where Bridger sees the people's suffering. Later, Jarrus and Syndulla meet Cikatro Vizago, a local crime lord, for whom they stole the blasters in exchange for information: the location of Wookiees enslaved by the Empire.
In Tarkintown, Orrelios and Wren open their crates to reveal food, which they distribute to the locals. Bridger is surprised when a refugee thanks him, as he feels he did nothing. He returns to the Ghost and senses something through the Force, leading him to Jarrus' quarters. Breaking in, he finds and steals a holocron and a lightsaber, which he activates to reveal the blue blade. Jarrus and Syndulla spot him with the weapon, alerted by Chopper, and Jarrus demands the lightsaber. He lets Bridger keep the holocron, knowing that if Bridger can open it, he can use the Force and be trained as a Jedi.
Bridger leaves Jarrus' quarters and finds Wren, learning about the rebels and how they became a family after losing theirs to the Empire. Orrelios interrupts, saying Jarrus wants to speak to them, leaving Chopper to watch Bridger. In the ship's common room, Jarrus explains that Vizago gave them the location of an Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser carrying Wookiee prisoners, many of whom fought for the Galactic Republic before its fall. As Jarrus explains his plan, Bridger falls into the room, having snuck through the ventilation shaft again. Orrelios wants to dump him on Lothal, but Wren says it is too dangerous as he knows too much. Syndulla takes Bridger to the cockpit while the others prepare.
In the cockpit, Bridger is surprised anyone would fight so hard against the Empire. The Ghost exits hyperspace near the Imperial transport. Syndulla lies to the transport, saying they were ordered by Grand Moff Tarkin to deliver a Wookiee prisoner. The transport allows the Ghost to dock, and Jarrus, Wren, and Orrelios enter, with Orrelios pretending to be a "rare hairless Wookiee." The Imperials do not believe them, so Orrelios knocks them out. The trio, with Chopper, heads to rescue the Wookiees.
Agent Kallus' Star Destroyer unexpectedly appears and brings both the transport and the Ghost into its docking bay, springing a trap. Syndulla tells Bridger to warn the others on the transport. After arguing, Bridger boards the ship and warns Jarrus and Orrelios. Stormtroopers attack, forcing the rebels to flee. Wren and Chopper disable the gravity system, allowing them to return to the Ghost. As the rebels return, Orrelios pushes Bridger, leading to his capture by Kallus and the Ghost's departure without him. As the Ghost flies away, the rebels detonate explosives Wren left behind, destroying the transport.
The crew meets in the cockpit after the Ghost jumps into hyperspace. Realizing Bridger is gone, Orrelios pretends he thought Bridger was with them, but admits Kallus captured him. On the Star Destroyer, Bridger is in a prison cell when Kallus approaches, saying the Empire will use him as bait. Bridger thinks this is foolish, as he does not believe anyone would risk their lives to save him. After Kallus leaves, Bridger finds he still has the holocron. He uses the Force to open it, revealing a message from Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, recorded during the fall of the Republic and the Jedi Order, warning surviving Jedi about the Empire.
Back on the Ghost, the crew debates rescuing Bridger. Orrelios and Wren want to leave him, knowing the Imperials will be waiting, while Syndulla and Chopper want to rescue him. Jarrus decides to mount a rescue. Not believing anyone will rescue him, Bridger tricks the stormtroopers guarding him, allowing him to escape and lock them inside. He finds a storage room, retrieves his gear and an Imperial helmet, and learns that the Wookiee prisoners are being taken to the spice mines of Kessel. He also learns the Ghost has returned and meets up with the rebels near the docking bay. The group flees as Kallus and the stormtroopers pursue, and the ship takes off as Wren ignites an explosion in the hangar, nearly sucking Kallus into space.
The Ghost jumps back into hyperspace, and Bridger tells Syndulla he has no family on Lothal. When the crew joins, Bridger says the Wookiees are being taken to Kessel. Knowing they will not survive the mines, the rebels, including Bridger, choose to rescue them in a mission. Kallus suspects this, having learned the communicator was on in the helmet Bridger stole while the Imperials discussed the Wookiee prisoners.
On Kessel, the Wookiee prisoners, including Wullffwarro and his son, Kitwarr, are led towards the spice mines. The Ghost descends and attacks the Imperials. The ship lands, and Jarrus, Wren, and Orrelios fight the stormtroopers, allowing Bridger to release the Wookiees. The freed Wookiees fight back as three TIE fighters emerge and attack the Ghost. The Ghost leads the fighters away while Kallus' transport arrives. Kallus and stormtroopers emerge, forcing the rebels and Wookiees to take cover.
