By Cecilia Sarantopoulos
From lightsabers and pirates to friendships and learning moments, Season 2 of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, which premiered on August 14 on Disney+, promises to take viewers on even more thrilling and heartwarming journeys across the galaxy.
The beloved Young Jedi trio—Kai (voiced by Jamaal Avery Jr.), Lys (voiced by Juliet Donenfeld), and Nubs (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker)—finds new guidance under Master Zia’s (voiced by Nasim Pedrad) new Padawan, Wes Vinik (voiced by Gunnar Sizemore), and his astromech droid RO-M1.
In an exclusive interview during a press conference for the new season of the show, Baker gave fans a sneak peek of what they can look forward to. “Fans can expect more of everything they loved about Season 1 of Young Jedi Adventures, but there’s even more,” says Baker. “There are more fantastic worlds, more creatures and aliens—which I’m very excited about—and more of that signature Star Wars gee whiz,” he adds. As the young Jedi enhance their skills and deepen their understanding of the Force, they will explore new planets, forge new friendships, and confront emerging threats like the pirate group, The Ganguls.
Baker’s extensive voice-over repertoire in the Star Wars universe includes roles such as Hunter in Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Captain Rex along with the entire clone army in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Nubs is a unique and beloved character in his collection—an adorable, cuddly fan favorite who embodies the spirit of adventure and heart across the series.
Nubs speaks Poobian—a distinctive alien dialect understood by characters within the Young Jedi universe. While the audience might not catch every word, Baker’s nuanced tonality, Nubs’ expressive gestures, and the responses of other characters offer clear contextual cues.
To create a Poobian dialogue that feels both authentic and seamlessly integrated with the script, Baker said he keeps “a really specific, English version [of what Nubs says] in mind that fits the script” and experiments with various improvisations of it. “You can spin Nubs’ lines an infinite number of ways that align with the story, giving the animators something fun to work with as well,” he added.
Baker’s connection to Nubs is deep and intuitive. “I completely relate and understand him,” Baker said. “Nubs asks smart, interesting, reasonable questions; he’s a very smart little guy. Even though he doesn’t use English words, you always know what he is saying, and he’s always right there and involved with the story and the business playing out.”
To keep his voice in tip-top shape while recording Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Baker’s remedies include a good night’s sleep, reading, journaling, and meditating. “I don’t really do vocal warm-ups anymore because, thankfully, I’m working enough that my voice is regularly warmed up,” he explained. “I’m now relaxed into my station as a voice actor and I’m not doing things that work against me or damage my voice.”