General Grievous is a
character
Character or Characters may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk
* ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to The ...
and
antagonist
An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist.
Etymology
The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, riv ...
in the ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
'' franchise created by
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...
. Grievous was introduced in the 2003 animated series ''
Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (voiced by
John DiMaggio in the second season and
Richard McGonagle in the third season), before appearing through
computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is the use of computer graphics to create or contribute to images in art, printed media, video games, simulators, and visual effects in films, television programs, shorts, commercials, and videos. The images may ...
in the 2005 live-action film ''
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'' (voiced by
Matthew Wood). Wood reprised his role in the 2008
computer animated
Computer animation is the process used for digitally generating animations. The more general term computer-generated imagery (CGI) encompasses both static scenes (still images) and dynamic images (moving images), while computer animation refer ...
series ''
Star Wars: The Clone Wars''.
General Grievous is depicted as a brilliant military strategist who serves as the Supreme Commander of the
Confederacy of Independent Systems'
Droid Armies during the
Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
. He is a powerful
Kaleesh cyborg who has mastered all forms of
lightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional energy sword featured throughout the ''Star Wars'' franchise. A typical lightsaber is depicted as a luminescent plasma blade about in length emitted from a metal hilt around in length. First introduced in the or ...
combat under the tutelage of
Count Dooku
Count Dooku of Serenno, also known by his Sith, Sith name Darth Tyranus, or simply as Count Dooku, is a fictional Character (arts), character in the Star Wars, ''Star Wars'' franchise, created by George Lucas. One of the main antagonists of the St ...
to rival the
Force
In physics, a force is an influence that can change the motion of an object. A force can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (e.g. moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate. Force can also be described intuitively as a p ...
abilities of the
Jedi
Jedi (), Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are the main heroic protagonists of many works of the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, and later supporting the Rebel Alliance, the Jedi O ...
of the
Galactic Republic
The Galactic Republic, often referred to as simply the Republic, is a fictional galactic polity depicted in the ''Star Wars'' universe, where it existed prior to the establishment of the Galactic Empire. The Republic is most prominently por ...
. Grievous harbors an intense hatred of the Jedi and gains a reputation as a feared and ruthless Jedi hunter who collects the lightsabers of his fallen victims as
trophies
A trophy is a tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as a recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics. In many sports medals (or, in ...
. He develops a rivalry with Jedi Master
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi () is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Within the Star Wars original trilogy, original trilogy, Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master as a supporting character and is portrayed by English actor Alec Guinn ...
, whom he clashes with numerous times during the war, and is killed by Kenobi during their final confrontation in ''Revenge of the Sith''.
The character has become one of the franchise's most iconic
villain
A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character a ...
s and his popularity within the
''Star Wars'' fandom has earned him a
cult following
A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...
. In addition to the film and the animated series, General Grievous has appeared in various forms of media in the
''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe, including
novels
A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself ...
,
comic books
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
and
video games
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...
. Such works explore his past as a
reptilian warlord
A warlord is a person who exercises military, economic, and political control over a region in a country without a strong national government; largely because of coercive control over the armed forces. Warlords have existed throughout much of h ...
named Qymaen jai Sheelal who grew to despise the Jedi for causing the plight of his people. A ship crash secretly orchestrated by Count Dooku mortally wounds Grievous and leads to his reconstruction as a cyborg. This
origin story was
retroactively altered in ''The Clone Wars'', in which it is implied that Grievous willingly augmented his body with cybernetic enhancements to rival the Jedi. Several elements of his original backstory were later reintegrated into the current ''Star Wars''
canon.
Development
Creation and casting
In 2002, George Lucas conceived of General Grievous as a powerful new villain for ''Revenge of the Sith'', specifically envisioning the character as a cyborg droid general to reflect and foreshadow
Anakin Skywalker
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
's transformation into Darth Vader at the end of the film.
The only instruction Lucas gave his art department was to make Grievous "iconic" and "scary".
Numerous illustrations were developed at
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC is an American film and television production company and a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which is a business segment of The Walt Disney Company. The studio is best known for creating and producing the ''Star Wars'' and ' ...
