With the release ofAhsokaquickly approaching,Star Warsfans are hungry for whatever information they can get their hands on about the upcoming show. Recently, Lars Mikkelsen spoke about his reprisal of Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Ahsokawill follow Dawson’s Ahsoka andLiu Bordizzo’s Sabine Wrenas they search for their friend Ezra Bridger, who surrendered to Thrawn at the end ofStar Wars Rebelsto save his friends. Though the show will likely have a broader scope than just tying up the loose ends ofStar Wars Rebels,Ahsokacreator Dave Filoni has stated that the show will be connected to the events ofStar Wars Rebels, especially the events that transpired in the season finale that led to Ezra’s separation from his friends. Whatever else is in store for Ahsoka, Sabine, Ezra, and Hera Syndulla is anyone’s guess.
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While most of the cast ofAhsokadid not portray their characters in the animated show, Mikkelsen got the rare opportunity to portrayThrawn inStar Wars RebelsandAhsoka. Most actors reprising a role would probably re-watch the show or movie where they first played the character. While appearing on Entertainment Weekly’s podcastDagobah Dispatch, Mikkelsen revealed that he took a different approach when preparing to play Thrawn inAhsoka. During the podcast, Mikkelsen was asked, “Did you ever go back and watch old ‘Rebels’ episodes just to familiarize yourself with how you voiced him and played him before?” In response, Mikkelsen said, “No, I didn’t really. We needed to do something else, so I wanted to detach myself from that to create something new.”
Though it might sound unconventional, Mikkelsen’s thought process makes sense. AlthoughStar Wars RebelsandAhsokaare canon and connected by the same storyline,Ahsokawill likely have a different tone thanStar Wars Rebels. Mikkelsen’s response seems to confirm that Thrawn will be different inAhsokathan inRebels, though it isn’t clear why.
The change in Thrawn’s character could come down to the simple fact thatAhsokais aimed at an older audience thanStar Wars Rebels, which has a rating of TV-Y7. This means the show is appropriate for children seven years and older. IfAhsokafollows inThe Mandalorian’s footsteps- which it almost certainly will - it will most likely have a TV-14 rating, meaning the material has been deemed unsuitable for viewers under fourteen. This higher age restriction meansAhsokacan cover material that would have been too mature for a children’s show likeRebels. While something may have transpired to twist Thrawn into being a different version of the character fans saw inRebels, this change likely came about alongside the writers’ freedom to create a crueler character aimed at older audiences.
