Writer and producer Dave Filoni has been nothing if not masterful in his telling of Star Wars. So beloved is his work that fan demand was an enormous factor in The Clone Wars returning for a seventh season on February 21. The new trailer promises an exciting end to the series as it runs up to the events of Revenge of the Sith. It seems we’re going to get a Star Wars Rebels cameo, as well. Yes, that’s Kanan Jarrus in the trailer…. From a certain point of view.

Star Wars Rebels; Kanan Jarrus; The Clone Wars
Jedi Master Depa Billaba appears in the latest Clone Wars trailer with her padawan, Caleb Dume. (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Unless you’re familiar with Rebels, or the spinoff Marvel Comics series Kanan: The Last Padawan, you likely didn’t even notice. Keen-eyed fans of both The Clone Wars and Rebels, however, quickly picked up on the tie-in between Filoni’s two series. During a meeting around a holo table, we see several, recognizable Jedi. They include Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Ki Adi Mundi… and one Depa Billaba. Not familiar with that particular name? She was master to the young padawan beside her in the scene, Caleb Dume. We know him better, of course, as Kanan Jarrus.

Clone Wars trailer features big Rebels tie-in

KAna Jarrus; Rebels; Clone Wars
Image: Marvel Comics

Through four seasons of Rebels, we only got hints of Kanan’s backstory. The comic series, however, tells of Kanan’s early days as Jedi Padawan Caleb Dume. In just the second issue, young Dume watches the clones gun his master down as they execute Order 66. From there we learn how he managed to escape and survive. We also learn how he came to take the name Kanan Jarrus.

In the novel A New Dawn from author John Jackson Miller, fans discover how Kanan meets Hera Syndulla and eventually joins the Ghost crew. It’s at that point that Rebels takes over. It seems that now, however, we may get to see more of young Caleb Dume and Depa Billaba during the Clone Wars.

A New Dawn; Star Wars Rebels; Clone Wars
Image: Del Rey Books

What do you think of this Rebels revelation in the Clone Wars trailer? Are you excited for the final season? Let us know in the comments below. You can also always visit starwars.com for more information as well.