Jedi, Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are fictional characters, and often protagonists, featured in many works within the Star Wars franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, the Jedi Order is depicted as a religious, academic, meritocratic, and military (peacekeeping) organization whose origin dates back thousands of years before the events of the first film released in the franchise. The fictional organization has inspired a real-world new religious movement and parody religion: Jediism.
Jedi characters Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson, right) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor, left) in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe. Star Wars is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
Star Wars characters Darth Vader (left), Emperor Palpatine (center), and Luke Skywalker (right)
Timothy Zahn authored the Thrawn trilogy, which was widely credited with revitalizing the dormant Star Wars franchise in the early 1990s.
George Lucas made much of his fortune by retaining his rights to the franchise's merchandising.
The aerial warfare of WWII inspired the space fights.