, some purely mechanical and others more alien-like in appearance. One drawing presented Grievous as an eight-year-old alien child on a hover chair guarded by two
IG assassin droids, which Lucas rejected for not being threatening enough.
Another rejected robotic design was ultimately used for Grievous' IG-100
MagnaGuards
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a clipped form of " android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a huma ...
in the movie.
Two weeks after Lucas' instruction to design Grievous, a sketch made by concept artist
Warren Fu
Warren Fu is an American music video director, illustrator and designer. He has directed videos for artists such as Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, The Strokes, the Killers, Hayley Williams, Mark Ronson, and Julian Casablancas. Fu is signed to Par ...
was chosen and developed by Lucas for the character's finalized appearance.
Fu took inspiration from the top view of a
spray bottle
A spray bottle is a bottle that can squirt, spray or mist fluids.
History
While spray bottles existed long before the middle of the 20th century, they used a rubber bulb which was squeezed to produce the spray; the quickly-moving air siphoned ...
for the design of Grievous' face.
Fu's sketch was made into a -tall
maquette sculpture which was then refined into a realistic computer-generated model by
Industrial Light & Magic
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company that was founded on May 26, 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when he began pro ...
(ILM). This was one of the most complex models ever created by ILM at the time as many of its components were of differing physical qualities. Comparisons have been drawn between Grievous' appearance and
Jacob Epstein's sculpture ''
Rock Drill
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
''.
In the lead-up to ''Revenge of the Sith'', Grievous made his first ever appearance in the season two finale of ''Clone Wars''.
The character's voice was provided by John DiMaggio. Grievous would return in a more prominent capacity in the third and final season, with Richard McGonagle replacing DiMaggio in the role.
Numerous actors auditioned for the role of Grievous in ''Revenge of the Sith''. Lucas wanted Grievous to sound as if he was speaking through a cybernetic voice box, so every audition was put through the same computerized layer of processing by Matthew Wood, supervising sound editor at
Skywalker Sound
Skywalker Sound is the sound effects, sound editing, sound design, sound mixing and music recording division of Lucasfilm. Founded in 1975, the company's main facilities are located at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch in Lucas Valley, near Nicasio, ...
, to create a "synthesized timbre".
Gary Oldman
Gary Leonard Oldman (born 21 March 1958) is an English actor and filmmaker. Known for his versatility and intense acting style, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and three British Academy Fi ...
, a friend of producer
Rick McCallum
Richard McCallum (born August 22, 1954) is an American film producer. He is mostly known for his work on ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'' as well as the '' Star Wars'' Special Editions and prequel trilogy. He is best known for his frequent ...
, was initially cast in the role and even completed some voice-over work. Oldman had to drop out of the production due to complications that arose from the rules of
union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
filmmaking in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
where the film was shot.
Having previously performed voices for other ''Star Wars'' projects, Wood took Lucas' feedback on the various auditions he modulated and submitted his own under the
pseudonym
A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
Alan Smithee
Alan Smithee (also Allen Smithee) is an official pseudonym used by film directors who wish to disown a project. Coined in 1968 and used until it was formally discontinued in 2000, it was the sole pseudonym used by members of the Directors Guild o ...
. Wood approached Grievous as a "classic villain" and used a gruff and harsh voice with an
Eastern European accent for his performance.
A "gravelly quality" was added to Wood's voice when it was processed.
Lucas selected Wood for the role and, since he had
bronchitis at the time, instructed Wood to give Grievous an
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...
tic cough; this was intended to emphasize the character's organic nature as well as the flawed cyborg
prosthetics of the
''Star Wars'' prequel trilogy (which would later be refined for Darth Vader in the
original trilogy
The original ''Star Wars'' trilogy, formerly marketed as the ''Star Wars'' Trilogy (and colloquially referred to as the 'original trilogy'), is the first set of three films produced in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, an American space opera cre ...
).
Some of the audio effects for Grievous' cough in ''Revenge of the Sith'' were recorded by Lucas himself while he had bronchitis.
