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Ferrix
Astrographical information
System
Moons
Trade routes
Physical information
Diameter
Atmosphere
Surface water
Points of interest
Societal information
Other species
Population
Major cities
Ferrix was an sparsely populatedreddish, barren, rockyplanet with very littleplant life located in theMorlani system of theFree Trade sector, a formerly corporate-run subsector of theXappyh sector at an intersecting portion of theOuter Rim Territories and theNew Territories. Located at the coordinates Q-3 of theStandard Galactic Grid, the planet was situated at a junction between multiple importantHyperspace lanes including theHydian Way.
Ferrix's people, theFerrixians, lived in tight-knit communities built around the industry of scrapping and salvagingStarships, with the largest of these communities known asFerrix City, which was built over a wasteland on the planet. Over time, Ferrix's salvage markets became reputed to hold some of the best second-hand parts inventory inThe galaxy, with an old saying stating that if something could not be found on Ferrix, it was not worth finding.
By thetime of theGalactic Republic, Ferrix was a member world off the Republic. As such, during theHigh Republic Era'sNihil conflict, theNihilmarauders fromLourna Dee's Tempest carried out araid on Ferrix between231 BBY and230 BBY. Later in the era during228 BBY, Ferrix was also the site of ahostage negotiation that was overseen byJedi MasterKantam Sy.
During theImperial Era, Ferrix was controlled by theGalactic Empire and overseen by theConsolidated Holdings of Preox-Morlana Corporation. However, this status was revoked following investigations of rebel activity. This eventually led to theRix Road riot that saw the citizens of Ferrix fight back against the occupying Imperial personnel.
Description[]
Ferrix sat at the junction between several key Hyperspace lanes including the Hydian Way
Ferrix was a rocky and barrenamber-colored terrestrialplanet[6] located in theMorlani system of theFree Trade sector, a subsector of theXappyh sector in an intersecting portion of theOuter Rim Territories[3] and theNew Territories.[1] The planet was located at the coordinates Q-3 in theStandard Galactic Grid,[6] and was located at the junction between several keyHyperspace lanes[15] including theHydian Way.[6][3]
Ferrix was 7,914kilometers in diameter, and had anorbital period of 462Standard days.[6] The surface of the world was dominated by large rockymountains andmesas,[8][6] vast desolate wastelands,[6] and pockets of blue oceans.[6] During the winter months,[4] thetemperature was cold, with the ground often becoming covered in layers of snow.[7]
History[]
Republic Era[]
ThesmugglerRadicaz Dobbs knew of the chimes of Ferrix[16] by382 BBY[17] during theHigh Republic Era.[16] Between231 BBY and230 BBY[18] during theNihil conflict,Nihilmarauders fromLourna Dee's Tempest—includingQuin Carree andTempest RunnerLourna Dee herself—carried out araid on Ferrix.[19] Ferrix was also the site of ahostage negotiation[20] in228 BBY[21] that involved theJedi Order, withJedi MasterKantam Sy overseeing the negotiation. The event happened to concur with thewedding of[20] Sy's formerPadawan,[22] the formerJediLula Talisola, on[20] the Outer Rim world[2] ofEriadu in theOcclusion Zone. Upset they would not be able to come if the negotiation dragged on, Sy worked hard to be able to attend the wedding and, right before it began, was able to arrive.[20]
During theClone Wars[7] that raged from22 BBY to19 BBY,[23] Ferrix was a part of theGalactic Republic. In the direct aftermath of the war, however, theGalactic Empirerose in its place.[7]
Aftermath of the Clone Wars[]
- "Long live the Republic!"
