All 10 Wookiee Jedi In Star Wars Canon & Legends (2024)

Since Star Wars’ inception, the Wookiee has become one of the most iconic and beloved species in the franchise. While George Lucas initially was against the idea of letting Wookiee become Jedi, several characters slipped through his grasp before he finally caved. As of now, six Wookiee Jedi have been named in Star Wars Legends, while four have been named in canon. However, more Force-sensitive Wookiees are expected in upcoming Star Wars TV shows, with even future movies in a galaxy far, far away having the potential to include the furry giants as Jedi warriors.

According to Huyang - the ancient droid professor voiced by David Tennant in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ahsoka, and likely Ahsoka season 2’s story - the Wookiee species was rarely seen among the Jedi Order. No Force-sensitive Wookiee in either Star Wars canon or Legends was ever known to become a Sith. Due to the rarity of Wookiee Jedi, the very few who managed to get inducted into the Order were championed among their people, similar to the hero’s welcome Chewbacca received in the Star Wars original trilogy.

10 Lowbacca

The nephew of Chewbacca became an iconic part of Star Wars Legends.

Perhaps the most famous Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars Legends, Lowbacca (or “Lowie”) was Chewbacca’s nephew and was born the same year as the events of Return of the Jedi. Lowbacca's first appearance was in Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. Years after the destruction of the Death Star II, Lowbacca would join Luke’s New Jedi Order on Yavin 4. Not only was he unique among the Jedi for being a Wookiee, but his lightsaber had a bronze hue to it rather than the traditional blue or green.

Lowbacca was fantastic with machinery and equipment, which made him especially helpful to Luke’s Praxeum. Unlike many other Wookiees, Lowbacca carried around a small translator droid that his uncle and Han Solo presented as a gift, helping those who didn’t know Shyriiwook to understand him. It proved invaluable in getting to know Jacen and Jaina Solo, who would become good friends of his.

9 Tyvokka

The Legends Wookie Jedi was part of the Republic's Jedi High Council before The Phantom Menace.

Tyvokka was another well-known Wookiee Jedi in Legends who has since been removed from canon. Tyvokka made his first appearance in the thirty-sixth issue of Star Wars: Republic by Dark Horse Comics. He was a powerful and prominent member of the Jedi High Council before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, notable for having trained Kel Dorian Jedi Master Plo Koon. Like Count Dooku - whom he served alongside as a Jedi - Tyvokka had a uniquely curved lightsaber hilt, though his blade was yellow as opposed to Dooku’s blue.

8 Kirlocca

Kirlocca was another Wookie Jedi of the prequel era in Star Wars Legends.

Kirlocca was another Wookiee Jedi Master from Star Wars Legends who served during the Clone Wars. He first appeared in the Tilnes Rising adventure in the Living Force roleplaying campaign. Unlike many other Jedi, Kirlocca did not serve in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Instead, he was in charge of lightsaber instruction at Almas Academy, located in the Cularin system. Around the same time as The Phantom Menace, he helped recover a powerful Sith artifact known as a Pulas. Years later, he would sadly lose his life to a confused Padawan learner.

7 Vorlocca

Vorlocca's Legends story is brief, uncommon, and full of tragedy.

Similarly to Kirlocca, Vorlocca was a Wookiee Jedi Knight who appeared in the A Mon Alone adventure of the Living Force roleplaying campaign. Unlike other Wookiee Jedi from Legends, Vorlocca’s first and only appearance was as a corpse. Along with two other Jedi, Vorlocca lost his life while defending a Sith Fortress on Almas from raiders who sought to use the fortress’ secrets for their own gain.

6 Kitmum

Kitmum was an unconventional product of Star Wars Legends' strangest stories.

Perhaps the most unorthodox Wookiee Jedi, Kitmum made her first appearance in 2013 in the Jedi Academy children’s novel series by Jeffrey Brown. She was in charge of Physical Education in Brown’s book, though the exercises she assigned were more akin to Earthly sports such as soccer and dodgeball. Nevertheless, as a Wookiee, she was able to lead several Padawans on a field trip to Kashyyyk confidently.

5 Ruhr

Ruhr's history may be canonized in upcoming Star Wars movies given his nature as a precursor to the Jedi Order.

The last Star Wars Legends Wookiee was technically the first ever Wookiee Jedi since he predated the First Jedi that may be focused on in James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi movie. Ruhr held the rank of Je’daii Temple Master: one of the highest ranks attainable in the Je’daii Order on Tython. Not much is known about Ruhr other than the fact that he and fellow Temple Masters formed the Master’s Council, which in many ways was a precursor to the Jedi High Council.

4 Gungi

The Clone Wars' loveable youngling survived Order 66 and lived into the Dark Times.

As far as canon Wookiee Jedi are concerned, the Padawan Gungi is by far the most well-known. Gungi first appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, season 5, episode 6, where he and several other Padawans took the trip to Ilum to uncover kyber crystals for their first lightsabers. Similarly to Tyvokka from Legends, Gungi’s lightsaber hilt is made from wood, rather than metal. Nevertheless, Gungi’s hilt was made from Bylark wood which is said to be just as hard as metal in most cases.

Gungi is also among several Jedi who survived Star Wars' Order 66 as confirmed by his appearance in Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2. Unlike many of the other Jedi who went into hiding, Gungi attempted to continue performing as a Jedi during the Imperial era which led to his capture by the Vanguard Axis. With the help of Clone Force 99, he was ultimately returned to his people on Kashyyyk.

3 Burryaga Agaburry

The High Republic era's Wookie Padawan was instrumental in averting the Great Hyperspace Disaster.

Burryaga Agaburry was a Wookiee Jedi from the time of the High Republic, featured in the novels of the same name. Like Gungi, he only ever attained the rank of Padawan. During the High Republic era, Burryaga was crucial in helping save several lives in the Great Hyperspace Disaster. His connection to the Force was so strong that other Jedi were able to feel his thoughts, despite not understanding his words. He wielded a blue cross-guard lightsaber which was in use when Burryaga went missing on Starlight Beacon while fighting a Rathtar, with his fate afterward remaining unknown.

2 Arkoff

Arkoff served alongside Burryaga as another Wookie Jedi serving the High Republic.

Arkoff was another Wookiee Jedi who served during the High Republic era. He first appeared in The High Republic: Light of the Jedi written by Charles Soule. Though he was stationed as a Jedi Master on the planet Banchii at the time, he - along with Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi - helped many refugees relocate after the Great Hyperspace Disaster, the same incident in which Burryaga aided his Jedi brethren.

1 Kelnacca

Known for taking over the role of Chewbacca from the late Peter Mayhew, Joonas Suotamo is making his return to Star Wars in The Acolyte as a Wookiee Jedi named Kelnacca. While not much is known about Kelnacca’s character, it will be interesting to see how Suotamo tackles the first live-action Wookiee to wield a lightsaber. Since The Acolyte is a Sith-based show, it has the opportunity to redefine what the Force looks like from a different perspective than the lens Star Wars has traditionally viewed it, with Kelnacca potentially being vital to that interpretation.