Hanbei

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This article covers a subject from a Star Wars: Visions story that Lucasfilm declared is set in an alternate history within a reimagined galaxy.

"We are acolytes of the Sith and sworn to the dark side. And we are here to put an end to your pitiful plans of restoring the Jedi Order."

―Hanbei, to Margrave Juro — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[3]

Hanbei was a male alien who served who served as an acolyte of the Sith during an era of war. Long after 35 ABY, Hanbei was one of several Sith who posed as masterless Jedi that were summoned to the Aerial Temple above the planet Hy Izlan by Margrave Juro, who sought to provide lightsabers to the Jedi and restore the Jedi Order. As the group waited with an actual Jedi, Ethan, they discussed whether they could trust Juro. When Lah Kara, the daughter of the sabersmith Lah Zhima, arrived with the lightsabers, each of the Sith took one and surrounded Ethan and Kara. Juro then revealed that he had been secretly observing the group from within a steward droid, and Hanbei rushed to attack him. Juro seized Hanbei's lightsaber with the Force and then quickly killed them.

Biography[]

Waiting for Juro[]

"I cannot say if Margrave Juro has actually been able to recreate lightsabers, but it is true there is a deposit of kyber crystals on the planet below."

―Hanbei, to Ethan — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[3]

StewardDroidAndSith-NinthJedi — The group waits for Juro with the steward droid.

Hanbei was an alien male^[2] who served as an acolyte of the Sith during an era of war.^[3] Long after 35 ABY,^[1] Hanbei participated in a Sith plot to obtain lightsabers, which had become lost to the galaxy. Margrave Juro of the Outer Rim planet Hy Izlan, who sought to rebuild the Jedi Order, sent out a transmission inviting masterless Jedi to the Aerial Temple above Hy Izlan, where he would present them with lightsabers. However, Hanbei and four other acolytes of the Sith—Roden, Toguro, Niizo, and Hen Jin—took the place of the Jedi. An actual Jedi, Homen, also arrived at the temple and sided with the Sith after being consumed by their darkness. After arriving at the temple, Hanbei stood next to Roden while waiting for Juro in^[3] the temple's reception hall.^[2]

Another Jedi, Ethan, eventually arrived at the temple as well. After greeting the group and confirming that each of them had also received the transmission, Ethan questioned the authenticity of Juro's message. Hanbei informed^[3] him^[2] that while they did not know if Juro had actually been able to recreate lightsabers, there was a deposit of kyber crystals on Hy Izlan. The group then discussed whether they could trust Juro or not. Soon, a steward droid—who Juro was secretly hiding inside of—arrived and assured the group the margrave would meet them soon.^[3]

Revealing the plot[]

"Hmm. So then, does that mean you might possibly know where he could be right now?"

―Hanbei, asking Kara about her father — 20?cb=20250116042720

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SithAcolytes-NinthJedi — The Sith prepare to face Juro.

At the same time, the Sith's Jedi Hunters located the sabersmith Lah Zhima—who had created the lightsabers for Juro—on Hy Izlan and kidnapped him. His daughter, Lah Kara, took the lightsabers to deliver them to the Jedi at the Aerial Temple. In the temple, Roden demanded evidence of Juro's claims, and Hanbei asked to see proof the margrave had actually constructed lightsabers. The droid presented them with a lightsaber, which Ethan ignited as Hanbei and the others watched intently.^[3]

The group continued to wait, and Hanbei asked how long they would be expected to do so. Kara soon arrived at the temple with the lightsabers, and the group left the reception hall to meet her. When she introduced herself as the daughter of the sabersmith, Hanbei and Roden shared a look. She then placed the lightsabers on the floor, asking the group to help save her father with them, and each member of the group took one. After Kara informed Ethan she knew Juro, Hanbei asked her if she knew where he was. Each of the Sith then activated their lightsabers, surrounding Ethan and Kara.^[3]

At that moment, the steward droid joined them, and Juro revealed himself. Upon seeing him, Hanbei declared the Sith's intentions to stop Juro's plan of restoring the Jedi. He charged toward Juro, but the margrave used the Force to halt them, then pulled Hanbei's lightsaber to him. He then bisected Hanbei with the lightsaber and Roden cried out their name as they fell. During the subsequent duel, the remaining Sith were all killed and Homen rejoined the Jedi.^[3]

Personality and traits[]

"Just how long are we expected to wait here?"

―Hanbei, to the steward droid — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[3]

Hanbei was an alien with wrinkled blue skin, purple eyes, and white hair. They had long ears and two protuberances above their mouth.^[3] Hanbei was old and wise.^[2] They showed impatience while waiting for Juro to arrive.^[3]

Powers and abilities[]

Hanbei was Force-sensitive and used the dark side of the Force. When they attempted to kill Juro, the margrave swiftly defeated them.^[3]

Equipment[]

"Please, use these to help me save him!"

―Kara, while giving lightsabers to the Sith — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[3]

Hanbei wore white robes and briefly wielded a lightsaber. The lightsaber's kyber crystal was tempered so that it would reflect its user's connection to the Force, and its blade was red while Hanbei held it.^[3]

Behind the scenes[]

"The alien designs are original, although I did think in terms of types. A Chewbacca-type, a Yoda-type, etc…"

―Kenji Kamiyama, on the designs of Hanbei and the other aliens^[2]

HanbeiConcept-ArtOfVisions — Hanbei concept art

Hanbei first appeared and was identified in "The Ninth Jedi," a non-canon short film released as part of the first volume of the Star Wars: Visions series. The animated short was produced by Production IG, written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, and released on Disney+^[3] September 22, 2021.^[4] Prior to the short's release, Hanbei was first pictured in a video uploaded to the official Star Wars YouTube channel on July 3, 2021,^[5] They then appeared in the original Japanese and English dub trailers for the series, which were both uploaded to the official Star Wars YouTube channel on August 17 of that year.^[6]^[7] Hanbei was voiced by Jin Urayama in Japanese and Adam Sietz in English.^[3]

Kamiyama was inspired by alien designs from the original trilogy, but deviated from them slightly. Hanbei was loosely based on^[2] Jedi Grand Master^[8] Yoda.^[2] The designs of the Sith were intended to look like Jedi in order to trick the audience. Concept art of Hanbei was shown in the short's accompanying Filmmaker Focus^[9] and included in the 2022 reference book The Art of Star Wars: Visions, written by Zack Davisson.^[2]