I was just doom scrolling on Reddit the other day when I stumbled across a random thread that instantly grabbed my attention. It showed a Rebel soldier on Endor getting captured—nothing unusual at first glance—until you notice something weird. The guy’s wearing Stormtrooper armor. Not a full set, but definitely Imperial gear. And he’s clearly older than the rest, white beard and all, standing there with his hands behind his head like it’s just another Tuesday.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Who was this guy? Why is he in disguise? And more importantly… was this just a random extra in reused props, or is there an actual backstory behind this moment?
The Reason Why This Rebel Was Wearing Stormtrooper Armor
So if we rewind a bit to how this Rebel ended up in Stormtrooper armor, it all goes back to the moment when Han Solo was getting ready to break into the Imperial bunker on Endor.
At the time, four Scout Troopers were guarding the entrance. That’s when one of the Ewoks pulled a clever distraction—stealing a speeder bike right in front of them. Three of the Scouts jumped on their bikes and took off to chase the Ewok, leaving just one trooper behind to keep watch at the door.
Han saw the opening and lured the last remaining Scout Trooper right into a trap, where a group of Rebels ambushed him.
Right after that, we cut to a shot of Han and the Rebels infiltrating the bunker. And if you look closely, you’ll notice one of the Rebels now wearing that same Scout Trooper armor—posing as the guard, standing casually outside the door to sell the illusion. That’s the guy from the Reddit thread. He’s not just randomly suited up—he’s playing a key part in the infiltration plan.
Who Was That Rebel in the Stormtrooper Armor, Really?
Now that we know why the Rebel was wearing Stormtrooper armor, the next question is, who actually is this guy?
His name was Nik Sant—or as the other Rebels on Endor supposedly called him, “Gramps.” According to The Official Star Wars Fact File 44, “Lieutenant Nik Sant, a survival expert who, like Lieutenant Greeve, had worked on Kashyyyk, completed the team. The oldest member of the unit, he was nicknamed ‘Gramps’ by the others.”
Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Just an older Rebel veteran helping out on Endor.
But then came Dave Filoni.
At one point, Filoni casually dropped a bombshell suggestion that the bearded Rebel we see in Return of the Jedi might actually be none other than Captain Rex, the legendary clone trooper we all know from The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. It was never officially confirmed in canon—but Filoni openly supported the theory, and Lucasfilm has left it deliberately vague.
To add fuel to the fire, the 5-Minute Star Wars Stories (Second Edition) book actually includes a reference that strongly hints at this connection, suggesting that Rex was present at the Battle of Endor—and looking a whole lot like that guy in armor.
And if you’re curious about how deep this theory goes, I’ve already broken down all the evidence in another article here, every quote, every scene, every frame that supports the idea that the old man in armor is actually Captain Rex in disguise.