The pilot of the new Disney animated series “Star Wars Rebels” will get an extra airing on ABC later this month, and it will include a new scene featuring James Earl Jones reprising his legendary role as the voice of Darth Vader.
Or as Darth Vader himself might say: “Impressive. Most Impressive.”
“We wanted to do something special for the ABC broadcast,” executive producer Dave Filoni said in a news release reprinted by SlashFilm. “We’ve added a scene which gives audiences insight into the Inquisitor and includes a cameo by Darth Vader voiced by the distinguished actor James Earl Jones.”
Jones voiced Darth Vader in the original “Star Wars” trilogy (with actor David Prowse inside the costume), and reprised the voice role during the character’s brief appearance in “Revenge of the Sith.”
“Star Wars Rebels” takes place about five years before the events depicted in the film “A New Hope,” according to Wookieepedia. While the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” followed Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, “Star Wars Rebels” focuses largely (but not entirely) on new characters.
Other voice talent featured in “Star Wars Rebels” includes Freddie Prinze Jr., Vanessa Marshall, Steve Blum, Tiya Sircar, Taylor Gray, David Oyelowo and Jason Isaacs.
Disney said in the news release that the hour-long pilot, called “Star Wars Rebels: Spark Of Rebellion,” drew 6.5 million viewers when it premiered on Disney Channel last week. The ABC rebroadcast, with the added Darth Vader scene, will air at 7 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on Oct. 26.
New episodes of “Star Wars Rebels” will start on Oct. 13 on Disney XD. The show has already been renewed for a second season.