How Long Did The Force Exist Before The Jedi? What Star Wars Has Revealed
The Force is much more than what is defined as “what gives a Jedi his power” in the Star Wars universe. It is an energy field with a will of its own. Different groups such as the Church of the Force and the Guardians of the Whills have unique interpretations of it, which are vastly different from the Jedi. Cults like the Nightsisters who wield unconventional powers suggest that the Jedi have an incomplete understanding of the Force.
James Mangold’s new Dawn of the Jedi era movie will explore the origins of the Force, which existed before the Jedi. Star Wars canon and Star Wars Legends differ in their interpretations of who discovered the Force and when. Both agree that this event occurred tens of thousands of years before the Skywalker Saga. Since the Force is linked to life itself, it is possible that it has existed since the creation of the Star Wars galaxy, but when beings discovered it is unclear.
Star Wars canon does not provide a definite time frame for the discovery of the Force, but it is known that it existed before the Jedi Order was founded. The Order of the Dai Bendu preceded the Jedi Order, and although little is known about them, they studied the Force before the Jedi, indicating that it existed before 25,025 BBY.
According to Star Wars Legends, almost 10,000 years before the Jedi Order was founded, the Force was discovered in 36,453 BBY during an event known as the Tho Yor Arrival. Several pyramid-like ships traveled the galaxy in search of Force-sensitive individuals from various planets and species. After collecting these individuals, they were brought to the planet Tython where several philosophers and scientists observed and studied the Force. This may not have been the origin of the Force, but it proves that the Force existed over 10,000 years before the Jedi.
Director James Mangold’s new Jedi origin movie may redefine the origin and discovery of the Force in Star Wars once and for all. Mangold has called this movie the Ten Commandments of the Force, suggesting that it will tell the story of the first person to ever connect with the Force. This may change current theories about his Dawn of the Jedi Era film as the Jedi may not even be involved in the story. Mangold stated that he did not want to be restricted by what has already been established in canon, which is likely why he has chosen to go back so far in the timeline.
The Force is far more than “what gives a Jedi his power” in Star Warsbut what is its origin? Alec Guinness’ Obi-Wan Kenobi defined the Force as an energy field, but it is clearly far more than that. The Force has a will, and different groups such as the Church of the Force and the Guardians of the Whills understand it in completely different ways to the Jedi. The fact some cults – such as the Nightsisters – wield such unusual powers suggests the Jedi have a far from complete understanding of the Force.
If the Force is what gives a Jedi his power, then the Force clearly existed before the Jedi, and James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi era movie will most certainly cover this. Star Wars canon and Star Wars Legends have differing interpretations of when and who discovered the Force, but both of them place this event tens of thousands of years before the Skywalker Saga. Because the Force is tied to life itself, it’s possible the Force has existed since the creation of the Star Wars galaxy. But when beings discovered the Force’s presence and existence is a different story entirely.
The Force Existed Before The Jedi In Star Wars Canon, But How Long Is Unknown
Star Wars canon is extremely vague on when the Force was discovered, but it definitely existed before the Jedi Order was founded. There are some hints of mystical Force beings—such as the Force Wielders in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the Bendu in Star Wars Rebels—who may have been around during the Force’s creation. The Star Wars: Timelines book puts the origin of the Jedi Order at 25,025 BBY. Because the Jedi rely on the Force, the Force had to exist before them.
The Order of the Dai Bendu was a precursor to the Jedi Order, apparently (but not definitively) unrelated to the Bendu in Star Wars Rebels. The Bendu clearly visited Coruscant in ancient times, because the fifth and final day of the week is named “Sunday” after them, while they are known to have constructed a temple on the planet Kijimi in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Little else is known about the Dai Bendu in canon, but given they studied the Force before the Jedi, it means the Force existed before 25,025 BBY.
The Force Existed Around 10,670 Years Before The Jedi In Star Wars Legends
Star Wars Legends is a little more straightforward about when the Force was first discovered and recorded. According to Legends, the Jedi Order was founded in 25,783 BBY, almost 700 years before the canon Jedi Order was founded. According to several of the Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi comics by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema, the Force may have been discovered in 36,453 BBY, almost 10,000 years before the Jedi even existed. During an event known as the Tho Yor Arrival, several pyramid-like ships traveled the galaxy in search of Force-sensitive individuals from a variety of planets and species.
After collecting several Force-sensitives, the Tho Yor ships brought the group to the planet Tython. On Tython, several philosophers and scientists observed and studied the Force. This was one of the earliest examples in Legends where a group of beings got together and recognized their unique Force power. And while it may not have been the origin of the Force itself, it proves the Force existed over 10,000 years before the Jedi in Star Wars Legends. Shortly after gathering, the Je’daii Order was founded, which was the direct precursor of the Jedi Order in Star Wars Legends.
New Star Wars Movie Can Properly Explain The Force’s Origin
Star Wars Legends places the origin of the Force around 10,000 years before the Jedi, and Star Wars canon places the origin some time before 25,025 BBY, but both of these timelines are somewhat vague, and could easily be replaced or redefined by a weightier piece of canon material. Director James Mangold has called this Jedi origin movie the Ten Commandments of the Force, suggesting it will tell the story of the first person to ever connect to the Force. This changes many of the theories being spun about Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi Era film, as the Jedi might not even be involved in the story.
Both canon and Legends place the discovery of the Force before the founding of the Jedi Order, which means Mangold’s movie could go back even further than anticipated. Furthermore, in his interview with GizmodoJames Mangold specifically stated he didn’t want to be fettered by what has already been established in canon, which is likely why he’s chosen to go back so far in the timeline. In all likelihood, Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi Era film will redefine the origin and discovery of the Force in Star Wars once and for all.
