Wedge Antilles
Encyclopedia
Wedge Antilles is a fictional character in the Star Wars
universe
. He is a supporting character portrayed by Denis Lawson
in the original Star Wars trilogy. Antilles, also called the "greatest ace
" pilot in the Rebel Alliance
, also appears in the Star Wars Expanded Universe
and is the lead character in most of the X-wing novels. Wedge is also notable for being the only Rebel pilot to have survived both attack runs on the Death Star
s at the battles of Yavin and Endor.
during the Rebels' Death Star
attack briefing. In this scene Wedge is portrayed by Colin Higgins and voiced by David Ankrum, who dubs the character throughout the film. Denis Lawson
plays the character for the remaining scenes filmed in the X-wing
cockpit. Lawson also portrays Antilles in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
; his own voice is used in both these films.
Expanded Universe literature explains that Wedge's parents were killed when his parents' starship
-refueling depot exploded. He piloted a freighter before joining the Rebel Alliance
as a starfighter
pilot. Michael A. Stackpole
's and Aaron Allston
's X-wing books and several Dark Horse Comics
series focus on Antilles and the rest of Rogue Squadron
after the events depicted in the films. Antilles also appears in other Expanded Universe works, including the New Jedi Order and Legacy of the Force
novels. Antilles is the player's character
in the Rogue Squadron
and Rogue Leader
video games (reprised by Denis Lawson in the latter) and is a playable character in Rebel Strike
.
pilot and a member of Red Squadron along with Luke Skywalker
. His considerable dogfighting prowess is shown in the Battle of Yavin when he saves Luke by shooting down a TIE Fighter
that Luke had been unable to shake. Along with Luke, he is one of the only three X-Wing pilots to survive until the final attack run along the Death Star's trench. However, his X-Wing is damaged, and he is forced to retreat before the Death Star is destroyed. He and Luke are the only two X-Wing pilots to survive the battle, along with a Y-Wing and the Millennium Falcon.
Wedge appears in The Empire Strikes Back as a member of the newly formed Rogue Squadron
. He flies a Snowspeeder against the Empire
's AT-AT ground assault with Wes Janson as his harpoon gunner. Their Snowspeeder inflicts the first casualty against the AT-AT attack group by firing a harpoon trailing a tow cable into one of the walker's legs and circling the walker several times, causing it to trip and fall and allowing Rebel forces to destroy the walker. After the battle, Wedge is seen and heard wishing Luke a safe trip.
Wedge appears towards the end of Return of the Jedi as the leader of Red Squadron in the Battle of Endor. Along with Lando Calrissian
, who pilots the Millennium Falcon
with Nien Nunb, he leads the fighter attack on the second Death Star. His dogfighting prowess is shown again in this battle, as Wedge personally shoots down a number of Imperial TIE Fighter
s, and appears to easily navigate the narrow and treacherous flight spaces inside the Death Star that lead to its core. When he and Lando reach the Death Star's core, Wedge destroys the power regulator on the core's northwest tower, while Lando destroys the core itself. He later appears at the victory celebration at the Ewok village on Endor.
named Wedge the 24th greatest Star Wars character of all time, claiming "Wedge Antilles may be the most important ancillary character in the Star Wars universe".
Wedge (almost always alongside another Red Squadron wingman, Biggs Darklighter) is a recurring character and a running gag in the Final Fantasy video game series (for example, Final Fantasy 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 and even games outside of the Final Fantasy Universe (but made by the same company, Squaresoft) such as Chrono Trigger and Kingdom Hearts II). The worlds and characters of Final Fantasy are different in almost every game, and so there are many versions of Biggs and Wedge as Final Fantasy characters.
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
. He is a supporting character portrayed by Denis Lawson
Denis Lawson
Denis Stamper Lawson is a Scottish actor and director. He is known for his roles as John Jarndyce in the BBC's adaptation of Bleak House and as Gordon Urquhart in the film Local Hero, but is best known for playing the part of Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy.-Early life:Lawson was...
in the original Star Wars trilogy. Antilles, also called the "greatest ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
" pilot in the Rebel Alliance
Rebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
, also appears in the Star Wars Expanded Universe
Star Wars Expanded Universe
The Star Wars Expanded Universe encompasses all of the officially licensed, fictional background of the Star Wars universe, outside of the six feature films produced by George Lucas. The expanded universe includes books, comic books, video games, spin-off films like Star Wars: The Clone Wars,...
and is the lead character in most of the X-wing novels. Wedge is also notable for being the only Rebel pilot to have survived both attack runs on the Death Star
Death Star
The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...
s at the battles of Yavin and Endor.
Depiction
Antilles first appears in Star Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
during the Rebels' Death Star
Death Star
The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...
attack briefing. In this scene Wedge is portrayed by Colin Higgins and voiced by David Ankrum, who dubs the character throughout the film. Denis Lawson
Denis Lawson
Denis Stamper Lawson is a Scottish actor and director. He is known for his roles as John Jarndyce in the BBC's adaptation of Bleak House and as Gordon Urquhart in the film Local Hero, but is best known for playing the part of Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy.-Early life:Lawson was...
plays the character for the remaining scenes filmed in the X-wing
X-wing
X-wings are fictional starfighters from the original Star Wars trilogy and the expanded universe. They are depicted as the primary interceptor and dogfighter of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic...
cockpit. Lawson also portrays Antilles in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
; his own voice is used in both these films.
