While Phase II: Quest of the Jedi might be shorter than the opening Phase, it still has its big tentpole moments and the upcoming audiobook The Battle of Jedha, written by George Mann and performed by a full cast, is the Phase’s linchpin moment. If you’ve been reading any of the Phase II content so far, it’s clear how everything has been building to Jedha so far, and now we’re getting our first peak at how the audiobook is converging characters and storylines for the big moment. Find out the cast and listen to the first excerpt below!
The Battle of Jedha is out January 3, 2023 and its scriptbook, while not day to day yet, is only out a little over a month later on February 14 (which is better than the usual 8 months in the past). Below I first have the blurb for you, in case you haven’t seen it before, followed by the cast list and excerpt. Beware, spoilers for Wave I of Phase II are abound.
After the events of The High Republic: Convergence, the Jedi travel to Jedha in this all-new Star Wars audiobook original.
Jedha. The worn streets of this ancient world serve as a confluence for the galaxy. Visited by all, yet owned by none. Here, the Jedi are but one creed among many worshipping and studying the Force. From the Guardians of the Whills to the Path of the Open Hand, countless beings come to learn, and to share, in peace.
As all of Jedha prepares for its Festival of Balance, the galaxy still reels from the violence on Eiram and E’ronoh. But after foiling a plot to escalate the war between the two planets, the Jedi believe that a lasting peace may be within reach. Master Creighton Sun and Jedi Knight Aida Forte arrive on Jedha with delegations from both planets to formally end the “Forever War.” The Jedi hope that the harmony of Jedha’s many factions, along with the signing of a peace treaty, will create a symbol to the rest of the galaxy of what can be accomplished through unity.
But not all are happy with the Jedi’s involvement or ready to concern themselves with peace. Rumors begin to swirl that the Jedi bring war in their wake. The distrust and anger that for so long fueled the Forever War now threaten to corrupt the communities of Jedha. When violence breaks out on the sacred moon, the war that was meant to end on Jedha may soon engulf the entire world.
As a warning, the cast list and excerpt contain spoilers from most of Wave I for Phase II!
- Raphael Corkhill (The Blacklist, Call of Duty: Vanguard) as Creighton Sun, who has been in Convergence as part of the team helping bring together the peace for E’ronoh and Eiram. He’s the human Jedi on audiobook’s cover.
- Kristen Sieh (The Blacklist, Orange is the New Black) as Aida Forte, who appeared briefly in Convergence and is the Nikto Jedi on the cover.
- Christian Barillas (Modern Family) as Mesook, a new character.
- Jonathan Davis (Prolific audiobook narrator for Star Wars, as well as Dooku: Jedi Lost, Tempest Runner) as Piralli, another new character.
- Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes (also Star Wars audiobook narrator, as well as Dooku: Jedi Lost and Doctor Aphra) as P3-7A, a new droid and due to his work for Triple-Zero in the Aphra audio, he’s perfect for the role!
- James Fouhey (various audiobook narration) as Ensemble, which is either a character or, well, some type of Greek chorus situation as an Ensemble.
- Neil Hellegers (Dooku: Jedi Lost, Tempest Runner) as Elder Delwin, who we’ve met in Path of Deceit.
- Philip Hernandez (The Blacklist, Gotham) as Morton San Tekka, a new San Tekka we’ve not met yet, but the San Tekka clan has factored into a lot of Phase I content, including Mari San Tekka and her forced part in the Nihil’s rise.
- Catherine Ho (various audiobook narration) as Silandra Sho, the shield wielding badass of Phase II, starring in Quest for the Hidden City where she lived up to my sky-high expectations. Writer George Mann has promised she has a big role in the audiobook!
- David Lee Huynh (Encounter Party! Podcast) as Selik, a new character.
- Sullivan Jones (the new Shatterpoint audiobook and Tempest Runner) as Tilson Graf, and while this is a new Graf, their family has been around in canon for a while, though in Phase I, they are rivals to the San Tekka clan and also get mixed in with the Nihil…
- January LaVoy (Prolific Star Wars audiobook narrator, as well as Dooku: Jedi Lost and Tempest Runner) as The Mother, the leader of the Path of the Open Hand, the cult which believes no one should use the Force, who has been revealed to be somehow related to a current Jedi Knight thanks to the “Character” videos and brings forth the first terrifying Nameless creature into the galaxy in Path of Deceit. LaVoy played an antagonistic force in Jedi Lost and I can’t wait to see what she brings to the Mother here…
- Saskia Maarleveld (previous Star Wars audiobooks, as well as roles in Dooku: Jedi Lost and Tempest Runner) as Meldan, a new character
- Kathleen McInerney (Tempest Runner) as Moona, a Jedi who has been in Mann’s Tales of Enlightenment short stories in Star Wars Insider.
- Brandon McInnis (Dragon Ball Super, Borderlands 3)as Keth Cerapath, also in in Mann’s Tales of Enlightenment.
- Cassandra Morris (Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Sword Art Online) as Gella Nattai, one of the beating hearts to Convergence’s linked characters and someone I am very interested to see again!!
- John Pirkis (The Tick, Amsterdam) as The Herald, the original leader of the Path of the Open Hand and now The Mother’s second in command, as seen in Path of Deceit.
- Salli Saffioti (Horizon: Forbidden West, The Old Republic – Legacy of the Sith, Arcane, to name a few!) as Ambassador Cerox, a new character.
- Marc Thompson (the synonym for prolific Star Wars audio narrator and the previous original audiobook books) as Mytion and Kradon, the former being new and Kradon already seen in Mann’s short stories and The High Republic – Phase II comic from Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito as the owner of a bar in Jedha City.
- Shannon Tyo (Tempest Runner) as Marda Ro, one of the main Path of the Open Hand characters we’ve met, as seen in Path of Deceit, who is on a VERY interesting trajectory, and that’s before you factor in she’s Evereni and her family line eventually leads to Marchion Ro.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.