Doctor Who actor Tom Baker is no stranger to being a powerful science fiction icon, but his massive character in Star Wars Rebels season three might be even more of a force to be reckoned with.
As revealed by USA Today, Baker voices a character known as the Bendu, a giant, presumably Force-sensitive creature that will aid a recently-blinded Kanan. As fans will remember, the rogue Jedi was blinded in a lightsaber battle during the end of season two. Bendu will help him pick up the pieces, though how Kanan learns of the powerful being is still a mystery.
Baker describes the Bendu as "a life force," and notes that it's not something the Star Wars universe has seen before.
"He's not the dark side or the light — he's something greater," Baker says. "I'm quite flattered that (Rebels executive producer) Dave Filoni fancied me as a 'life force' at the age of 82."
He goes on to say that main appeal for voicing Bendu was the idea of "inexplicable power."
"I had a very religious upbringing — believing in angels, devils, divine forces and other worlds — so when it comes to playing a life force like Bendu, I can easily embrace in my imagination all those thoughts I have from my past," he says. "My fate is guided, of course, by the script writers, but I try to record on days when I believe in fabulous forces."
Baker was still playing the Fourth Doctor on the BBC show when Star Wars first released 1977. He described watching the opening moments of the film with his fellow cast and crew members from the BBC as "simply beyond anything we'd seen." He goes on to say that he's happy in 2016 to be able to become a part of the franchise.
How large a role Bendu will play over the course of Star Wars Rebels season three is still unclear, but fans won't have to wait too long to find out more about the mysterious being. The third season of the animated series, as well as Bendu, debuts on Disney XD on Sept. 24.
Fans got their first glimpse of Star Wars Rebels season three earlier this year, in which a short-haired Ezra could be seen taking charge of his team of rebels, complete with a new lightsaber in hand. You can watch that clip here.