As Syndulla pilots the Ghost to escape the TIE fighters, Jarrus tells her to perform a 22 pickup—a maneuver where the crew and Wookiees hide in a cargo container that can be picked up by the Ghost. To allow the rebels and Wookiees to escape, Jarrus ignites his lightsaber, revealing himself as a Jedi. Kallus orders his men to fire on Jarrus, who deflects blaster fire while the others escape into a container. Bridger rescues Kitwarr, who fled and is being pursued by a stormtrooper. Following them to a ramp overlooking the mines, Bridger uses the Force to leap over the stormtrooper and knocks him over the railing with an energy slingshot. Kallus witnesses this and believes Bridger is Jarrus' apprentice. Jarrus and the Ghost, which picked up the container, arrive in time to save Bridger and Kitwarr before escaping Kessel.
Having escaped Kessel, the Wookiees board the Ghost, where Kitwarr and Wullffwarro reunite. The Wookiees are picked up by an Auzituck anti-slaver gunship and promise to help the rebels if needed. As the Wookiee ship leaves, the departure jolts the ship, allowing Bridger to take Jarrus' lightsaber. The ship returns to Lothal, where Bridger says goodbye before returning to his tower. However, he returns the holocron to Jarrus, who sees it has been opened.
Bridger made his way back to his tower, and Jarrus soon met him there. The boy inquired about the nature of the Force, and Jarrus clarified that it's an energy field connecting everything in the galaxy. Jarrus then offered Bridger the opportunity to train in the Force and become a Jedi. He presented Bridger with a choice: keep the lightsaber and stay on Lothal, or return to the ship and join the crew. After giving Bridger time to consider, Jarrus left and went back to his quarters on the Ghost. Upon arrival, he activated the holocron and watched Obi-Wan Kenobi's complete message. The Jedi Master cautioned surviving Jedi against returning to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, foretelling that a new hope would eventually emerge from the darkness. As the message concluded, Jarrus noticed Bridger in the hallway, and the boy handed back the Jedi's lightsaber.
On his Star Destroyer, Agent Kallus contacted the Inquisitor, informing the Jedi hunter about the discovery of a rebel cell led by a Jedi. The Inquisitor commended Kallus for reporting the information.
The initial public viewing of Spark of Rebellion occurred at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. Originally, it was set to be available online for WATCHDisneyXD.com subscribers on September 29, 2014, but this was moved to September 26. Its television premiere took place on the Disney Channel on October 3, 2014 (coinciding with a Walmart-exclusive DVD release), followed by a broadcast on Disney XD on October 6. It became accessible for digital download/VOD on October 4, and a widespread DVD release followed on October 14. On October 9, 2014, an announcement was made that the film would be broadcast on ABC on October 26, 2014, featuring a new scene with the Inquisitor and Darth Vader. This concept was developed after George Lucas viewed the original version of the film. It was re-released on September 1, 2015, as a component of Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season One, where it was divided into two separate episodes.
Spark of Rebellion is set fourteen years after the events depicted in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, and five years prior to Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The characters featured in the film, as well as the broader Star Wars Rebels series, belong to a rebel cell that eventually evolves into the Rebel Alliance, the organization portrayed in the original Star Wars trilogy. The backstories of many characters reference past Star Wars narratives and events, including: Kanan Jarrus, who survived the destruction of the Jedi Order as shown in Revenge of the Sith; Hera Syndulla, the daughter of Cham Syndulla, a Twi'lek resistance fighter who was in The Clone Wars; Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian whose people were first canonically shown in The Clone Wars; and Zeb Orrelios, whose species, based on original concept art by Ralph McQuarrie, was initially introduced in the non-canon Star Wars Legends line.
In chronological order, Spark of Rebellion also follows the novel A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller, which depicted the initial encounter between Jarrus and Syndulla, and a series of prelude shorts that presented the main characters of the show. Various elements of the film have also been adapted by Disney–Lucasfilm Press. The Rebellion Begins by Michael Kogge is a junior novelization of the film in its entirety, while Droids in Distress, also by Kogge, and Ezra's Wookiee Rescue by Meredith Rusu recount the story of the mission to rescue the Wookiees on Kessel.
Following a positive critical reception, the Star Wars Rebels team presented Spark of Rebellion to George Lucas, as it was the first Star Wars production released without his involvement. Filoni told StarWars.com that Lucas enjoyed the episode, which, for the Lucasfilm team, "was a big deal" and "a great moment."
During its television debut, Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion attracted 6.5 million viewers globally on Disney Channel and Disney XD. The target audience, boys aged 6 to 11, showed a 52% increase compared to Disney Channel's average year-to-date ratings in the time slot where Spark of Rebellion was broadcast. Between September 26 and October 6, on-demand views reached 75,000, making it the top television property for Disney Channel Subscription Video On Demand, Comcast's Xfinity, and Apple iTunes. The premiere secured the #1 position in the Nielsen Social Daily Top 5 for serials and specials.