The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: Visions Season 2, Episode 4, "I Am Your Mother," now streaming on Disney+.
The Star Wars: Visions Season 2 short from Aardman Studios, "I Am Your Mother," features a cameo from an original trilogy actor. Denis Lawson, known for playing Wedge Antilles in four Star Wars films, voices his character in the non-canon story.
The story centers on a young Twilek named Anni learning to be a pilot. She lives on a New Republic world, in a place called Hanna City. Appearing as a special guest at the city's "fancy" flight academy, Wedge speaks more than in the movies. Lawson's beloved Rebel and New Republic pilot is not just a celebrity guest for the fans. Rather, Wedge is a hero of the Galactic Civil War who aspiring pilot Anni would look up to. The event Wedge is there to host is the appropriately silly (for Star Wars) "Family Race." This means that the young pilot cadets bring their parents and siblings with them on their ships on a death-defying race. Anni, however, isn't going to participate. She's embarrassed by her mother, especially in front of a hero like Wedge.
"I Am Your Mother" Is a Very Meta Story About Fan-Favorite Wedge Antilles
Denis Lawson, uncle of Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor, almost wasn't Wedge Antilles. The character first appeared in A New Hope during the Rebel briefing scene. He was the guy Luke talked to about shooting 6-foot-long womp rats, played by Colin Higgins, although his lines were re-recorded by David Ankrum. By the time Red Squadron hit space, Lawson was Wedge and the other character was renamed Col Takbright.
In the Star Wars Expanded Universe (now called Legends), Wedge Antilles was one of the most important characters in the saga. He was present for most battles against the resurgent Empire, including against Grand Admiral Thrawn. He was central to several Rogue Squadron books and appeared as a character in countless others. Denis Lawson never had a lot of screen time, but the character he brought to life stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other Star Wars greats.
In the modern Star Wars canon, Wedge Antilles was a former Imperial Cadet who defected with the crew of the Ghost from Rebels. He was a pilot for the Rebel Alliance and then the New Republic, frequently fighting the Empire. He eventually taught new pilots at a fancy academy on Chandrila after he was captured and tortured by Imperial Remnants. In time, he got back in the pilot's seat and played a role at the Battle of Exegol. Even without that last bit, it's enough to justify Anni's hero worship. And the hilarious detail that Wedge has "merch." Visions isn't Star Wars canon, but Wedge would be exactly the kind of person the New Republic would send to inspire young pilots.
Star Wars: Visions Season 2 Could Be 'Canon-Adjacent'
A project like Star Wars: Visions, meant to showcase animation styles and push limits, would be undeniably hampered by canon. Trying to fit these stories into timelines and around narratives hamstrings the storytellers in a way that wouldn't help the project. Yet, if Lucasfilm knows how to do one thing, it's giving fans more of something they like. Somewhere down the road in a New Republic-era story, a blue Twilek pilot named Anni might just show up. It also might mean that while this story is "imaginary," Wedge may have taken part in New Republic recruitment drives. As there was less and less conflict in the years after the Galactic Civil War, he might have made many such appearances.
Including Lawson is a nice touch, especially since the character of Wedge is so beloved. Fans of the original trilogy clamored for Wedge to show up in the sequels and were elated when he finally did. The way Anni and the other young pilots see Wedge isn't too dissimilar from how Star Wars fans see the Rebel pilot. One of many reasons the delay of Rogue Squadron hurts is because Wedge could've entered his "Obi-Wan Kenobi era" as a mentor to the titular squadron.
Outside of Wedge's appearance, life in Hanna City is an interesting glimpse of what it might have been like after the New Republic took control. The franchise isn't called Star Peace, so canon stories often have to involve conflict. But on countless worlds, known or unknown, Luke, Leia, Han and their pal Wedge helped make life worth living in the galaxy. And at least one of them maybe got to host a family-fun race along the way.
Star Wars: Visions Season 2 is streaming in its entirety on Disney+.