Ki-Adi-Mundi was a Force-sensitive Cerean male Jedi Master from Star Wars. During the Clone Wars, Mundi was the Jedi General of Commander Bacara and the 21st Nova Corps. His betrayal at the hands of his Clones made him one of the many Jedi victims of Order 66, the puppet master plan formulated by the Sith mastermind Emperor Palpatine.
He was played by Silas Carson in the prequel trilogy, and by Brian George in Star Wars: The Clones Wars. Silas Carson rejoined the cast and crew team to play Ki-Adi-Mundi again for the production of Season 7 that aired in 2020.
Biography
Several decades before the start of the Clone Wars, Ki-Adi-Mundi was born on the planet Cerea. He was found to be Force-sensitive, and was sent to train to become a Jedi Knight, which he did, assumedly on Coruscant because that is where the Jedi Council is. By the time of the Invasion of Naboo that took place during Episode I: The Phantom Menace, he had reached the rank of Jedi Master.
Qui-Gon Jinn had a lightsaber duel on Tatooine with a male Zabrak, which he believed to be a Sith Lord. He approached the Jedi High Council to address his thoughts, which were met with skepticism particularly from Master Mundi. This is also when Qui-Gon introduced a young boy Anakin Skywalker who he believed to the the Chosen One. The Council democratically shook their heads to the prospect of training Anakin.
After the demise of Qui-Gon Jinn at the hands of Darth Maul, who was revealed to be the dark hooded Zabrak, the Council reversed their decision. However, Mundi secretly harbored thoughts against training Anakin, and decided to keep a close eye on him.
Ten years later, Padmé Amidala went to the Jedi High Council and told the masters that someone had tried to assassinate her, and she believed that Count Dooku plotted it. Obi-Wan Kenobi found out that the person behind the assassination attempt was none other than Jango Fett. Obi-Wan chased Jango Fett in outer space, where he was led to a Droid Factory on the planet Geonosis. Believing he had killed the infamous bounty hunter, he landed on Geonosis and was later captured. He had been fooled, and Jango was still alive. To keep the Confederacy of Independent Systems (Separatists) from gaining more power, an army of Jedi were dispatched to Geonosis to kill officials, stop the Droids' production, and save Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé from being executed in an arena. Count Dooku, a high priority target was present somewhere in the area, and Mace Windu went to confront him. Meanwhile, Mundi and a large group of Jedi fought an onslaught of Battle Droids.
Most of the Jedi were killed, and things weren't looking bright for Mundi and the other masters skilled enough to still be standing. However, they were rescued by Yoda aboard a LAAT piloted by Clone Troopers. Mundi was one of the few Jedi that survived the battle at Geonosis, but they failed to stop Count Dooku because their enemy retreated.
Ki-Adi-Mundi became a Jedi General in command of the Galactic Marines military unit of the Clone Troopers, where he met Commander Bacara. Being in charge of an army only strong Jedi like him were able to have, he would be an active participant in the eventful Clone Wars.
The Clones turn against him
During an unknown mission on the planet Mygeeto, Mundi was betrayed by his clone troopers. Bacara ordered the clones to fire at Mundi, and despite not realizing soon enough, he was able to deflect a couple blaster shots; however, this was where Mundi was killed by the rapid fire of laser blasts. Chancellor Palpatine of Coruscant, shortly after revealing himself as Emperor Palpatine, had finally ordered Order 66. Order 66 was a top secret plan where all Clones would be brainwashed to turn against the Jedi when he issued the order, via a microchip implanted in every Clones' helmet. Almost every Jedi in the Galaxy had been killed by this evil genius plan, with only a handful of survivors. To make matters worse, Anakin Skywalker had been turned to the Dark Side by Palpatine, now becoming the famous villain (both in their world and our world) Darth Vader.
Powers and Abilities
Mundi had respectible skill in lightsaber combat, more specifically Form II. He was not easy to get the jump on, as he had very quick reflexes. He fought with a blue lightsaber.
Trivia
- In Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Mundi is shown fighting with a green lightsaber instead of a blue one during the fight in the arena in Geonosis. This may have been a blooper.
- He was originally planned to have been killed by Bacara quickly, but in the movie (Episode III) he wasn't killed as easily by the Clones.
- He doesn't make his first appearance in The Clone Wars until Season 2.
- His first appearance as a LEGO minifigure was on 7959 Geonosian Starfighter in 2011
- In 2018 he appeared in a LEGO set themed after the live action prequel trilogy for the first time
- Silas Carson, the voice actor for Ki-Adi-Mundi, originally auditioned for the "fighter pilot" role. That role was cut from the script, and Star Wars creator George Lucas instead encouraged him to take the role of Mundi.