"Free Ferrix!" - ―Anti-Imperial protesters[7]
The city center as seen from a shuttle ferry
The Empire would later move to establish a presence on Ferrix, although local citizenClem Andor believed that the Imperials would leave once they had shown their forces off. Afterclone troopers were deployed[7] to theplanet,[24] an anti-Imperial protest occurred,[7] dubbed the "Rix Road protest."[25] In town, a large contingent ofclone stormtroopers were pelted withstones as they marched through the main square, prompting theirofficer to order thetroopers to raise their weapons against the populace.Andor, who had been attempting to calm the crowd, was mistakenly accused of taking part in the protest and was subsequentlyhanged in the town's square. In retaliation forhis father's hanging, Andor's sonCassian would later try to attack several clone troopers with abaton, but was instead caught and arrested.[7]
Under Preox-Morlana[]
Main article:Ambush on Ferrix
Despite Ferrix technically fell under the jurisdiction of the Preox-Morlana Corporation (logo pictured), the planet was mostly left to its own devices
At some point, the Empire[7] allowed theConsolidated Holdings of Preox-Morlana Corporation to run affairs on Ferrix, though it was not regularly patrolled, rather being left to its own devices.[4]
In5 BBY, Clem Andor's sonCassian traveled to the Preox-Morlana headquarters on Morlana-1 in an attempt to locate his missingKenari sister,Kerri. During his travel he was confronted by twocorpos of the Preox-Morlana's corporate security branch, thePre-Mor Enforcement, and during the ensuing altercation he was forced tokill them both.[4] Pre-MorDeputy InspectorSyril Karn identified and tracked the fleeing Cassian to his Ferrixian hometown[8] and soon arrived to arrest him with aPre-Mor Security Inspection team led bySergeantLinus Mosk. Andor had however secured a meeting[10] withrebelspymasterLuthen Rael[11] thanks to the intervention ofsalvage yard ownerBix Caleen in order to sell him astolenImperial N-S9 Starpath Unit, the sale taking place just as the Pre-Mor units'mobile Tac-Pods were landing on the city's scrapyards. A heavily armed Rael helped Andor escape the trap the corpos were setting up for him and thanks to a distraction afforded by a remotely-controlledexplosive-riddledspeeder bike the duo were able to escape the city on board the spymaster'sFondor Haulcraft, leaving many injured or dead corpos behind them.[10]
Imperial occupation[]
- "We've had each other, and Ferrix, our work, our days. We had each other, and they left us alone. We kept the trade lanes open, and they left us alone. We took their money and ignored them, we kept their engines churning, and the moment they pulled away, we forgot them. Because we had each other. We had Ferrix."
- ―Maarva Andor[9]
ISB lieutenant Blevin on Ferrix
Following news of the incident, theImperial Security Bureauofficer responsible for theMorlani system,LieutenantSupervisorBlevin was dispatched to the Pre-Mor'sCorporate Security Headquarters on Morlana One where he met with the trio of officers responsible for the disaster, leading to Ferrix[11] being placed[7] under direct Imperial authority once more. A new Imperialgarrison was placed on Ferrix a day after theincident with Preox-Morlana personnel removed from the system[11] and re-assigned to other duties[26] and thecity hotel being taken over as the new Imperial headquarters on Ferrix.CaptainVanis Tigo was assigned by Blevin with overseeing the setup of the day-to-day Imperial Operations on Ferrix and was promoted toPrefect for the region after his request.[11] With growing conflict between Blevin and fellowISB SupervisorDedra Meero during the regional supervisors' forums onCoruscant, ISBMajorPartagaz gave control of the sector to Meero due to his agreeing with her suspicion of a growing, organized rebel network being responsible for the incident on Ferrix.[27]
The Imperial occupation caused much discomfort to the rebellious people of Ferrix.Stormtrooper units patrolled the once quiet streets and armedspeeders accompanied byImperial security troopers guarded all government buildings. Prominent resident and formerpresident of the citizen societyDaughters of FerrixMaarva Andor vowed to overthrow Imperial rule, inspired by theattack on theImperialheadquarters on the planetAldhani, which unbeknownst to her was partly carried out by her son Cassian who was recruited by Luthen Rael on his network. Maarva made daily excursions on secret tunnels and passages next to the former hotel which housed the Prefecture headquarters but was severely injured and forced to stop. Her injury along with her age caused her to fall ill, but she refused to take the medicinedoctorMullmoy had prescribed her and eventually passed away.[9]
Revolution[]
- "Ferrix has been hiding long enough."
- ―Maarva Andor[7]
Ferrix residents fought back against their Imperial occupiers
During herfuneral procession, a holographic message she had pre-recorded and broadcast by herdroidB2EMO inspired the people of Ferrix torise up against the Empire[9] and form aresistance movement,[28] creating a riot spontaneously erupting as residents charged the Imperial barrier. An improvised explosive device thrown at the barrier by a resident turned the riot into a bloodbath as Imperials and Ferrixians were killed by the explosion, leading to Imperial troops being ordered to fire indiscriminately into the crowd.[9]
Society and culture[]
- "Stone and sky."
