While Obi-Wan Kenobi, starring Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, is the next Star Wars Disney+ series on the horizon, anticipation is also building for Lucasfilm's upcoming Ahsoka series, especially in the wake of the former Jedi's live-action debut in Season 2 of The Mandalorian and most recently a surprise cameo in "Chapter 6" of The Book of Boba Fett.
Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan was first introduced to the galaxy far, far away in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated film and television series. Before crossing over into live-action courtesy of Rosario Dawson, Ahsoka appeared in Star Wars Rebels, which also featured a fan-favorite villain: Grand Admiral Thrawn.
In Season 2 of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka questioned the Magistrate about the whereabouts of Grand Admiral Thrawn, leading fans to assume the Imperial would play a role in the former Jedi's upcoming solo series.
Now, just a few months away from the start of the series' shoot, it appears that Thrawn will, in fact, play a major role in the anticipated Disney+ show.
More Info on Thrawn's Live-Action Debut Revealed
In a report from Variety regarding Ray Stevenson having been cast in Ahsoka for Disney+, the outlet claimed that Grand Admiral Thrawn is, in fact, the series' "main villain."
This news confirms what well-known scooper DanielRPK had previously reported concerning the show's casting and premise.
Thrawn was originally a fan-favorite Star Wars Legends character from Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy in the '90s. As a member of the Chiss species, Thrawn had a humanoid appearance, but also blue skin and red eyes.
The Grand Admiral's measured manner and strategic, calculating mind was a stark contrast to the typical Imperial officers from the Star Wars films, making him a formidable adversary and popular with readers and fans.
Lucasfilm Executive Dave Filoni eventually made Thrawn canon within the Star Wars Universe when he introduced the villain in Star Wars Rebels. However, the show's finale left Thrawn, as well as young Jedi Ezra Bridger's, fate unknown.
In July 2021, a rumor claimed that Lars Mikkelson had been cast as Thrawn, alongside Aladdin's Mena Massoud as Ezra Bridger, for an upcoming live-action Star Wars project.
Both of their roles in Ahsoka will serve as their respective characters' live-action debuts.
Three Jedi vs. Grand Admiral Thrawn?
Grand Admiral Thrawn's role in Ahsoka won't be the first time Dave Filoni and Lucasfilm brought an animated baddie into live-action. In fact, Filoni just introduced Cad Bane, the popular bounty hunter from The Clone Wars animated series, into live-action in The Book of Boba Fett.
Therefore, Thrawn will be yet another Star Wars animated character to span both mediums.
However, unlike Bane's role in The Book of Boba Fett, the fact that Thrawn is supposedly the main villain means he should receive a considerable amount of screentime as opposed to being MIA. Of course, this supports the theory that Ezra Bridger will be present too, especially if Mena Massoud has been cast as the young Jedi.
While Ahsoka's role in The Book of Boba Fett may not have seemed as revealing as her Mando Season 2 appearance, her exchange with Luke Skywalker did lay the groundwork for the Son of Skywalker to appear in her series.
Star Wars fans would undoubtedly love to see more of Ahsoka and Luke, along with Ezra potentially in the mix, and this possibility would allow Luke to cross paths with Thrawn, just like he did in the original Thrawn novels from Star Wars Legends.
Ahsoka debuts on Disney+ in 2023.
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