The Lucasfilm Showcase Ahsoka panel was full of big surprises this year, but the biggest news was finally getting the answer to who will portray Thrawn in the upcoming series Star Wars: Ahsoka.
The answer didn’t take long to get. Lars Mikkelson’s confirmed to return to the role of Grand Admiral Thrawn, a role he voiced for Star Wars Rebels. Mikkelson not only showed up at the panel, but Thrawn made an appearance in the first trailer for Star Wars: Ahsoka.
The question as to who would actually portray Thrawn in live-action swirled around speculation circles for the past few years. This included Mikkelson actually deflecting the question multiple times from fans and journalists in the past few months.
Dave Filoni says that he’s having ongoing discussions with author Timothy Zahn about the characterization of Thrawn, who first appeared in Star Wars novels. According to Filoni:
“That all starts with Tim Zahn’s books. When we were all kids, hungry for something else, and Heir To The Empire hit, it was so unique and so wonderful.”
Thrawn’s a villain with sharp, strategic intelligence, “He doesn’t have the Force, but it doesn’t matter. He will outsmart you.”
The panel also revealed that David Tennant (Doctor Who) returns as the robot Huyang, and Diana Lee’s cast as Morgan Elsebeth, Thrawn’s right hand.
The Eslbeth/Ahsoka saber fight was teased in the trailer. Reports indicate the scene took over 17 hours to shoot, and George Lucas reportedly was on set as well.
