Star Wars Rebels : Spark of Rebellion Star Wars Rebels : Spark of Rebellion is a forty - five minute long ( one - hour with commercials ) , two - part animated television movie that serves as the series premiere for the animated television series " Star Wars Rebels " . The film premiered online for verified users of WatchDisneyXD . com on September 26 , 2014 , and made its television debut on Disney Channel on October 3 , 2014 . " Spark of Rebellion " was released on commercial DVD on October 14 , 2014 . The movie re - aired on the ABC Network on October 26 , with a new prologue featuring Darth Vader and the Grand Inquisitor . The canon story takes place five years before the events of and introduces the crew of the " Ghost " , a band of rebels who fight against the Galactic Empire and who will one day help spark the rise of the Rebel Alliance . The plot primarily centers around fourteen year old orphan Ezra Bridger as he joins the crew of the " Ghost " and learns he can use the powers of the Force . Ezra and the crew — Order 66 survivor and former Padawan Kanan Jarrus , pilot Hera Syndulla , Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren , Lasat warrior Zeb Orrelios , and astromech droid Chopper — learn that Wookiee slaves are being taken by the Empire to the spice mines of Kessel and launch a mission to rescue them , all while being pursued by Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau . " Spark of Rebellion " was executive produced by Dave Filoni , Simon Kinberg , and Greg Weisman , written by Kinberg , and directed by Steward Lee and Steven G . Lee . It stars Taylor Gray as Ezra , Vanessa Marshall as Hera , Freddie Prinze Jr . as Kanan , Tiya Sircar as Sabine , Steve Blum as Zeb , and David Oyelowo as Agent Kallus . Jason Isaacs provides the voice of the Inquisitor ; James Arnold Taylor reprises his role from " " as Obi - Wan Kenobi , who appears as a holographic recording ; and James Earl Jones once again provided the voice of Darth Vader . This episode was originally split into two parts when it was aired and made available on DVD , but was released as one uninterrupted episode when it became available for purchase on digital video storefronts , such as iTunes . Official description . " It is a dark time . The Jedi are no more , and the Empire rules the galaxy with an iron fist - - bringing tyranny to the Outer Rim world of Lothal . Their ominous presence is a cloud over the planet , squashing any hope of freedom or a better life , especially for 14 - year - old orphan Ezra Bridger . But the young con artist soon finds that destiny has other plans for him , as he encounters a small band of rebels who dare to strike back against the Empire . " Plot summary . Prologue . Some time after the Clone Wars and the rise of the Galactic Empire , the Jedi hunter known as the Grand Inquisitor is on the bridge of a Star Destroyer , where he speaks via hologram to the Sith Lord and fallen Jedi Knight Darth Vader . Vader tells the Inquisitor that , though the Jedi Knights are all but destroyed , Emperor Sheev Palpatine has foreseen a new threat rising against the Empire — the " children of the Force . " Vader orders the Inquisitor to ensure that they do not become Jedi and that , if they do not join the Empire , they be destroyed . With Vader ' s order , the Inquisitor ensures his master that it would be done . Heist in Capital City . On the Outer Rim world of Lothal , fourteen years after the rise of the Empire , Ezra Bridger is a fourteen year old orphan living in an abandoned communication tower . He spots a Star Destroyer flying over his tower and towards Capital City , and he speeds off towards the city as the cruiser makes its approach . In the city , he comes across Commandant Cumberlayne Aresko and Taskmaster Myles Grint who , along with a group of stormtrooper s , are harassing a local merchant Yoffar . The merchant expresses his disagreement with the Empire , saying that the Imperials ruined Lothal and the rest of the galaxy , for which Aresko charges him with treason . Ezra arrives and steals Aresko ' s communicator , which he uses to impersonate an Imperial officer and send Aresko and Grint towards a supposed emergency in the city ' s main square . With the Imperials gone , the merchant thanks Ezra for his help , and Ezra steals a few jogan fruit s so he can have something to eat . Ezra climbs onto a nearby roof , where he makes his way towards the square and overlooks Aresko and Grint , who learn that there was no emergency after all . Instead , they find Yogar Lyste , an Imperial officer , overseeing the transport of important shipping crates . While watching the Imperials , and amused at his work , Ezra unknowingly uses the Force to sense the presence of the nearby Kanan Jarrus , a former Jedi Padawan who survived the destruction of the Jedi Order . Ezra stays hidden as Jarrus senses his presence as