[''Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'' DVD commentary featuring George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett, 2005.] Grievous was created entirely through
CGI in the film. During filming, Grievous' dialogue was read off-screen while Kyle Rowling wore a
bluescreen or
greenscreen suit to perform the character's fight scenes with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Wood would subsequently reprise his role as the voice of Grievous in ''The Clone Wars'' animated series and numerous video games.
Characterization
The official
''Star Wars'' Databank describes General Grievous as "a brilliant
Separatist
Separatism is the advocacy of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. As with secession, separatism conventionally refers to full political separation. Groups simply seeking greate ...
military strategist and a feared Jedi hunter".
He is cruel, cunning, aggressive, murderous, and gains an infamous reputation for his ruthlessness during the Clone Wars.
Grievous holds the title of Supreme Martial Commander of the Separatist Droid Armies, making him the absolute leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems' military and the second highest ranking member of the Separatist Alliance (after Count Dooku, the political Head of State).
Although aligned with the Separatists, Grievous does not care for their political ideals and has professed that he only participates in the conflict to eliminate the Jedi.
He harbors a deep-seated resentment of the Jedi and has a vast collection of lightsabers claimed from his many victims as
war trophies __NOTOC__
A war trophy is an item taken during warfare by an invading force. Common war trophies include flags, weapons, vehicles, and art.
History
In ancient Greece and ancient Rome, military victories were commemorated with a display of captu ...
.
Grievous is also short-tempered and has little tolerance for failure or weakness, as he frequently lashes out against and destroys his own
battle droid
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a clipped form of " android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a huma ...
s for their persisting incompetence.
Grievous' cyborg body was specifically designed to rival the abilities of the Jedi.
Standing at 7 ft 1 in (216 cm),
his imposing presence serves to instill fear in his opponents to give him a psychological advantage in battle. While he is not Force-sensitive, Grievous has been trained in all forms of lightsaber combat by Count Dooku.
Each of his mechanical arms can separate in half, allowing him to wield four lightsabers at once to overwhelm his enemies.
His cybernetic enhancements give him exceptional strength, speed and reflexes to outmaneuver Force-users and even the Force itself.
In spite of Grievous' physical and acrobatic prowess, Dooku has advised him to retreat should he lose the elements of surprise and intimidation, and thus his advantage, in a fight against the Force-sensitive Jedi.
Grievous often heeds his mentor's advice and becomes known as one of the Jedi's most elusive adversaries during the Clone Wars.
Grievous first appeared in
Genndy Tartakovsky's ''Clone Wars'' before his character traits had been finalized for ''Revenge of the Sith''.
According to Tartakovsky, Lucas initially pitched Grievous to him as "this ruthless, totally capable Jedi killer," but later developed the character into "one of those old
B-
serial villains who does something bad ... twirls his mustache and then runs off."
The series depicted Grievous as a nigh-unstoppable fighter capable of dispatching multiple Jedi simultaneously with ease,
which contradicted the then-upcoming film's less powerful portrayal of the character. To reconcile these continuity differences, the series finale of ''Clone Wars'' sees
Mace Windu
Mace Windu is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Windu was portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in the prequel trilogy. Jackson reprised the role in the 2008 animated film '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' and with voice only in the 20 ...
crush Grievous' chestplate with the Force, damaging his internal organs and providing a reason for both his hacking cough and his weakened state in the film.
However, ''The Clone Wars'' would later present Grievous with his cough throughout the entirety of its run.
There remain numerous accounts of Grievous' backstory. Literature in the
''Star Wars'' EU written by Warren Fu, the original designer of Grievous, had the general's hatred of the Jedi stem from their role in the plight and enslavement of his people. A shuttle crash orchestrated by Dooku and pinned on the Jedi mortally wounds Grievous and leads to his reconstruction as a cyborg.
''The Clone Wars'' would later suggest that Grievous was denied the right to become a Jedi due to his lack of connection to the Force. Writers
Dave Filoni and
Henry Gilroy postulated that Grievous volunteered for cybernetic modifications to rival the Jedi that rejected him.
In the series, Grievous'
castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...
displays statues hinting at his gradual progression as a cyborg.