Expanded Universe literature explains that Wedge's parents were killed when his parents' starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
-refueling depot exploded. He piloted a freighter before joining the Rebel Alliance
Rebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
as a starfighter
Starfighter
"Starfighter" is a science fiction term used to describe small, fast, usually one-manned craft designed for armed combat .The appearance and use of fictional starfighters is often modeled on fighter aircraft, with little regard for the actual physics of spaceflight...
pilot. Michael A. Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole is a science fiction and fantasy author best known for his Star Wars and Battletech books. He was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, but raised in Vermont...
's and Aaron Allston
Aaron Allston
Aaron Allston is an American game designer and novelist of many science fiction books, notably Star Wars novels. His works as a game designer include game supplements for several role-playing games, several of which served to establish the basis for products and subsequent development of TSR's...
's X-wing books and several Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
series focus on Antilles and the rest of Rogue Squadron
Rogue Squadron
Rogue Squadron is a starfighter squadron in the Star Wars science fiction saga. Many of the pilots that will join Rogue Squadron are initially members of Red Squadron, the X-Wing attack force that Luke Skywalker joins during the Battle of Yavin in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope...
after the events depicted in the films. Antilles also appears in other Expanded Universe works, including the New Jedi Order and Legacy of the Force
Legacy of the Force
The Legacy of the Force is a series of nine science fiction novels set in the Star Wars fictional universe, taking place approximately 40 years after the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope...
novels. Antilles is the player's character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
in the Rogue Squadron
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is an arcade-style action game co-developed by Factor 5 and LucasArts. The first of three games in the Rogue Squadron series, it was published by LucasArts and Nintendo and released for Windows and the Nintendo 64 in December 1998...
and Rogue Leader
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader is an arcade-style action game co-developed by Factor 5 and LucasArts. The second of three games in the Rogue Squadron series, it was published by LucasArts and released as a launch title for the Nintendo GameCube on November 9, 2001.Set in the fictional...
video games (reprised by Denis Lawson in the latter) and is a playable character in Rebel Strike
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike is a Star Wars video game developed by Factor 5 and published by LucasArts exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube. The game follows Rogue Squadron, which, under the command of Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles, uses starfighters to engage and defeat the...
.
Star Wars films
Wedge appears towards the end of A New Hope as "Red Two," an X-WingX-wing
X-wings are fictional starfighters from the original Star Wars trilogy and the expanded universe. They are depicted as the primary interceptor and dogfighter of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic...
pilot and a member of Red Squadron along with Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
. His considerable dogfighting prowess is shown in the Battle of Yavin when he saves Luke by shooting down a TIE Fighter
TIE fighter
TIE fighters are fictional starfighters in the Star Wars universe. Propelled by Twin Ion Engines , TIE fighters are depicted as fast, fragile starfighters produced by Sienar Fleet Systems for the Galactic Empire...
that Luke had been unable to shake. Along with Luke, he is one of the only three X-Wing pilots to survive until the final attack run along the Death Star's trench. However, his X-Wing is damaged, and he is forced to retreat before the Death Star is destroyed. He and Luke are the only two X-Wing pilots to survive the battle, along with a Y-Wing and the Millennium Falcon.
Wedge appears in The Empire Strikes Back as a member of the newly formed Rogue Squadron
Rogue Squadron
Rogue Squadron is a starfighter squadron in the Star Wars science fiction saga. Many of the pilots that will join Rogue Squadron are initially members of Red Squadron, the X-Wing attack force that Luke Skywalker joins during the Battle of Yavin in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope...
. He flies a Snowspeeder against the Empire
Galactic Empire (Star Wars)
The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
's AT-AT ground assault with Wes Janson as his harpoon gunner. Their Snowspeeder inflicts the first casualty against the AT-AT attack group by firing a harpoon trailing a tow cable into one of the walker's legs and circling the walker several times, causing it to trip and fall and allowing Rebel forces to destroy the walker. After the battle, Wedge is seen and heard wishing Luke a safe trip.
Wedge appears towards the end of Return of the Jedi as the leader of Red Squadron in the Battle of Endor. Along with Lando Calrissian
Lando Calrissian
Lando Calrissian is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
, who pilots the Millennium Falcon
Millennium Falcon
The Millennium Falcon is a spacecraft in the Star Wars universe commanded by smuggler Han Solo and his Wookiee first mate, Chewbacca...
with Nien Nunb, he leads the fighter attack on the second Death Star. His dogfighting prowess is shown again in this battle, as Wedge personally shoots down a number of Imperial TIE Fighter
TIE fighter
TIE fighters are fictional starfighters in the Star Wars universe. Propelled by Twin Ion Engines , TIE fighters are depicted as fast, fragile starfighters produced by Sienar Fleet Systems for the Galactic Empire...
s, and appears to easily navigate the narrow and treacherous flight spaces inside the Death Star that lead to its core. When he and Lando reach the Death Star's core, Wedge destroys the power regulator on the core's northwest tower, while Lando destroys the core itself. He later appears at the victory celebration at the Ewok village on Endor.
In popular culture
Wedge is a popular and important character of the original Star Wars trilogy despite his short screen time. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
named Wedge the 24th greatest Star Wars character of all time, claiming "Wedge Antilles may be the most important ancillary character in the Star Wars universe".
Wedge (almost always alongside another Red Squadron wingman, Biggs Darklighter) is a recurring character and a running gag in the Final Fantasy video game series (for example, Final Fantasy 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 and even games outside of the Final Fantasy Universe (but made by the same company, Squaresoft) such as Chrono Trigger and Kingdom Hearts II). The worlds and characters of Final Fantasy are different in almost every game, and so there are many versions of Biggs and Wedge as Final Fantasy characters.