The Next Star Wars Series Should Adapt This Beloved Marvel Comic

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With the Star Wars franchise in full expansion mode, it’s become evident the galaxy far, far away is no longer solely focused on the epic battles between Jedi and Sith. After a decade of hollow homages (The Rise of Skywalker) and new-vision fakeouts (The Last Jedi), the success of series’ like Skeleton Crew indicates the Star Wars universe might be better off embracing a variety of tones, as opposed to a carbon copy of Lucas’ original one. And while Skeleton Crew finds inspiration in the adventurous spirit of Amblin films, there’s another pastiche corner of Star Wars mythos little-known to the live-action eye primed to steal the spotlight: Doctor Aphra.

A relatively recent fan-favorite from the Star Wars comic book side of things, Aphra would not just be another addition to the sprawling saga—she’d serve as a fresh, female-led twist on the classic swashbuckling adventures of Indiana Jones and similar pulp story superstars. Aphra, like Indy, brushes against high-stakes treasure hunts, tomb raiding, and no shortage of moral ambiguity, and, if brought to live action, she’d bring that same energy to the farthest reaches of the Star Wars galaxy.

Doctor Aphra: An Indiana Jones for a New Generation

The Archaeologist Adventurer From Far, Far Away

First introduced in Star Wars: Darth Vader #3 (2015), Doctor Aphra is an archeologist with a taste for the dangerous, the forbidden, and the downright morally dubious. Sound familiar? That’s the point. She’s got the brains of a scientist and the courage of a soldier, but don’t be fooled—Aphra sets herself apart plenty.

Doctor Aphra is a character who isn’t shy about dabbling in the gray but who’s endlessly fascinating because of it. She’s much more susceptible to her self-serving nature, more interested in staying a step ahead of enemies and even allies, than she is about getting the adventure over with to go back to academia. Driven by her thirst for knowledge and treasure, Aphras actions and decisions might not always align with the traditional hero’s journey.

However, if Jude Law’s Skeleton Crew star turn as Jod Na Nawood is any indication, that’s what makes her so appealing to join the live-action Disney+ series fray. It’s a formula ripe for Star Wars, and it could take the galaxy in a fresh direction, much like Skeleton Crew did by pulling from more child-friendly ’80s adventure classics. Just as the kids in Skeleton Crew must navigate a Goonies-style adventure into the unknown, Aphra’s journey can lead her to raiding tombs, uncovering hitherto unseen Star Wars species or long-forgotten military technologies—only Aphra can, just as often, be as much a part of the problem as she is the solution. That sense of adventure—tinged with hijinks and danger—is exactly what Star Wars could use in its next major series.

Aphra Fits Perfectly Into The Disney+ Saga

Doctor Aphra’s story starts during the Imperial era, slotting in neatly between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. But her tale doesn’t end with the fall of the Empire. After Return of the Jedi, Aphra keeps going, carving out a space for herself in the post-Empire chaos. In the Doctor Aphra (2016) comic series, readers saw her navigating the rise of the New Republic, clashing with Imperial remnants, and exploiting the galaxy’s shifting power dynamics—always with an eye on personal gain.

Doctor Aphra’s standout moments in her comic book run thus far are among the best Star Wars comics have offered since getting folded into the Marvel Comics imprint and highlight her exceptional cunning and ability to rub elbows with some of Star Wars’ most formidable figures. In her debut in Darth Vader (2015), Aphra makes an immediate impact as a rogue archaeologist able to strike a deal with Darth Vader. From therein, they form a dangerous partnership—another testament to Aphra’s ability to talk her away from—and into—sticky situations.

Eventually, Vader becomes aware that Aphra is playing her own game, manipulating the Sith Lord and igniting an evergreen game of cat-and-mouse. The sudden kidnapping of Hera Syndulla in Doctor Aphra (2017) is also among the title character’s accolades. In that arc, Aphra uses the fellow female Star Wars star from Star Wars: Rebels and Ahsoka- a Rebel Leader in her own right- as leverage. It’s a resumé that goes a long way in supporting her use in the time periods other series are currently exploring.

Doctor Aphra’s Comic Book History Offers Disney Plus Possibilities

Characters and Plotlines Are Ripe For Aphra’s Involvement

Aphra’s connections to several Star Wars characters and timelines make her a compelling option for the next Disney+ series and an uncomplicated one to slot in across multiple series and varying time periods. With Hera Syndulla, seen in Star Wars: Rebels and Ahsoka, Aphra can serve as a morally ambiguous counterpoint with whom a checkered past is shared.

Black Krrsantan is worth mentioning, too. The Wookie featured in The Book of Boba Fett was one of that show’s few standouts, and his appearance stoked yet-to-be-fulfilled hope that Aphra would make her way to the screen. Aphra and Black Krrsantan’s shared history is a bit of an intriguing partnership—think Han and Chewie, if they were willing to backstab one another and others—could bring an exciting new dynamic to the Star Wars saga.

Aphra’s expertise and interest in ancient military technology further positions her as a valuable assetin the broader Star Wars narrative, potentially for both sides. Her ability to unlock the secrets of long-forgotten weapons and artifacts—whether sought by Darth Vader in a continuation of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Grand Admiral Thrawn in an Ahsoka sequel story, or other high-profile figures—makes her a key player in the search for power.

Aphra would almost certainly be curious to find out who currently wields the Dark Saber or what long-lost tech or mysteries Thrawn is pursuing. Whether a reluctant ally or an opportunistic figure exploiting the galaxy’s oldest secrets, Aphra’s skill set ensures she’d make sense in pretty much any conflict Dave Filoni and company might be cooking up.

Let Doctor Aphra Be Indy In Space

Continue The Swashbuckling Skeleton Crew Starts

Doctor Aphra represents a unique opportunity for Star Wars to, like Skeleton Crew before it, expand beyond its traditional boundaries while maintaining the sense of adventure and discovery that has always been the franchise’s beating heart.

When coupled with Aphra’s archaeological expertise and complicated relationships with established characters, this offers a fresh perspective on the galaxy far, far away. As Star Wars continues to evolve through series like Skeleton Crew and Ahsoka, the time seems right to bring this beloved comic book character to the screen.

With her Indiana Jones-inspired adventures, complex dynamics with existing fan favorites already installed into current Star Wars plans, and ability to seamlessly fit into multiple periods of the saga, Aphra could represent a new wrinkle in ongoing Star Wars storytelling.

“}]] Skeleton Crew’s success on Disney Plus could mean it’s finally the right time to bring a beloved Star Wars comic book to the small screen.  Read More