well , and the boy watches the former Jedi as he and his team of rebels begin an operation to steal the Imperial supply crates . One of the rebels , the Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren , leaves a detonator near the Imperial troops , which explodes and forces the Imperials to evacuate with the crates . Jarrus intercepts the Imperial speeders and , along with the Lasat warrior Garazeb " Zeb " Orrelios , fights off the troops . Bridger steals one of the speeders and , with it , a set of crates , and speeds away before Jarrus and Orrelios can stop him . Wren spots Bridger and jumps onto the crates Bridger ' s speeder is carrying , taking one of the two while Bridger continues to speed through the streets of Capital City and Jarrus and Orrelios pursue him . The chase leads to a roadway outside the city , where Bridger and the two rebels are spotted and chased by Imperial troops . The rebels fight off the troops and Jarrus intercepts Bridger , who says that he stole the crate from Jarrus fair and square . Bridger flees once again as a TIE / ln space superiority starfighter fires on their position , leaving Jarrus ' s speeder destroyed . The boy continues to speed back towards his tower while the TIE fighter pursues him . The fighter fires on him and destroys his speeder , leaving Bridger defenseless until the fighter is shot down by the " Ghost " , the rebels ' ship . Jarrus offers Bridger a chance to escape as additional TIE fighters approach , and Bridger unknowingly uses the Force to leap into the hovering ship with his crate , much to the surprise of the former Jedi . With Bridger safely on board , the " Ghost " flies towards space with the TIE fighters in pursuit , while Bridger learns what was inside the case he stole : blaster s . Jarrus makes his way to the " Ghost " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s cockpit , where the Twi ' lek Hera Syndulla is piloting the ship . While Jarrus explains to her what happened on Lothal , Bridger and Orrelios argue about who has the rightful claim to the blasters , with Bridger believing that the rebels simply want to use them to survive like he does . Orrelios eventually throws Bridger into a small , closet - sized room , but the boy enters an air vent and makes his way through the bowels of the ship . Syndulla , meanwhile , is impressed by what she ' s heard of the boy , and thinks he would be useful as part of the crew — which Jarrus , at first , disagrees with . Bridger falls through the ventilation shafts and into one of the ship ' s gun turrets , where he realizes that — for the first time in his life — he is in space , and in a battle he thinks he will kill him . Jarrus and Wren man the two gun turrets , with Wren taking the one Bridger is in , and hold off the TIE fighters , giving Syndulla a chance to jump the " Ghost " into hyperspace . On Lothal , Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau inspects the scene where the rebels stole the crates . He tells Commandant Aresko that they are not the first Imperials on Lothal to be attacked by the rebels , much to the officer ' s relief . Kallus explains that the activities of the rebels are now a pattern , and that their actions could signal the start of a full - scale rebellion against the Empire . It is Kallus ' job to ensure that the spark of rebellion is not lit , and he plans to stop the crew of the " Ghost " the next time they attempt to attack the Empire . The " Ghost " drops back out of hyperspace and Orrelios takes Bridger to the cockpit , where he meets Syndulla . Bridger demands to be taken back to Lothal , which is what the crew plans to do — but Bridger is concerned that going back too soon will put the Empire on their tail . Syndulla explains that the " Ghost " can scramble its signal , that way the Empire cannot track them . Upon returning to Lothal , the " Ghost " lands near Lothal re - settlement camp 43 , which the locals call " Tarkintown , " named for Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin after he forced the settlers off of their farms and into refugee status . The rebels bring the stolen crates into Tarkintown , where , for the first time , Bridger sees the suffering of the people there . Later , Jarrus and Syndulla speak to local Lothal crime lord Cikatro Vizago , for whom they stole the blasters in return for payment . In exchange for the blasters , Vizago also reveals information that they have wanted to know for some time : the location of Wookiee s who were enslaved by the Empire . In Tarkintown , Orrelios and Wren open their crates to reveal food , which they give away for free to the locals . Bridger is surprised when one of the refugees thanks him , as the boy knows he did not do anything . He returns to the " Ghost " and , while sitting outside of the ship , he senses something through the Force that leads him to Jarrus ' quarters on the