Kelleran Beq

Star Wars has finally revealed the identity of the Jedi who saved Grogu from Order 66 - but who is Kelleran Beq, and where has he appeared before?

Kelleran Beq's own fate after the flashback in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4 is unknown, but he would presumably have been a major target for Darth Vader and his Inquisitors in the Dark Times of the Empire's reign. This backstory links to his rescuing a young Jedi from Order 66 in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4, given he would have established a relationship with Grogu as soon as he arrived at the [Jedi Temple on Coruscant](https://screenrant.com/star-wars-jedi-temple-sith-dark-side-shrine/). [classic Jedi like Obi-Wan and Yoda](https://screenrant.com/star-wars-ahmed-best-jedi-inspirations-obi-wan-yoda/), but Kelleran Beq did not appear in the prequels themselves. After Padmé's death, her closest friends are known to have established a rebel cell known as the Amidalans in her honor, and they may well have used their wealth to pay to keep Grogu safe - continuing to do so even after the fall of the Empire, finally explaining who paid for the mercenaries who protected Grogu in The Mandalorian season 1, episode 1. Still, Beq's role - effectively as Dean of the Jedi Temple - means he would have been known to all the Jedi, and certainly to all recent Padawans. He was often assisted by the protocol droid AD-3 (voiced by Mary Holland), as well as an astromech droid called LX-R5. "This is the first Jedi that we’ve seen that is dedicated to just teaching," Best observed when describing how he established the character's traits. Surprisingly, though, Kelleran Beq is already an established figure in Star Wars lore - one with a major tie to the prequel trilogy, in that he is played by Ahmed Best, the voice actor who played Jar Jar Binks in the prequels. The experience was not a pleasant one for Best, who became victim of a racist backlash that left him reeling; in fact, But he was the subject of so many mysteries - how he had survived Order 66, how the Empire had obtained his chain-code, and even who was paying mercenaries to keep the Child years after the fall of the Empire. It's a delightful cameo, one that raises a lot of questions for the future of Star Wars. A survivor of Order 66, he was kept by a mysterious group of mercenaries on the remote planet Arvala-7.

Master Kelleran Beq, portrayed by none other than Jar Jar Binks himself, Ahmed Best, was first seen in the children's game show, Star Wars: Jedi Temple ...

Naboo was certainly sympathetic to the Jedi, and Grogu—whatever his species—is certainly strong with the Force. For the Hidden Path, perhaps—the very one we were introduced to in Obi-Wan Kenobi. We know Yoda saw the end of the Clone Wars—or at least, hints of it—in his vision in the dark side cave on Dagobah in the sixth season of The Clone Wars. But I think we’ve seen proof, in Beq’s planned escape, that Grogu was special to the Jedi, too. The ship is fueled and ready to go, after all… We’ve seen Jedi left for dead and Jedi hunted down.

Portrayed by Jar-Jar Binks actor, Ahmed Best, Kelleran Beq's character was created for a gameshow called Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. Now, The Mandalorian ...

That seemed to imply that Beq was part of a planned contingency to rescue Grogu in the event of an assault on the Jedi Temple. A quartet of Jedi was prepared to protect him, but they were adamant that they needed to get Grogu to Beq. His nickname was the "Sabered Hand," which he earned during his own Jedi Trial. The fact that he held such a position proved that Beq was a well-rounded and powerful Jedi Master. Under Beq's leadership, Jedi Masters would choose which trial a Padawan would take and determine if they passed the test or if they failed. There were five trials that a Padawan could take: skill, courage, spirit, flesh and insight, but even still, each trial was unique to the Padawan taking it.

In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 4, a familiar Jedi saves Grogu from Order 66 - but who is Kelleran Beq? We've got the answer.

He takes Grogu aboard his speeder and takes to the skies while being pursued by enemy forces. Due to his renowned skills with a lightsaber, he became known as the “Sabered Hand.” He is played by Ahmed Best, the host of Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge.