Ahsoka Tano's Epic Lightsaber Transformation in The Mandalorian Surprises Fans
Ahsoka Tano's lightsaber in The Mandalorian showcases a significant modification, making it more accessible and user-friendly compared to its previous appearance
When Rosario Dawson made her debut as Ahsoka Tano in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, it was a dream come true for many fans. She had long been a fan-favorite to bring the iconic Jedi from Star Wars: Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels to life in a live-action adaptation, and at last, it became a reality. However, before she took the lead in her own Disney+ Star Wars series, Ahsoka underwent a significant upgrade.
At the Destination D23 event in Florida, prop master Josh Roth shared an intriguing detail about Ahsoka's beloved lightsabers. It turns out that the props team faced a challenge when it came to powering them for The Mandalorian. The limited space did not allow for conventional batteries, forcing the team to find an inventive solution. So, what did they do? They ingeniously attached the batteries directly to Dawson herself.
When revisiting Ahsoka's debut on The Mandalorian, you wouldn't notice that battery packs were actually concealed under the sleeves of her costume, connected to her dual sabers. Although it wasn't the most efficient solution, it did the job. If you were unaware of Tano's sabers being physically linked to her arms, it wouldn't be easily apparent.
However, Dawson didn't have to contend with this issue for long. In preparation for shooting the Ahsoka series, Roth and his team reimagined the dual sabers, modifying them to incorporate hilt-compatible batteries. This modification granted the actress greater flexibility in her movements and fight choreography. And these alterations to the lightsabers weren't the only ones made for the series.
Roth also disclosed that Ray Stevenson, the star of the series, contributed his own ideas for his lightsaber, which he used while playing Baylan Skoll.
"Ray wanted to do something truly exceptional for this," stated Roth at the Destination D23 event. "He sought to modify the pommel. With the collaboration of both Doug, the production designer, and Dave, the showrunner, we successfully incorporated Ray's creative decision."
Ahsoka will be Stevenson's only Star Wars role, as the actor died earlier this year after he completed filming on the series.
Four episodes of Ahsoka remain, streaming Tuesdays on Disney+.
