Looming Star Destroyers, merciless Death Stars, and celestial monsters, Star Wars is colossal in its storytelling. Somewhere in the galaxy — void of imperial alarms, roaring TIE fighters, and clashing lightsabers — a new story begins. A force-sensitive Togrutan newborn appears, who will one day fight alongside a legendary Jedi Knight, lead a band of Lothal rebels, and hunt the Empire’s most dangerous mercenaries. She’s Ahsoka, Ashla, Fulcrum, and Snips. She’s the new legacy, already years in the making and far from over.
Ahsoka Tano has grown into one of the most influential roles a character can have in Star Wars canon. Her steady development beneath the mainstream has given longtime fans ample room to connect with the next-gen Jedi. Glimpses into Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka in both “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett” quickly drew in new and unfamiliar viewers, leaving some to wonder, who is Ahsoka and will the show answer some of the biggest questions in the Star Wars universe?
What questions do you want answered from the spinoff? Tell us in the comments below!
When and Where Does ‘Ahsoka’ Take Place in the Star Wars Timeline?
“Ahsoka” will pick up where “Star Wars: Rebels” left off: Ezra (Eman Esfandi) and Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelson) are lost to hyperspace, stray passengers of the Purrgil simu-tunnels. Ahsoka, with help from the rest of the “Ghost” team, is setting out to find her missing friend. Fans unfamiliar with the animated series can place “Ahsoka” sometime after the events of “Return of the Jedi,” “The Mandalorian,” and “The Book of Boba Fett.”
Ahsoka will also serve as a lens into the early days of The New Republic — a look at her efforts to restore balance in the galaxy from a Jedi Knight’s perspective. Mon Mothma’s (Genevieve O'Reilly) return hints that Star Wars’ ever-dicey politics will play a pivotal role in the series. Although, whether or not Ahsoka will play by her rules or stylishly defy them is something left up to speculation for now.
Who Is Grand Admiral Thrawn?
Ahsoka isn’t the only long-term investment paying off in this new series. Decades before Ahsoka’s arrival, writer Timothy Zahn introduced one of the Empire’s most tactful and dangerous leaders. Thrawn’s brilliance was evident from a young age, always channeling his strength to benefit the better interests of his allegiance to the Chiss Ascendancy. As a young man, Thrawn fervently rose within the ranks of Rentor’s military forces.
It wasn’t long after pledging allegiance to the Empire that his abilities were noticed and commended, quickly earning him the title of Grand Admiral. Now these two characters’ timelines, decades in the making, will collide. Ahsoka and the rest of the rebels are set to go up against one of the Empire’s greatest. In case you missed it: Thrawn’s abilities as a tactician even set him up alongside Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) for a mission on Batuu during the infamous Clone Wars, further weaving him into Ahsoka’s past.
What Characters From Ahsoka’s Past Can We Expect to See?
Ahsoka’s participation in the Clone Wars as Anakin's Padawan was the foundation for an expansive record of relationships and connections. One theory about who might return during the “Ahsoka” series surrounds Barriss Offee. Her impact on Ahsoka's journey cannot be understated. She is one of the pivotal reasons behind Ahsoka's decision to abandon her Jedi training. Despite having the greatest impact on Ahsoka's future, Barriss’ current whereabouts were left unaddressed and unknown. Speculation aside, it’s been long confirmed which cast and characters are returning from Ahsoka’s past in live-action form.
Without so much as a beacon or signal of Ezra's whereabouts, Ahsoka is going to need all the help she can get if she's going to find both of these key characters. We know based on trailers and interviews that the Ghost team is reuniting: Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), Ezra Bridger, and Huyang (David Tennant). On the villainous side, we can expect to see Grand Admiral Thrawn, Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), and Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen).
What Led to Luke and Ahsoka Meeting and Working Together?
Longtime fans of the franchise were shocked to see Ahsoka return during a special episode of “The Mandalorian.” This was the first time we got to see Ahsoka outside of her animated series, and it left us all stunned. But then it happened again; Ahsoka reappears during a later episode of “The Book of Boba Fett.” Only this time, she was standing with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Seeing them both together immediately flooded fans with questions.
How is it that Luke and Ahsoka came to work together on Ossus to build the foundation of Luke’s infamous Jedi Temple? Will there be episodes committed to the backstory between the two Jedi? Glimpses into battles and key moments in the war that they both might have shared? We can hardly wait to find out.
Will Cal Kestis Make an Appearance?
Think back to your first playthrough of “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.” You’ve just escaped an encounter with the Second Sister and are fleeing to Bogano aboard the Mantis. On your way to the vault, you encounter your first meditation circle, through which Cal Kestis (Cameron Monaghan) enters an astral plane riddled with orbital rings and echoes of his Jedi training. The similarities are too striking to ignore. Cal shares a connection to the World Between Worlds just as Ahsoka does.
Their timelines line up. They share involvement with members of the Hidden Path. If Cal truly does possess a link to the World Between Worlds, it’s inevitable that both he and Ahsoka eventually cross paths. It’s doubtful Cal will make an appearance in the first season of Ahsoka, but we have high hopes of seeing him at least teased in Dave Feloni’s Mando-verse crossover film.
What Will Become of Ahsoka’s Relationship With the Force?
Both “Clone Wars” and “Rebels” were critical to Ahsoka’s development. Her trials were demanding, and the stakes were always high, each one gradually refining the brash and reckless little Padawan into the fearless leader she is now. Despite the emotional turmoil of detaching from the Order and witnessing her Master turn, she continued seeking her truth and ultimately became her own Jedi.
Those who watched the Mortis Arc in “Clone Wars” understand the gravity of Ahsoka’s connection to the light side of the Force. In a way, Ahsoka now shares a space with Luke as a symbol of hope. Like Luke, she is ever-fated to return to the Force, collaborate in rebuilding the Jedi Order, and take on a Padawan of her own. She might also one day inspire a generation of fans and Jedi alike.