ship . After breaking into Jarrus ' quarters , he finds and steals a holocron , as well as a lightsaber — which he activates to reveal the blue blade . Jarrus and Syndulla spot him with the weapon , having been alerted to the break - in by the C1 - series astromech droid Chopper , and Jarrus demands that Bridger hand over the lightsaber . Jarrus lets him keep the holocron , however , knowing that if Bridger can open it , then the boy can use the Force and could be trained as a Jedi . Wookiee rescue . Bridger leaves Jarrus ' quarters and finds Wren , where he learns more about the rebels and how they became a family after losing their real families to the Empire . Orrelios interrupts their conversation and says that Jarrus wants to speak to Orrelios and Wren , leaving Chopper to watch Bridger . In the ship ' s common room , Jarrus explains that Vizago gave them the location of an Imperial " Gozanti " - class cruiser carrying Wookiee prisoners , most of whom fought as soldiers for the Galactic Republic before its fall . As Jarrus begins to explain his plan , Bridger falls into the common room , having once again snuck through the ventilation shaft . Orrelios wants to dump him back on Lothal , but Wren says that it would be too dangerous as the boy knows too much about their plan already . Syndulla takes Bridger to the cockpit , while the others prepare for the mission . In the cockpit , Bridger expresses his surprise that anyone would fight so hard against the Empire . A few moments later , the " Ghost " drops out of hyperspace near the Imperial transport . When questioned by the transport about their purpose , Syndulla lies and says that they were ordered by Grand Moff Tarkin to deliver an additional Wookiee prisoner . The transport allows the " Ghost " to dock , and Jarrus and Wren enter with Orrelios , who pretends to be a " rare hairless Wookiee . " The Imperials do not believe them , so Orrelios knocks them out . The trio , along with Chopper , makes its way into the ship to rescue the Wookiees . Unexpectedly , Agent Kallus ' Star Destroyer drops out of hyperspace and brings both the transport and the " Ghost " into its docking bay , springing a trap he had set for the rebels . Syndulla tells Bridger he needs to board the transport and warn the others . After briefly arguing against her , as he does not initially want to risk his life , Bridger boards the ship and finds Jarrus and Orrelios to warn them . They are soon assaulted by stormtroopers , forcing the rebels to flee . Wren and Chopper , meanwhile , temporarily disable the gravity system on the ship , giving them an opportunity to make their way back to the " Ghost " . As the rebels get back to the ship , Orrelios pushes his way in front of Bridger , an act that leads to the boy ' s capture by Agent Kallus — and the departure of the " Ghost " without him . As the " Ghost " flies away , the rebels detonate explosives Wren left behind , destroying the transport . The crew converges in the cockpit after the " Ghost " jumps into hyperspace . When they realize that Bridger is gone , Orrelios at first tries to feign innocence , saying he thought the boy was with the others , but quickly admits that Kallus took him prisoner . Aboard the Star Destroyer , Bridger is being held in a prison cell when he is approached by the ISB Agent , who tells him that the Empire will use the boy as bait in order to capture the rebels — an idea Bridger thinks is foolish , as he does not believe people would risk their lives to save someone in such a mission . Once Kallus leaves and the stormtroopers take most of Bridger ' s gear , Bridger finds that he still has the holocron he stole from Jarrus . Bridger is able to use the Force to open the holocron , revealing a holographic message from Jedi Master Obi - Wan Kenobi . The message , recorded during the fall of the Republic and the Jedi Order , warns the surviving Jedi about the rise of the Empire . Back aboard the " Ghost " , the crew argues about whether to rescue the boy . Orrelios and Wren vote to leave him behind , knowing that the Imperials will be waiting for the rebels , while Syndulla and Chopper vote to rescue him . Jarrus is left as the deciding vote and chooses to mount a rescue . Not believing that anyone will come to rescue him , however , Bridger tricks the stormtroopers guarding him to enter the cell , giving Bridger an opportunity to slip out and lock the troopers inside . He makes his way to a storage room , where he picks up his gear and an Imperial helmet , inside of which he can hear the communications aboard the Star Destroyer — and learns that the Wookiee prisoners are being taken to the spice mines of Kessel . He also learns that the " Ghost " has returned to rescue him and meets up with the rebels near the docking bay . The group flees as Kallus and the stormtroopers pursue , and the ship takes off just as Wren ignites an