Star Wars is teasing a lavish new crossguard lightsaber variation with a folding crosspiece. High Republic era Jedi Master Stellan Gios wields the Excalibur like lightsaber. The reference book Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection (2020) includes images and a write up of the folding Stella Gios crossguard lightsaber alongside other iconic Star Wars character lightsabers.
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Designing an Excalibur Like Crossguard Lightsaber
During numerous concept sketches, designers sought to develop a new Excalibur like lightsaber in the tradition of the Kylo Ren crossguard lightsaber. They wanted to create an iconic lightsaber design both suitable for the Stellan Gios character and emblematic of the High Republic era as whole. Set around the time of 232 BBY, the High Republic era is a time of exploration and expansion into the far reaches of the galaxy. The High Republic era is the golden age of the Jedi.
Bold silver and black accents and ornate, gold-trimmed edges decorate the exterior of the Stellan Gios lightsaber. A red button adorns upper part of the hilt. According to the Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection book, “When the saber ignites, the crossguard blades push the quillons outward forming caps to the blades and creating a secondary guard.” When the lightsaber is not in use, the crossguard element folds up and extends forward. The lightsaber’s owner Stella Gios uses a lightsaber holster to wear the weapon on his hip.
Michael Siglain, Lucasfilm Publishing’s creative director, discussed the High Republic and the new crossguard lightsaber with StarWars.com. “Internally, we often refer to the Jedi of this era as ‘the Jedi Knights of the Round Table,'” Siglain said. “Taking that idea one step further, their sabers can be viewed as their own versions of Excalibur.”
Source: https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-the-high-republic-lightsaber
Star Wars: The High Republic is a Lucasfilm publishing campaign. The campaign includes books and comics and explores the golden age of the Jedi. A novel entitled The High Republic: Lightsaber of the Jedi is the first story in the campaign. Written by Charles Soule, the novel will be published on January 5, 2021.
COVER IMAGE CREDIT Lucasfilm/Disney
Image depicts the folding crossguard lightsaber wielded by High Republic Jedi Master Stellan Gios