- ―The people of Ferrix[9]
A funerary stone was a symbolic artifact of a great deceased citizen of Ferrix
Ferrix's exports were mainly scrap and salvaged tech. Manyhumans on Ferrix worked to salvage materials from decommissionedships such as theVenator-class Star Destroyer. Each worker was given a different set of gloves, with the gloves being hung on a wall before and after work.[4] Ferrixians played songs at funerals and other public events using adhoc bands and amateurish musicians, "Unto Stone We Are" being one such piece.[9]
The daily routine on Ferrix was to go to work when theTime Grappler hit thebeskar anvil using his hammers and to finish work when the Time Grappler hit the beskar anvil again. After this, the people of Ferrix would drink in cantinas or go back to their homes. The workers of Ferrix adhered to this structured schedule. Overall, workers trusted each other, were cooperative and respectful, and were generally friendly amongst each other. They stored their gear together in a public space, with each worker's gloves being hung on a large wall all together. Ferrix had a rudimentary warning system where residents would bang metal together to alert others of foreign intrusions or threats.[8]
Behind the scenes[]
- "Ferrix should feel like a working town with a small community. And the whole logic of how we decided to build that as one big composite set on the back lot was based on that idea. You can get lost in it; when you're filming, you're not having to cut between sets."
- ―Luke Hull[29]
Ferrix was first pictured in the sizzle reel for theStar Wars: Andor television series, which was released onDecember 10,2020.[30] It was first identified in aLEGO set reveal duringCelebration Anaheim.[31] The planet first appeared in "Kassa," the first episode of the series,[4] which aired onSeptember 21, 2022.[32] From the start, executive producer and writerTony Gilroy found it was important for Ferrix to have an immersive culture[33] and a strong cultural heart.[34]
Concept art ofVenator-class Star Destroyers being dismantled on Ferrix by Scott McInnes
Gilroy, who stated the "mental build" of Ferrix took two years to develop,[35] wanted the audience to understand that the Ferrixians came together and looked after each other. Production designerLuke Hull and Gilroy wanted to design an environment different from familiarStar Wars locations. They did not want to make the location a town in adesert, and Hull was ardent on it not being a frontier town.[34] To show the planet's culture, Gilroy and the crew spent a long time creating the planet's social structure, hierarchies, rules, and allegiances.[33] Concept artistScott McInnes created concept art ofVenator-class Star Destroyers being dismantled on Ferrix, and artistVincent Jenkins created concept art of Cassian Andor preparing to shoot stormtroopers. ArtistChester Carr[36] and Hull created a sketch of Rael and Cassian Andor escaping on a speeder bike. Hull also made sketches of the North Steps, the Ferrix hotel, the interior of theAndor household, and Rael on Ferrix.[29]
To help ground the show's storytelling in a relatable human complexity and appeal to viewers, an entire[37] Hull's team referencedAmsterdam in the1920s, the period in which the city featured simple geometric and abstract shapes.[38] Everything grew off of knowing Ferrix needing a big main street. After deciding Ferrix would be built, Hull's team had to find an overall look that stayed true to the franchise in a way that was not too dystopian. Due to the planet's economy of salvaging ship parts and metal, Hull envisioned the place with a sturdiness. Ferrix reminded him of longshoremen inBelfast,Northern Ireland building ships. Hull's team's origin for Ferrix was it began as a small outpost that gradually grew and expanded out of the hillside as the population grew.[34] Hull made sure that the set felt like a working town with a small community.[29]
The Ferrix set being constructed in Little Marlow
During planning, Hull's team accounted for thecomputer graphics andVFX that would be added later, and it was built into the design. Hull's team team decided to build the town out of bricks, which had not been done inStar Wars before. Hull kept the color of the brick unchanged because he thought the clay and earthiness played into who the Ferrixians were. His team retrofitted the idea of dead Ferrixians' ashes getting baked into a brick and being put into the town.[34] During the construction of Ferrix, the crew noticed thatMartian-like reds kept coming in, soLanzarote in theCanary Islands became a good starting place to create the wider environment of Ferrix. Scenes on Ferrix were also filmed in Lanzarote's Green Lagoon;Salinas de Janubio, the Islands' largestsalt flat;[39] and other nearby locations.[34]
