Star Wars followers received their first good take a look at the brand new Ahsoka sequence due to Star Wars Celebration. The sequence’ first trailer is right here, and it options fairly a number of acquainted faces. The truth is, it’s clear now that Ahsoka is a real live-action continuation of Star Wars Rebels.
That’s nice for Rebels followers, however what in case you don’t know your Hera Syndulla out of your Grand Admiral Thrawn? And who’re these new orange lightsaber-wielding villains anyway? Let’s take a better take a look at the numerous characters within the trailer and the way they match into the puzzle that’s Star Wars: Ahsoka.
Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano
The sequence stars Rosario Dawson as Anakin Skywalker’s former Padawan Ahsoka Tano. We all know it’s constructing on Dawson’s earlier appearances in The Mandalorian: Season 2 and The Guide of Boba Fett, although when precisely within the timeline Star Warfare: Ahsoka is about is somewhat unclear. We don’t know if the sequence is totally set after her final look at Luke’s Jedi Temple or if it would flash again to fill within the lacking gaps of her story.
It doesn’t assist that Ahsoka is the one Star Wars character whose relationship with time is somewhat wonky. In Rebels, Ahsoka was saved from demise after her duel with Darth Vader when her buddy Ezra Bridger pulled her right into a realm often known as the World Between Worlds. That ordeal brought about her to time journey, conveniently retaining her out of the image for the unique Star Wars films. We don’t know precisely how a lot time Ahsoka misplaced, however we do know that she’s again in motion within the period after the Empire’s fall and seeking to confront a brand new menace to the galaxy.
The Ahsoka sequence positively appears to be addressing Ahsoka’s timey-wimey adventures. The temple she explores within the opening pictures options paintings clearly impressed by the World Between Worlds. And he or she’s clearly not the one particular person on this temple, as we see her battling a gaggle of pike-wielding droids much like Common Grievous’ bodyguards. In the meantime, the trailers function different pictures of Ahsoka dueling Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll, and it seems that Ahsoka may really be returning to the World Between Worlds on this sequence.
Lars Mikkelsen’s Grand Admiral Thrawn
Because of The Mandalorian, we already know what Ahsoka’s quest entails. She’s been in search of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the one man with the abilities and ambition to rally the dying Empire and restore it to its former may.
Thrawn was final seen within the sequence finale of Rebels. He and Ezra have been trapped aboard a Star Destroyer that was dragged to the far finish of the galaxy. As with Ahsoka, that plot twist conveniently took Thrawn and Ezra out of the equation for the Authentic Trilogy, whereas nonetheless retaining them in play for future tales. That point is lastly right here.
We solely see transient glimpses of Thrawn within the trailers, although we all know Lars Mikkelsen might be reprising his position from Rebels. And in a enjoyable nod to the basic Star Wars Expanded Universe, Ahsoka refers to Thrawn as “the heir to the empire.” Inheritor to the Empire is the novel that first launched Thrawn in 1991, and we’d guess it’s having a big affect on Star Wars: Ahsoka.
What we don’t know is whether or not Thrawn is definitely the primary villain of Star Wars: Ahsoka. Whereas he’s probably the most efficient commanders within the Imperial fleet, Thrawn’s motives have at all times been extra advanced than most. His true loyalty lies not with the Empire, however his personal folks within the Chiss Ascendancy. There could also be those who need Thrawn to save lots of the Empire from ultimate defeat, however is that what he desires? What has he been doing on the market within the fringes of the galaxy anyway? And does this all tie into the rise of the First Order later within the Star Wars timeline? These are questions we assume the sequence will reply.
Eman Esfandi’s Ezra Bridger
Talking of Ezra, whereas we don’t see this younger Jedi hero within the flesh within the trailers, we do briefly glimpse him by way of hologram. Eman Esfandi has been solid as Ezra for the character’s live-action debut. Presumably, Ezra continues to be lacking together with Thrawn, and Ahsoka’s quest is as a lot about monitoring down her lacking buddy as it’s uncovering the reality about this new menace.
It’s additionally value stating the shot of a Lothcat within the trailer, a callback to the enduring Rebels critter and Ezra’s distinctive Drive reference to animal life.
Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s Sabine Wren
The character holding that Ezra hologram is none aside from Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s Sabine Wren, one other predominant character from Rebels. Sabine is a Mandalorian with an unusually rebellious streak and colourful trend sense. Of the Spectres, Sabine was closest with Ezra, and it’s clear she’s nonetheless dwelling on Lothal and feeling the ache of his loss even years later.
Sabine is one other character for whom the sequence has some massive gaps to fill. We don’t know what she’s been as much as because the fall of the Empire. What position did she play in defending the doomed Mandalore from the Empire’s Purge? How does she really feel concerning the Darksaber – a weapon she briefly wielded – falling into the fingers of Moff Gideon?
The second Ahsoka trailer delivers some attention-grabbing revelations concerning the Ahsoka/Sabine dynamic. It means that Sabine herself is Drive-sensitive and briefly skilled below Ahsoka earlier than the 2 characters parted methods. That positively wasn’t coated in Rebels, so the brand new sequence has some main explaining to do.
