A Mind-Blowing Twist: The Unforgettable Ahsoka Story Grand Admiral Thrawn's Creator Never Imagined

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Ahsoka

Summary

In Ahsoka, Grand Admiral Thrawn has made his first appearance in a live-action Star Wars setting. However, the way his exile was originally conceived by Timothy Zahn, the creator of the character, would have likely been portrayed differently.

Zahn had imagined a hesitant collaboration between Thrawn and Ezra, in which Thrawn persuades Ezra to assist in overcoming a more formidable adversary than the Empire.

Thrawn's characterization varies between Timothy Zahn's more nuanced portrayal, which presents him as a morally ambiguous figure who sees the Empire as a necessary but flawed entity, and Dave Filoni's interpretation, which depicts him solely as a villain with ambitions of leading the Empire. Recently, Thrawn made his live-action debut in the Ahsoka show, re-emerging into the known galaxy after a prolonged period of exile. Although Zahn and Filoni have different perspectives, they both contribute to shaping the complex character of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Timothy Zahn created the powerful Grand Admiral Thrawn in the early 90s for the Thrawn trilogy of novels, starting with Heir to the Empire. The character was reintroduced into the Disney canon by Filoni for the Star Wars Rebels series, as well as in new books from Zahn himself. Zahn expressed his thoughts on depicting Thrawn's exile differently from what was seen in Ahsoka during a 2021 panel. He suggested a storyline where Thrawn and Ezra form a reluctant partnership, with Thrawn convincing Ezra that there are greater threats than the Empire. Although Ezra would never fully trust Thrawn, they would work together, similar to the dynamic in the TV show "White Collar." Thrawn would seek Ezra's assistance without pushing him away, and other characters like Eli Vanto could provide perspectives on the dangers beyond the Empire. This setup would create intriguing dynamics for the story.

While the idea of Thrawn and Jedi Ezra Bridger reluctantly joining forces is compelling, it seems to be predicated on how Zahn views the Grand Admiral (compared to Filoni).

Because Of Zahn, There Are Really Two Different Thrawns In Canon

Zahn's take on Thrawn would have differed significantly. Firstly, it is logical to assume that Thrawn and Ezra were banished to the Unknown Regions after the Star Wars Rebels finale. These remarks were made two years before Ahsoka's revelation about Peridea and its existence in another galaxy altogether. Alongside this, it is also plausible that Thrawn would reunite with his esteemed ally, Eli Vanto, in the Unknown Regions. Vanto, who played a crucial role in Thrawn's ascent through the ranks of the Imperial Navy, later became an Imperial representative for Thrawn's people, the Chiss, while Thrawn himself remained devoted to serving the Empire.

Thrawn, in Zahn's books, is portrayed as a quasi-heroic figure who sees the Empire as a necessary evil to protect the Chiss from threats in the Unknown Regions. Many of these threats were established by Zahn himself. In light of this perspective, it is understandable that Ezra is persuaded to form an alliance in order to face new threats beyond the Empire. However, Filoni's portrayal of Thrawn in Ahsoka's finale depicts him more as an outright villain who seeks to take leadership of the Empire upon his return. Interestingly enough, this aligns more with Zahn's original Legends characterization of Thrawn in the novel Heir to the Empire.