Cal Kestis, a Jedi Padawan who survived Order 66, leads a gripping fight against the Empire in Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor. His blue lightsaber, deep ties to characters like Cere Junda and Saw Gerrera, and a confirmed place in Star Wars canon cement his role as one of the most compelling new heroes in the franchise.
Whether or not Cal Kestis canon is, in fact, canon has become a major point of discussion among Star Wars fans.
As the lead character in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Cal Kestis—portrayed by Cameron Monaghan—has quickly emerged as one of the most compelling new additions to Star Wars canon.
His journey from Padawan under Jedi Master Jaro Tapal to a rogue warrior resisting the Galactic Empire echoes the classic arcs of icons like Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, while introducing a new layer of emotional depth and gameplay in the Star Wars Jedi games.
With appearances from Cere Junda, the Inquisitors, and even Darth Vader, and references in books like Battle Scars, Cal’s story is deeply connected to the official Star Wars timeline.
From the color of his lightsaber to his brushes with the Death Star era, every part of his path raises the stakes for the broader Star Wars story, adding richness to a galaxy already filled with legends like Asajj Ventress, Boba Fett, and Quinlan Vos.
Based on that intro above, the short answer is: Yes, Cal Kestis is, without question, a canon character in the Star Wars universe.
Introduced in the critically acclaimed video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Cal’s story takes place five years after the end of the Clone Wars, placing it squarely within the established timeline. Disney officially considers all media produced from April 25, 2014, onward as part of the current canon, which includes Fallen Order and its sequel Jedi: Survivor.
Cal’s journey is woven seamlessly into the broader tapestry of Star Wars lore.
Events from Fallen Order, such as the destruction of Fortress Inquisitorius and the appearance of characters like the Second and Ninth Sisters, align with developments in Star Wars Rebels and Obi-Wan Kenobi. In fact, Fortress Inquisitorius later reappears in Obi-Wan Kenobi, providing visual and narrative reinforcement that Cal’s story is firmly rooted in canon.
The game’s careful adherence to existing events and its introduction of new, interconnected elements—like the Inquisitors and the hunt for Force-sensitive children—further cement its place in the official timeline.
Cal Kestis began as a young Jedi Padawan under Master Jaro Tapal during the final days of the Clone Wars. When Order 66 was issued, Cal was present aboard the Venator-class Star Destroyer Albedo Brave.
The betrayal of the clones led to a desperate escape, during which Tapal was mortally wounded protecting his student. Cal barely survived, fleeing to the scrapyard world of Bracca, where he lived in hiding for years, suppressing his Force abilities.
His journey reignites when an accident forces him to use the Force to save a friend’s life, drawing the attention of the Empire.
Pursued by Inquisitors, Cal is rescued by former Jedi Cere Junda and the pilot Greez Dritus, setting off a quest that takes him across the galaxy aboard the Stinger Mantis. Joined later by the Nightsister Merrin and the faithful droid BD-1, Cal seeks out a holocron containing the names of Force-sensitive children.
In the end, rather than risk the list falling into enemy hands, Cal chooses to destroy it—protecting potential Jedi from the Empire’s reach.
By Jedi: Survivor, Cal has grown into a seasoned warrior. Working alongside Saw Gerrera and others, he continues his fight against the Empire. His mission eventually leads him to uncover the ancient Jedi world of Tanalorr, where he seeks a refuge for those still hunted by the dark forces consuming the galaxy.
Set between the fall of the Republic and the events of A New Hope, Cal Kestis’ narrative fits cleanly into the turbulent years when the Empire solidified its grip across the galaxy. The timeline of Jedi: Fallen Order begins around 14 BBY, placing it just after Solo: A Star Wars Story and before Star Wars Rebels and Andor.
Jedi: Survivor continues the tale in 9 BBY, directly alongside the events of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.His story doesn't disrupt existing canon—it enriches it.
The use of planets like Ilum, later repurposed into Starkiller Base, and characters such as Saw Gerrera, who also appears in Rogue One, reinforces this cohesion. Even locations first introduced in the games have been adopted into other media.
Cal’s journey highlights the lived experience of Jedi survivors in a galaxy hostile to their existence, offering fresh insight without conflicting with the legacy of Luke Skywalker or the larger rebellion.
Yes, Cal Kestis is as canon as any character in the films or television series. He exists within the same universe, follows the same galactic rules, and interacts—albeit indirectly—with well-known factions and figures like Anakin Skywalker and others.
His survival of Order 66, his confrontations with Inquisitors, and his appearance on known planets like Coruscant, Jedha, and Ilum all reinforce his canonical authenticity.
What further legitimizes Cal's place in Star Wars lore is how other canon materials refer to him. In Mike Chen’s novel Brotherhood, Cal’s Jedi Master, Jaro Tapal, appears briefly with a red-haired youngling—implied to be Cal—during the Clone Wars.
Though unnamed in the text, Chen later confirmed the cameo was intentional. This kind of cross-medium acknowledgment helps ground Cal as a true part of the Star Wars narrative fabric.
So far, Cal Kestis has not appeared in any live-action or animated series, but the demand from fans is growing. There was speculation that he might make an appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi or The Bad Batch, both of which explored periods in which Cal was active.
Despite these missed opportunities, a brief nod to his past was embedded in Brotherhood, and actor Cameron Monaghan has publicly expressed interest in bringing Cal to live-action.
With the ever-expanding Star Wars universe and the increasing trend of integrating characters from games and novels into broader media, Cal’s transition to a live-action platform seems more a matter of timing than possibility.
Until then, his story continues to unfold in the interactive medium, where it has already captured the hearts of millions.
While Jedi: Fallen Order allows players to customize Cal Kestis’ lightsaber in a rainbow of colors, canonically, his blade is blue.
This is the color he wields in key cinematics, official promotional materials, and most importantly, in The Lightsaber Collection—a guidebook that solidifies various weapons across the franchise’s canon.
Cal’s weapon has undergone transformations that mirror his growth. After losing his original saber, he builds a new one using parts from both his fallen master Jaro Tapal’s lightsaber and the hilt of Cere Junda’s former blade.
The final result is a double-bladed blue saber, symbolic of the balance he achieves between his past and present, his mentors and his mission. Though players can swap colors at will, the blue blade remains the version enshrined in official canon.
Ultimately, there is no longer any debate—Cal Kestis is canon.
His inclusion in the official canon was solidified by Lucasfilm through games developed in partnership with the Lucasfilm Story Group, ensuring his role fits seamlessly into the overarching Star Wars franchise.
Whether clashing sabers with the Empire’s elite, discovering hidden Jedi archives, or journeying across the stars in a Star Destroyer’s shadow, Cal embodies the spirit of the Jedi in a way that feels authentic, fresh, and entirely earned.
As fans await future Star Wars games, live-action appearances, or perhaps even a tie-in to upcoming titles like Star Wars Outlaws, it’s clear that Cal’s story is far from over. For any Star Wars fan following the evolving Star Wars timeline, Cal Kestis stands not just as a player avatar, but as a fully realized character who will shape Star Wars history for years to come.
.jpg)
Use code FREESABER at checkout, and you'll receive a FREE Mystery Saber with every saber you purchase!
f.i. Buy 2 sabers? Get 2 Mystery Sabers FREE!
Prefer savings instead? Use code Theory20 and instantly enjoy 20% OFF your entire order!
