Preview of ‘Star Wars: Rebels’ Reunion in ‘Ahsoka’ Trailer Revealed
The release of the highly-anticipated Disney+ Star Wars: Ahsoka series in August is quickly approaching, and fans of the animated Star Wars: Rebels series are in for a treat with an exciting new trailer. Packed with thrilling action, the trailer features beloved Rebels characters such as Hera Syndula, Sabine Wren, Chopper, Ezra Bridger, and even the series’ antagonist, Grand Admiral Thrawn, making live-action appearances.
The show takes place in the same timeline as The Mandalorian, but stars Ahsoka Tano, the former apprentice of the sand-hating Anakin Skywalker. Tano (Rosario Dawson) never appeared in the prequel films, but was a mainstay in the Star Wars: Clone Wars comic before moving on to Star Wars: Rebels and eventually The Mandalorian’s second season.
Fans have long speculated that Ahsoka would follow Rebels’ cliffhanger ending (no spoilers), and they certainly got their wish. The trailer is full of nods to the comic, and even lingers over the animated stills that appeared in the series finale in 2018. For longtime fans of the franchise, the trailer features the first live-action appearance of Grand Admiral Thrawn, played by Lars Mikkelsen.
Thrawn was the main villain in Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire book trilogy, which followed the adventures of Luke Skywalker and the gang after the events of Return of the Jedi. These books aren’t canon because Luke became a blue milk-loving hermit or whatever, but Ahsoka seems to incorporate certain elements into the novels, as the last few seasons of The Mandalorian have done. Many fans are speculating that the juiciest parts of Zahn’s books will form the basis of the upcoming “Filoni-verse,” a crossover event featuring all the newer TV characters.
Ahsoka premieres on August 23, with two episodes dropping at the same time before moving weekly. In addition to Dawson and Mikkelsen, the series stars Natasha Liu Borzizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Eman Esfandi and recently deceased character actor Ray Stevenson.