Despite this, Filoni elected to keep Grievous' backstory ambiguous: "I tend to think of the episode "Lair of Grievous" as a look more into the mind of Grievous. How you interpret the story depends largely on what backstory you like. If you believe Grievous was shot down in a shuttle by Dooku and put back together, I think that story is there, it’s just that Grievous has invented this new "story" of choosing his alterations. If you don’t believe in the EU version of the story or didn’t like it, then perhaps this new revelation that Grievous was a warrior whose lust for power made him choose to be altered, suits you better."
Appearances
Film
''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005)
During the Battle of
Coruscant, General Grievous holds the kidnapped Supreme Chancellor
Palpatine
Sheev Palpatine, also known by his Sith name Darth Sidious, is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Initially credited as the Emperor in the original trilogy films, ''The Empire Strikes ...
aboard his
flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...
, the ''
Invisible Hand
The invisible hand is a metaphor used by the British moral philosopher Adam Smith that describes the unintended greater social benefits and public good brought about by individuals acting in their own self-interests. Smith originally mention ...
''. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker infiltrate Grievous' vessel to rescue Palpatine. After Anakin kills Count Dooku, Grievous traps the Jedi on the battle-torn ship and departs in an
escape pod
An escape pod, escape capsule, life capsule, or lifepod is a capsule or craft, usually only big enough for one person, used to escape from a vessel in an emergency. An escape ship is a larger, more complete craft also used for the same purpose ...
. Grievous succeeds Dooku as the Head of State of the Separatists and has his battle droids take the planet
Utapau hostage. At
Darth Sidious
Sheev Palpatine, also known by his Sith name Darth Sidious, is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Initially credited as the Emperor in the original trilogy films, ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) ...
' request, he relocates the Separatist Council to the volcanic world of
Mustafar
Mustafar () is a fictional volcanic and lava planet in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Introduced in the final prequel film, ''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005), it also appeared in the films ''Rogue One'' (2016) and ''Episode IX – The Rise of Skywal ...
. Grievous is tracked to Utapau by Obi-Wan and the two engage in lightsaber combat while the Republic's
clone trooper
Clone troopers are fictional characters in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. They have been featured in a number of ''Star Wars'' media, including the live-action films '' Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and '' Ep ...
s battle the droid armies. Before Grievous can kill him, Obi-Wan uses the Force to summon a
blaster and shoots the organs housed within Grievous' chestplate, killing the cyborg general.
Television
''The Clone Wars'' (2008–2014; 2020)
In
season one Season One may refer to:
Albums
* ''Season One'' (Suburban Legends album), 2004
* ''Season One'' (All Sons & Daughters album), 2012
* ''Season One'' (Saukrates album), 2012
See also
*
*
* Season 2 (disambiguation)
* Season 4 (disambiguat ...
, General Grievous uses the
ion cannons of his flagship, the ''Malevolence'', to attack the Republic fleet.
He encounters Obi-Wan Kenobi for the first time but is forced to abandon ship when Anakin Skywalker sabotages the ''Malevolence'' and sends it crashing into a nearby moon.
Grievous' next plot to launch a surprise attack on
Kamino is thwarted when his battle droids fail to secure a Republic outpost on the Rishi Moon.
Grievous later uses a
listening post
A radio listening station (also: listening post, radio intercept station or wireless intercept station, W/T station for wireless telegraphy) is a facility used for military reconnaissance, especially telecommunications reconnaissance (also kno ...
to discover the Republic's military secrets.
He engages
Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Introduced as the Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, she is a supporting character in the animated film '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008) and the subsequent animated telev ...
and her squad of clone troopers while his spy station is destroyed by Anakin.
In light of Grievous' recent defeats, Count Dooku arranges for
Kit Fisto
This incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt Dis ...
, Nahdar Vebb and a group of clones to infiltrate Grievous' hidden fortress on Vassek to test him. Grievous kills Vebb and the clones but Fisto manages to escape.
In
season two Season 2 may refer to:
* ''Season 2'' (Infinite album)
* ''2econd Season
''2econd Season'' is the second and most recent album by Atlanta-based rapper Unk.
Release
It was released on November 4, 2008.
Guest Performers
The album features gu ...
, Grievous forcibly boards a Republic cruiser and captures
Eeth Koth. Obi-Wan, Anakin and
Adi Gallia
This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
embark on a mission to rescue Koth and apprehend Grievous.