No matter’s been occurring with Sabine, it’s clear Ahsoka is hoping to recruit her for the hunt for Thrawn. We now have to imagine she’ll be signing on.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Hera Syndulla
Additionally making the soar from animation to live-action is Hera Syndulla, captain of the Ghost and probably the greatest pilots within the Insurgent Alliance. Lucasfilm has lastly confirmed that Hera might be performed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. We additionally see Hera’s trusty droid companion Chopper within the trailer, making this Chopper’s second live-action Star Wars look.
As with Sabine, we assume Ahsoka is seeking to recruit Hera for her hunt for Thrawn and Ezra. Not like Sabine, nonetheless, Hera could be somewhat extra conflicted. As we realized on the finish of Rebels, Hera now has a son named Jacen. Jacen was fathered by the Jedi Kanan Jarrus earlier than Kanan’s tragic sacrifice in Rebels Season 4. We wouldn’t be stunned if Hera is utilizing the Empire’s defeat as an excuse to calm down and be a mom. Will she danger every little thing to get again within the struggle now?
Chopper
As talked about, Hera’s trusty but cantankerous droid companion Chopper is returning to live-action in Star Wars: Ahsoka. The years do not appear to have modified him one bit.
Huyang
Chopper is not the one acquainted droid face from the Star Wars cartoons showing in Star Wars: Ahsoka. Huyang can be again, and once more voiced by David Tennant. Huyang was as soon as a droid professor who schooled Jedi younglings within the artwork of lightsaber building. As of late, he seems to be Ahsoka’s private assistant.
Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll and Ivanna Sakhno’s Shin Hati
Thrawn’s precise position within the sequence could also be unclear, however we do see two new villains within the trailers. Ray Stevenson and Ivanna Sakhno are each enjoying Darkish Jedi characters who come into battle with Ahsoka. Stevenson is enjoying Baylan Skoll, and Sakhno is enjoying Skoll’s apprentice, Shin Hati.
Curiously, these characters might not really be conventional Sith Lords. There’s no indication that Palpatine or Darth Vader had further apprentices throughout the period of the Authentic Trilogy. And in contrast to most Darkish Aspect customers, these characters are wielding orange-bladed lightsabers as an alternative of the acquainted crimson blades. Does this signify that they’re a part of some new faction within the everlasting battle between Gentle and Darkish?
Stevenson’s character speaks of “a new beginning.” He appears to see alternative on this new, post-Imperial period. Maybe he hopes to exchange Palpatine because the dominant Darkish Aspect energy within the galaxy. Or these two characters could also be searching for Thrawn for their very own functions. In Inheritor to the Empire, Thrawn seeks out a rogue Jedi Grasp named Joruus C’Baoth. He wants a robust Jedi who can recreate a phenomenon known as Battle Meditation, which the Emperor as soon as used to mould his forces into a good higher menace. Might these Darkish Jedi be filling that position in Star Wars: Ahsoka?
Marrok
If two new Darkish Jedi characters weren’t sufficient, Star Wars: Ahsoka additionally includes a lightsaber-wielding villain Named Marrok. We do not know a lot about this character, aside from that his blade and armor recommend he was as soon as a member of Darth Vader’s Sith Inquisitorius. These characters have been seemingly all worn out by Ahsoka and her mates within the Season 2 finale of Rebels, however it might appear at the very least one survived the collpase of the Empire.
As of late, Marrok is a mercenary employed by Diana Lee’s Morgan Elspeth. We do not know who’s enjoying Marrok, which may recommend there is a massive reveal to come back relating to his true id.
The Different Characters of Star Wars: Ahsoka
There are a few different acquainted faces within the Ahsoka trailer value stating. At one level we see a hologram of Genevieve O’Reilly’s Mon Motha alongside different representatives of the New Republic. Ahsoka is little doubt making an attempt to make the Republic conscious of the menace posed by Thrawn, however the query is whether or not they’re prepared to hear. As The Mandalorian has proven us, the galaxy’s new authorities makes a number of errors throughout its rebuilding efforts.
We additionally see Diana Lee’s character Morgan Elspeth, a villain who appeared alongside Ahsoka in The Mandalorian. Elspeth is an Imperial Justice of the Peace who appears to know an awesome deal about Thrawn’s whereabouts. She is also linked to Stevenson and Sahkno’s characters, if restoring the Empire is absolutely their shared purpose.
That’s everybody it is advisable to know earlier than diving into Star Wars: Ahsoka. The sequence debuts on Disney+ on Tuesday, August 22, a number of hours sooner than anticipated. In case you want extra assist getting updated on all issues Ahsoka, try the important Ahsoka, Hera and Sabine episodes to look at and brush up on Ahsoka’s full Star Wars story up to now.
Word: this text was initially printed on April 7, 2023 and up to date on August 21, 2023 with the most recent information about Star Wars: Ahsoka.
Jesse is a mild-mannered workers author for IGN. Enable him to lend a machete to your mental thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
