Dave Filoni managed to reinvigorate Star Wars Thanks to your series. One of his greatest triumphs was to include in his stories a well-known villain from the literary world of the saga. Grand Admiral Thrawnthe center of Timothy Zahn’s books that bear his name, became one of the main characters in Star Wars: Rebels. Also, in a figure that rivaled several of the franchise’s best-known villains for his intelligence and sinister personality. Now he comes to Ahsoka.
In the 2014 production (voiced by actor Lars Mikkelsen), Grand Admiral Thrawn became one of the story’s strong points. An evil and cerebral leader, capable of the worst strategies in favor of the Emperor’s regime. A creature that fought to uphold the Empire even when its fall was already evident. something that series Ahsoka inherits, vowing to turn the evil official of the race shush in a central element.
In one of the previews, the rebel played by Rosario Dawson insists on the rumors about the return of the grand admiral. Which suggests that the coming chapters will focus on what happened with thrawn and Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) after the disappearance of both in rebels. As will be remembered, both were on board the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Chimera in the battle of the planet Lothal. At which point the ship was sucked into hyperspace and sent to an unknown destination.
Ahsoka is the new series from the Star Wars universe that you can only see on Disney+
Grand Admiral Thrawn grows in importance
Thrawn was not named again in the Star Wars mythology -at least, the one related to Dave Filoni-, until he reappeared in The Mandalorian. In chapter 13 of the second season of the series, Ahsoka Tano indicates that it is the Magistrate Master of Corvus. In the following season, released in 2023, he is directly mentioned in a meeting between the Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) and the Shadow Council. During the conversation, his return is announced in the debates on the so-called necromancer project.
What links the series with the possible plot of Ahsoka. In her various advances, it is mentioned that the former Jedi is in search of Ezra Bridger and, without a doubt, of grand admiral. What would lead the story to be the spiritual continuation, and to a certain extent also formal, of rebels.
However, to understand the true scope of a possible appearance of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka it is necessary to know its evolution as an essential part of the attempt to return the Empire. Also, how his efforts made Palpatine’s legacy resonate enough to continue to matter, even after his apparent death. A detail that may be of special interest to understand the totality of the so-called commandoverse and its possible conclusion.
A man destined for evil
Born with the name of Mitth’raw’nuruodoGrand Admiral Thrawn hails from the planet box and member of the race shush, known for her high intellectual capacity. He is considered a brilliant tactician, a highly influential Warlord, and a rare villain in Star Wars.
While Darth Vader, Count Dooku and many others base their power on Force, their military capacity or their political relations, the Grand Admiral Thrawn He does it on his intelligence. In fact, from the first description of him in the books he hails from, emphasis is placed on his tactical skill, his cunning, and his meticulous knowledge of planets and civilizations.
Which makes him a dangerous man. Particularly because of his network of contacts and his ability to communicate with different figures across the galaxy, even if they are persecuted or fugitives from justice. He also has the ability to govern for a specific purpose beyond personal ambition. His entire military career is based on the reestablishment of a galactic order sustained by iron discipline and without fissures.
From paper to the small screen
The character of Grand Admiral Thrawn is one of the few bridges between the expanded universe of Star Wars and the franchise legends section. After Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, everything not narrating the original trilogy was scrapped. So, literary stories, in video games and other media were discarded. Which, as was to be expected, also happened with the Timothy Zahn books, which began to swell the calls star wars legendswhich include any content that contradicts what was told in the first trilogy.
In that bag was the Grand Admiral Thrawnwhose initial appearance occurred in the novel heir to the empirefrom 1991. It tells events that completely contradict the film Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi. In particular, how thrawn organized an imperial struggle front despite the triumph of the Rebels at Endor. Later accounts recounted the official’s efforts to unite loyalists to palpatine in a future showdown against the New Republic.
But we would have to wait until 2014 for Dave Filoni to manage to integrate it into the current canon through his animations. In rebels, faced the ongoing Rebel Alliance. Which made him a direct enemy of Ezra Bridger, a Force-sensitive turned rebel from the planet Lothal. The two characters would face each other repeatedly, until the disappearance of both in the last chapter of the animated series.
Grand Admiral Thrawn’s relationship with Ahsoka
According to what has been narrated, it is evident that the new Mandoverse series, Ahsoka, will include Grand Admiral Thrawn as a central evil figure. Also, that all the efforts of the main characters, most coming from rebels, they will orient themselves to face him in a new terrain. What could include the necromancer project —depicting the return of Palpatine— and the final showdown of the remnants of the Empire and the New Republic.
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The script will also provide information regarding what happened with Ezra Bridger and thrawn during the years they were missing. Also, how the latter managed to organize a resistance against the galactic democratic system. A point that, now, would link the character with the rest of the books that tell his story, which, as Dave Filoni has already announced, will be part of the future of the film saga.