Obi-Wan duels Grievous to a stalemate and pursues him to
Saleucami
The fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise features multiple planets and moons. While only the feature films and selected other works are considered canon to the franchise since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney ...
. Although Anakin and Gallia succeed in freeing Koth, Grievous escapes once again.
In
season three, Grievous and
Asajj Ventress
Asajj Ventress () is a character from the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Originally intended to appear as an antagonist in the 2002 film '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'', she was first introduced in the 2003 micro-series '' Star Wars ...
lead an attack on the Republic's cloning facilities on Kamino. Grievous defeats Obi-Wan but Anakin and the clones prevent Ventress from securing the
DNA sample of the clones'
template
Template may refer to:
Tools
* Die (manufacturing), used to cut or shape material
* Mold, in a molding process
* Stencil, a pattern or overlay used in graphic arts (drawing, painting, etc.) and sewing to replicate letters, shapes or designs
Co ...
, forcing the Separatists to retreat.
Grievous later dispatches a group of infiltrator droids to stage a bombing on the
Galactic Senate
The Galactic Republic, often referred to as simply the Republic, is a fictional galactic empire, galactic polity depicted in the Star Wars expanded universe, ''Star Wars'' universe, where it existed prior to the establishment of the Galactic ...
on Coruscant to sabotage a peace agreement between the Republic and the Separatists.
In
season four
A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pola ...
, Grievous attempts to invade
Naboo but is captured by the
Gungan army. He is freed in a prisoner exchange after Dooku captures Anakin.
Grievous later attacks a Republic cruiser and defeats Gallia, though a rescue team led by
Plo Koon
This incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt Dis ...
frees her from captivity.
After Dooku betrays Ventress, he sends Grievous to
Dathomir
The fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise features multiple planets and moons. While only the feature films and selected other works are considered canon to the franchise since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney ...
to eliminate Ventress and the
Nightsister
''The Courtship of Princess Leia'' is a 1994 science fiction novel by American writer Dave Wolverton, part of the Star Wars franchise. It continued the streak of ''New York Times'' Bestsellers, which started with 1991's ''Heir to the Empire''. ...
clan. The droid armies massacre the
undead
The undead are beings in mythology, legend, or fiction that are deceased but behave as if alive. Most commonly the term refers to corporeal forms of formerly-alive humans, such as mummies, vampires, and zombies, who have been reanimated by super ...
Nightsister forces while Grievous briefly duels Ventress before turning his attention to
Mother Talzin
This incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt Dis ...
. Grievous foils Talzin's
voodoo spell against Dooku and kills Daka, the leader of the Nightsisters.
Grievous is later seen on Serenno listening to Dooku's concerns about
Savage Opress
This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
and a
disturbance
Disturbance and its variants may refer to:
Math and science
* Disturbance (ecology), a temporary change in average environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem
* Disturbance (geology), linear zone of faults and folds ...
in the Force.
In
season five
A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pola ...
, Grievous defeats the Republic fleet led by Obi-Wan and wins the battle for control over the
Florrum system.
Grievous launches a full-scale attack on Florrum and captures pirate leader
Hondo Ohnaka. When Ahsoka and a group of younglings free Hondo, Grievous pursues and outmatches the Jedi, forcing them to flee.
Grievous appears via
hologram when the Jedi attempt to decode his transmission regarding an impending Separatist plot.
In the
seventh and final season, Grievous leads the Separatist fleet during the Battle of Coruscant after he kidnaps Chancellor Palpatine.
An unfinished story arc also sees Grievous attempt to obtain a giant
kyber crystal
A lightsaber is a fictional energy sword featured throughout the '' Star Wars'' franchise. A typical lightsaber is depicted as a luminescent plasma blade about in length emitted from a metal hilt around in length. First introduced in the o ...
on Utapau. Although Grievous defeats Obi-Wan, Anakin manages to destroy the crystal.
''The Bad Batch'' (2021–present)
Towards the end of the Clone Wars, General Grievous escapes from the Battle of Coruscant after his attempt to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine is thwarted by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. Retreating into the outer rim, Grievous orders his Separatist armies to mount a counterattack against Republic forces across the galaxy.
