Admiral Frantis Griss is a supporting antagonist in the 2019 film Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker, the final installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
He is a high-ranking officer within the navy of the First Order who holds the rank of Admiral and serves as the right-hand man and aide of Allegiant General Pryde, even when the latter eventually becomes the de-facto Supreme Leader of the First Order itself following Kylo Ren's desertion and redemption.
He was portrayed by Geff Francis in his first villainous role.
History[]
Frantis Griss is a senior military leader in the First Order, holding the rank of Admiral and apparently subordinate to Allegiant General Pryde, who he mostly appears alongside. Following the First Order's rise to power, he works as Pryde's aide to equip the First Order's troops with technology such as hyperspace trackers to track and destroy the Resistance.
In the film's expanded edition novel, Griss first appears alongside Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, presenting a captured Resistance member named Boolio. He informs Ren that Boolio is a traitor before watching as Ren immediately decapitates Boolio with his lightsaber.
In the film itself, Griss first appears at a meeting of the First Order Supreme Council, where Boolio's severed head is presented. He is informed of the Order's alliance with the revived Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, and that there is a traitor in their ranks. The Admiral also witnesses fellow council member General Domaric Quinn being killed by Ren after dismissing the Sith Eternal as a "cult", implicitly questioning Ren's judgement.
Shortly afterwards, Griss is present when General Hux tells Pryde he had been injured trying to prevent Resistance members from escaping after a raid on the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer Steadfast. He shows visible surprise when Pryde coldly executes Hux, who he has deduced to be the spy inside the First Order who gave Boolio information.
Following Ren's change of heart and Pryde subsequently assuming control of the First Order, Griss accompanies his superior onboard the Steadfast to command the Sith Eternal's fleet, the Final Order, during the final battle against the Resistance. The two of them observe as the tiny force that the Resistance was able to muster is overwhelmed by the Sith Eternal forces. However, at the last minute, Lando Calrissian leads reinforcements out into battle, appalling Pryde who comments that the Resistance have no navy. Griss responds that they aren't a navy; they're just people.
Although Palpatine is briefly able to hold back the Resistance with Force lightning, he is soon killed by his granddaughter Rey and the remaining Sith forces are overwhelmed. A turbolaser cannon onboard the Steadfast is hotwired by Finn and Jannah (two former Stormtroopers of the First Order) and used to open fire on the ship's bridge, killing Pryde and Griss along with the rest of the crew.