explosion in the hangar , one that nearly sucks Kallus into space . The " Ghost " jumps back into hyperspace while Bridger talks to Syndulla in the cockpit , revealing that he has no family to go home to on Lothal . When more of the crew joins , Bridger tells them that the Wookiees are being taken to Kessel . Knowing that the Wookiees will not survive in the harsh mining environment , the rebels — including Bridger — choose to mount a rescue . Kallus suspects that they will embark on such a mission , as he learns that the communicator was on inside the helmet that Bridger stole while the Imperials discussed the Wookiee prisoners . On Kessel , the Wookiee prisoners — including Wullffwarro and his young son , Kitwarr — are taken off an Imperial transport ship and led towards the spice mines by stormtroopers . As they do so , the " Ghost " descends towards them and fires on the Imperials . The ship lands , and Jarrus , Wren , and Orrelios fight the stormtroopers , giving Bridger an opportunity to sneak around the soldiers and release the Wookiees from captivity . The freed Wookiees fight back against their captors just as three TIE fighters emerge and fire on the " Ghost " . The " Ghost " leads the fighters away while Kallus ' transport arrives . The ISB agent and stormtroopers pour out , forcing the rebels and the Wookiees to take cover . While Syndulla pilots the " Ghost " throughout the sky to escape the TIE fighters , Jarrus tells her to perform a 22 pickup — a maneuver where the crew and the Wookiees will hide inside a cargo container that can be picked up by the " Ghost " . In order to give the rebels and the Wookiees an opportunity to escape into the containers , Jarrus ignites his lightsaber and reveals himself to be a Jedi . Kallus orders his men to fire on Jarrus , who uses his lightsaber to deflect blaster fire back towards the Imperials while the others escape into one of the containers . Bridger , however , decides to rescue Kitwarr , who fled from the firefight and is being pursued by a stormtrooper . After following them to a ramp overlooking the deep mines , Bridger uses the Force to leap over the stormtrooper and knocks him over the railing with an energy slingshot . Kallus witnessed Bridger ' s actions and believes him to be Jarrus ' apprentice . Jarrus and the " Ghost " , which picked up the cargo container , arrive in time to save Bridger and Kitwarr before escaping from Kessel . A new Jedi . Having fled Kessel , the Wookiees board the " Ghost " , where Kitwarr and Wullffwarro reunite . The Wookiees are picked up by an " Auzituck " anti - slaver gunship and tell the rebels that , if they ever need help , the Wookiees will be there . As the Wookiee ship disembarks , the departure physically jolts the ship , which Bridger uses as a chance to take Jarrus ' lightsaber from the Jedi ' s belt . The ship returns to Lothal , where Bridger says goodbye to the crew before returning to his tower . Before leaving , however , he returns the holocron to Jarrus , who sees that the holocron has been opened . Bridger returns to his tower , where Jarrus soon arrives . The boy asks him what the Force is , and Jarrus explains that it is an energy field that binds the galaxy together . Jarrus tells Bridger that he could be trained in the ways of the Force and become a Jedi , giving him the choice to either keep the lightsaber and remain on Lothal or return to the ship and become part of the crew . Jarrus departs , leaving Bridger with time to think about his decision , and returns to his quarters aboard the " Ghost " . Once there , he opens the holocron and plays the full message from Obi - Wan Kenobi . The Jedi Master warns Jedi survivors that they should not return to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and that a new hope will , one day , emerge from the darkness . As the message ends , Jarrus sees Bridger in the hallway , and the boy returns the Jedi ' s lightsaber . Aboard his Star Destroyer , Agent Kallus contacts the Inquisitor and informs the Jedi hunter that he has discovered a rebel cell led by a Jedi , which the Inquisitor says Kallus did well to inform him of . Release . " Spark of Rebellion " received its first public screening at the 2014 . It was scheduled to appear online for WATCHDisneyXD . com subscribers on September 29 , 2014 , but the date was eventually moved up to September 26 . It made its television debut on the Disney Channel on October 3 , 2014 ( concurrently with a - exclusive DVD release ) , followed by an October 6 airing on Disney XD . It was made available for digital download / VOD on October 4 , and received wide release on DVD on October 14 . On October 9 , 2014 , it was announced that the film would air on ABC on October 26 , 2014 with a new scene featuring the Inquisitor and Darth Vader . This idea arose after George Lucas was screened the original version of the film . It was