Comics
General Grievous appears in the four-issue comic book ''
Star Wars: Darth Maul–Son of Dathomir'', an unproduced story arc originally intended for the sixth season of ''The Clone Wars''. Grievous is sent by Count Dooku to hunt down the rogue Sith Lord
Darth Maul, who has become a threat to Darth Sidious' plans. On Zanbar, Grievous defeats Maul and forces him to flee while the droid armies overwhelm Maul's
Mandalorian
Mandalorians are fictional people associated with the planet Mandalore in the ''Star Wars'' universe and franchise created by George Lucas. Their most distinct cultural features are their battle helmets, chest armor, wrist gauntlets, and often ...
Death Watch forces. Grievous and Dooku are later lured into a trap by Maul and Mother Talzin to draw out Sidious. Grievous escapes and rejoins Sidious in attacking Dathomir, where Talzin sacrifices herself to help Maul escape before she is killed by Grievous.
''Legends''
With the 2012 acquisition of
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC is an American film and television production company and a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which is a business segment of The Walt Disney Company. The studio is best known for creating and producing the ''Star Wars'' and ' ...
by
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
, most of the licensed ''Star Wars'' novels and comics produced since the original
1977 film were rebranded as ''
Star Wars Legends
''Star Wars'' has been expanded to media other than the original films. This spin-off material is licensed and moderated by Lucasfilm, though during his involvement with the franchise ''Star Wars'' creator George Lucas reserved the right to bot ...
'' and declared non-
canon to the franchise in April 2014.
''Clone Wars'' (2003–2005)
General Grievous makes his first ever appearance in the season two finale.
He leads the Separatist droid armies on the planet Hypori as they surround a group of seven Jedi, comprising Masters
Ki-Adi-Mundi
This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
,
Shaak Ti
This incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt Dis ...
, Daakman Barrek, and K'Kruhk; and Knights
Aayla Secura
This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
, Tarr Seirr and Sha'a Gi. Grievous elects to face the Jedi alone and easily bests and kills most of them.
Before Grievous can finish off Mundi, a squadron of clone ARC troopers arrives to extract the surviving Jedi. Grievous collects the lightsabers of the fallen Jedi as trophies.
In season three, set three years later, Grievous attacks Coruscant in an attempt to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine.
The Jedi Masters defending the Chancellor include Shaak Ti, Roron Corobb and Foul Moudama.
Grievous kills Corobb and Moudama, defeats Ti yet again, and manages to capture Palpatine.
As Grievous boards his escape shuttle, Jedi Master Mace Windu arrives and uses the Force to crush Grievous' chestplate, severely damaging his internal organs and giving him his distinctive cough.
Literature
General Grievous's origin is revealed in the comic book "The Eyes of Revolution" from ''
Star Wars: Visionaries''.
Grievous was originally Qymaen jai Sheelal, an organic
reptilian humanoid
Reptilian humanoids, or anthropomorphic reptiles, are fictional creatures that appear in folklore, fiction, and conspiracy theories.
In folklore
In South Asian and Southeast Asian mythology, the Nāga are semi-divine creatures which are half ...
native from the planet Kalee. The Kaleesh were at war with the rival Huk species and Sheelal was considered a
demigod by his people for his victories in the Huk War. He fell in love with a warrior named Ronderu lij Kummar. Following Kummar's death during a mission, Sheelal realized that he was destined to forever mourn for her and rechristened himself as Grievous. He became a warlord and his swift attacks against the Huk prompted them to turn to the Jedi Knights of the Galactic Republic for help. Hefty fines and embargoes came down upon Kalee and thousands of Grievous' people starved and died in poverty. Appealing to Grievous' hatred of the Jedi and the Republic, San Hill of the InterGalactic Banking Clan enlisted him to serve as their enforcer in exchange for the Banking Clan's help in taking on Kalee's massive debt. Impressed by Grievous' abilities as a fighter, Hill and Count Dooku arranged for his shuttle to crash to ensure his permanent servitude to the Separatists. Dooku convinced the mortally wounded Grievous that the Jedi responsible for his homeworld's plight were the ones who caused the crash. Grievous accepted Dooku's offer to reconstruct him with a cyborg body and became the Supreme Commander of the Droid Armies to seek revenge against the Jedi.
