The hype of the long-awaited live-action Ahsoka series augmented exponentially after Lucasfilm announced the inclusion of Lars Mikkelsen’s Grand Admiral Thrawn in the series at the Star Wars Celebration in London this year. Thrawn is one of those rare Star Wars characters that have gained global prominence and are considered iconic by the franchise’s fanbase but are yet to make their live-action debut. He is a character that can easily steal the spotlight from every other character in the show, including Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka as well.
Timothy Zahn’s trilogy of Thrawn novels has enhanced the character’s significance and popularity in the Star Wars franchise. These books have solidified his place as one of the most iconic and memorable villains in the galaxy far, far away.
In his recent interview with Empire, the show’s co-creator, Dave Filoni, shared intriguing details about his vision for Thrawn.
“When Timothy Zahn wrote Heir to the Empire, Thrawn became this very iconic villain because he was different than anything we’d seen before,” the showrunner explained. “He wasn’t another helmet-wearing, lightsaber-wielding bad guy, you know? There’s a lot of pull to make characters that are like [Darth Vader] because it is so iconic. But the boldness that Tim had was to make somebody that wasn’t like that, that didn’t have those abilities but could fight in a different way.”
Thrawn made his first appearance in the Star Wars canon in Rebels Season 3. He was a Grand Admiral in the show. Despite his Chiss ancestry, the character reached this position due to his military intelligence, unconventional and ruthless tactics, calm demeanour, and ability to perfectly execute complex plans. Additionally, his love towards art and culture makes him one of the most intriguing villains in the franchise.
Mikkelsen will play Thrawn in the forthcoming live-action Ahsoka Disney+ series after lending his voice to the character in Star Wars Rebels. Besides him and Dawson, the series will feature Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader. It will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on August 31. Stay tuned for more updates.