released again , on September 1 , 2015 , as part of in which it was split into two episodes . Continuity . " Spark of Rebellion " takes place fourteen years after the events of , and five years before . The characters of the film and the full " Star Wars Rebels " series are part of a rebel cell that will one day become part of the Rebel Alliance , the organization depicted in the original " Star Wars " trilogy . Many of the characters backstories reference past " Star Wars " stories and events , including : Kanan Jarrus , who is a survivor of the destruction of the Jedi Order as depicted in " Revenge of the Sith " ; Hera Syndulla , who is the daughter of Cham Syndulla , a Twi ' lek resistance fighter who appeared in " The Clone Wars " ; Sabine Wren , a Mandalorian whose people were first canonically introduced in " The Clone Wars " ; and Zeb Orrelios whose species , based on original concept art by Ralph McQuarrie , was first introduced in the non - canon " Star Wars " Legends line . Chronologically , " Spark of Rebellion " also follows the novel " A New Dawn " by John Jackson Miller , which showcased the first meeting between Jarrus and Syndulla ; and a series of prelude shorts that introduced the main characters of the show . Various parts of the film have also been adapted by Disney – Lucasfilm Press . " The Rebellion Begins " by Michael Kogge is a full junior novelization of the film , while " Droids in Distress " , also by Kogge , and " Ezra ' s Wookiee Rescue " by Meredith L . Rusu tell the story of the mission to rescue the Wookiees on Kessel . Reception . Critical reaction . Reviews for " Spark of Rebellion " were generally positive . Eric Goldman of IGN gave it a score of 8 . 7 and called it " great , " saying that it successfully evokes " the spirit of the film that first made us love the franchise " with " fun , engaging characters " and " well - done action sequences . " Goldman noted the animation is less detailed than " The Clone Wars " but still " has an engaging look of its own , " particularly with the influences of Ralph McQuarrie , but also said that some of the animation — specifically the Wookiees — could have been better . Kevin P . Sullivan of MTV said that " the galaxy far , far away " has " changed — and it ' s for the better , " and that the show " immediately feels essential and new . " Sullivan also suggested that its official canon status " gives new characters weight " and makes the show " required viewing " even for fans who are skeptical about the franchise ' s future . Merrick of Ain ' t It Cool News said that there are some " funky , sometimes off - putting opening moments , " but that the show becomes worthy of the " Star Wars " Saga and can appeal to " Star Wars " fans young and old . Brian Lowry of " Variety " said that the use of original characters " proved oddly liberating " and " less confining " than " The Clone Wars " , where most the major characters all appeared in the films and their fates were already known . Lowry further said that the show " exhibits some genuine wit " and that the show " offers a reassuring reminder that there ' s plenty of room to operate " in the " Star Wars " universe . Likewise , Mike Hale of " The New York Times " positively compared the series to other " Star Wars " stories , particularly , and said that the show , " in its unassuming way , looks like it will be a smart and sensitive piece of entertainment . " Robert Lloyd of " The LA Times " further said that " The Force is strong in the House of Mickey with the new Disney cartoon , " and said that , while retaining its " Star Wars " identity , " Rebels " is a product of the The Walt Disney Company and its style of animated storytelling . He compared " Spark of Rebellion " to Alexander Korda ' s 1940 film " The Thief of Bagdad " , on which the Disney film " Aladdin " took influence , and draws comparisons between Ezra Bridger and Aladdin . In addition to the positive response from critics , the " Star Wars Rebels " team showed " Spark of Rebellion " to George Lucas , as it was the first " Star Wars " production to be released that Lucas was not involved in . Filoni told StarWars . com that Lucas loved the episode , which , for the team at Lucasfilm , " was a big deal " and " a great moment . " Ratings . In its television debut , " Star Wars Rebels : Spark of Rebellion " garnered 6 . 5 million global viewers on Disney Channel and Disney XD . The target demographic — boys ages 6 to 11 — numbered 52 % higher than Disney Channel ' s year - to - date ratings average in the time slot in which " Spark of Rebellion " aired . Between September 26 and October 6 , the on - demand views numbered 75 , 000 and ranked as the top television property for Disney Channel Subscription Video On Demand , Comcast ' s Xfinity , and Apple iTunes . The premiere ranked # 1 in the Nielsen Social Daily Top 5 for serials and specials .