In the third volume of ''
Clone Wars Adventures
''Clone Wars Adventures'' was an online virtual world based on the animated television series '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars''. Players could create and customize in-world avatars and participate in a variety of Clone Wars-themed mini-games and a ...
'', Count Dooku pits Grievous against Asajj Ventress and
Durge
This is an incomplete list of characters from the Star Wars expanded universe, ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, now rebranded ''Star Wars Legends''. The accompanying works were declared non-canon to the ''Star Wars'' franchise by Lucasfilm in 2 ...
to test his abilities. Grievous swiftly defeats the pair and emerges victorious, earning his position as the Supreme Martial Commander of the Separatist Droid Armies.
Grievous starred in his own comic called ''Star Wars: General Grievous'', in which he fights Jedi Master T'chooka D'oon and his Padawan Flyn. After Grievous kills D'oon, Kybo returns to the Jedi council with a plan to destroy Grievous once and for all. When the council rebukes his vengeful plan, Kybo decides to take this matter into own hands with disastrous results. Grievous also appears in the comics in ''Star Wars: Obsession'' issue number 4, in which he is on the world of Boz Pity, where he kills two Jedi, Master Soon Bayts and Jedi Council member
Adi Gallia
This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
. Though Windu injures Grievous, Dooku is able to save the general so he may fight another day.
In the novel ''
Labyrinth of Evil
''Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil'' is a 2005 novel by James Luceno set in the fictional ''Star Wars'' universe. The novel serves as a lead-in to '' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'', and was loosely adapted into Volume Two of the '' S ...
'', Grievous plans an invasion of Coruscant alongside Dooku and Sidious. He first appears in the novel watching his hated subordinate
Nute Gunray
This incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt Dis ...
flee from a pursuant Republic Strike Force. Grievous reluctantly saves Gunray by destroying the fighters. Grievous's invasion of the planet Belderone would also be thwarted by Anakin and Obi-Wan due to a careless mistake on Gunray's part. Though Gunray resorts to lies, Grievous deduces that he is lying and threatens to kill him. Later on the bridge of the ''Invisible Hand'', Dooku watches as Grievous spars his elite Magnaguards. Though Grievous wins the fight, Dooku points out several flaws in the general's technique while realizing he is partly to blame for the general's inadequacies. Grievous soon launches his invasion on the Republic capital of Coruscant in an attempt to kidnap Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, placing himself on the battlefield once again. During the invasion, Grievous battles Mace Windu atop a maglev train while personally trying to capture Palpatine. Though Windu overwhelms Grievous in combat, the cyborg outwits the Jedi Guard and takes Palpatine hostage, setting the stage for ''Revenge of the Sith''.
Video games
General Grievous has been featured in numerous ''Star Wars'' video games.
Relationships
Mentorship tree
Reception
General Grievous has become a fan favorite character and is considered one of the most popular villains in the ''Star Wars'' franchise.
Several writers have placed General Grievous in "Top 10 ''Star Wars'' Villains" lists.
While the character's limited presence in ''Revenge of the Sith'' was criticized, his greater role and appearances throughout the Clone Wars in both the 2003 and 2008 animated series were praised for expanding on Grievous' character.
The character's line from ''Revenge of the Sith'', "Your lightsabers will make a fine addition to my collection", has gained popularity as an
Internet meme
An Internet meme, commonly known simply as a meme ( ), is an idea, behavior, style, or image that is spread via the Internet, often through social media platforms. What is considered a meme may vary across different communities on the Internet ...
.
Amanda Derby from ''Screen Rant'' wrote: "Greet a Star Wars fan with the words, "Hello there," and they'll likely respond with, "General Kenobi". This alone is a testament to the popularity of General Grievous. Though it's hard to say whether fans love him for his skill or his meme-ability, there's no denying that Grievous is a favorite."
References
Footnotes
Citations
External links
*
*
General Greivouson
IMDb
IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...
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