Heir to the Empire is a movie based on Star Wars Legends novel written by Timothy Zahn. It is the first installment of Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, and it was first published in May 1991 by Bantam Spectra. The novel is set in 9 ABY, five years after Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, and it introduces the trilogy's eponymous villain, Grand Admiral Thrawn. And it took place since after the Return of the Jedi were Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine are killed-off, the 2nd Death Star destroyed, and the Rebels have the battle on Endor.