The backlot set was a functional shape full of usable buildings that were accessible through doors and windows.[34] The sets included palatial homes, high-class brothels, and housing projects.[37] Maarva Andor's house was crafted to explain her character.[29] The interior and exterior of the house were the same set, making it fully three-dimensional.[40] The set designers and costume shop collaborated to create the wall of gloves.[41] Hull tried to make theEaster eggs subtle and fit into the show.[34] The Ferrix set managed to impress executive producerKathleen Kennedy and directorToby Haynes.[40]
Costume designerMichael Wilkinson and his team spent a long time to establish carefully curated palettes of textures and colors for Ferrix to make the information clear for the viewers.[42] They infused every costume with individualism to make it reflect the character it was worn by. During the beginning, Wilkinson told his team to consider many unique details to inform the design, including each character's job and source of clothing, and how their clothing reflects what they do, who they are, and what they value. Some of the costumes' silhouettes drew inspiration fromJapanese workwear, which were then abstracted and modernized. Wilkinson said that having costumes from an authentic and culturally resonant place would give the audience something they could connect with.[41]
Concept art of Bix Caleen based on Michael Wilkinson's design
The costume department also created logos and symbols for Ferrix's different brands, repair shops, and individual businesses, which deepened the planet's lore and tangibility. When the team created the Ferrixian clothing, they chose what they deemed the coolest and most interesting workwear elements between quilting, safety gear, and protective materials. Some of the stand-out characters, such as Bix Caleen, were given distinguishable silhouettes to help them stand out from a crowd. For the finale episode[41] "Rix Road,"[9] the red was amped up to make it a very strong symbol of the spirit of Ferrix.[41]
Hull estimated that around 80-85% of the scenes on Ferrix were shot on the backlot set.[34] According to Gilroy, everything on Ferrix was filmed first.[43] Haynes and the actors spent about a month shooting his six episodes' Ferrix scenes. AfterChristmas, it was the coldest part of the shoot. When it snowed, the crew used heaters to burn the snow and keep the continuity.[40] WhenDenise Gough, the actor who playsDedra Meero, first shot on the Ferrix set, she was amazed by the high level of detail.[37]
Visual effects for Ferrix was split betweenHybride andIndustrial Light & Magic. Hybride worked on the town, based on the set, which was extended out to the larger city.Green screens were used for certain Ferrix locations. ILM worked on what they called the north side big yard and the surrounding areas. They also built up the planet's architecture and made a design language for Ferrix. ILM was responsible for extending the Ferrix set to make it a busy hustling place with many workers and sparks everywhere. They made sure there was always something moving in the background to make it look like there was stuff going on all the time. For the ships on Ferrix, ILM started by referencing ships in thearchives.[44]
ComposerNicholas Britell inserted several metal sounds throughout Ferrix because of the masonry and metallurgy present in the planet's culture. Britell and Gilroy made some of those sounds together using the pipes in the latter's basement.[45]
Appearances[]
- The High Republic: Tempest Breaker(Mentioned only)(In flashback(s))
- The High Republic: Tempest Breaker script(Mentioned only)(In flashback(s))
- The High Republic Adventures Phase III - The Wedding Spectacular(Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Andor — "Kassa"(First appearance)
- Star Wars: Andor — "That Would Be Me"
- Star Wars: Andor — "Reckoning"
- Star Wars: Andor — "Aldhani"
- Star Wars: Andor — "The Axe Forgets"
- Star Wars: Andor — "Announcement"
- Star Wars: Andor — "Narkina 5"
- Star Wars: Andor — "Nobody's Listening!"
- Star Wars: Andor — "One Way Out"
- Star Wars: Andor — "Daughter of Ferrix"
- Star Wars: Andor — "Rix Road"
- Star Wars: Andor — "One Year Later"(Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Andor — "Messenger"(Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Andor — "Who Are You?"(Mentioned only)
- "To the Last" —From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi(andaudiobook)(Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Hunters(Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge — Ronto Roasters(Mentioned only)
Non-canon appearances[]
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga(Mentioned only)(DLC)
Sources[]
Non-canon sources[]
- SWCA 2022: 7 Things We Learned from the Summer of LEGOStar Wars Panel onStarWars.com(backup link)
- LEGO Star Wars 99
Notes and references[]
- Related categories:
- Ferrix locations
- Related Categories:
- Ferrix locations