Summary
The inclusion of an Imperial Inquisitor named Marrok in the upcoming Ahsoka series raises questions about their identity, motivations, and allegiance.
Marrok seems to be the sole surviving Inquisitor in the entire galaxy, since the Emperor dissolved the Inquisitorius for being no longer necessary.
Currently, Marrok is employed as a mercenary under Morgan Elsbeth's command, with the assignment of pursuing Ahsoka because of her skills in hunting Jedi. Actor Paul Darnell will portray Marrok's action-packed performance in Ahsoka.
The upcoming Ahsoka series has piqued interest with the inclusion of an Imperial Inquisitor named Marrok. This raises questions about their identity, motives, and allegiance. The first trailer for Ahsoka, revealed at Star Wars Celebration 2023, confirmed that Grand Admiral Thrawn would be the main antagonist, accompanied by three secondary villains: Morgan Elsbeth from The Mandalorian season 2, and the Force-wielding duo of Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati.
Despite the formidable lineup of adversaries facing Ahsoka, a June 2023 issue of Empire Magazine unveiled another villainous character in Ahsoka: an Inquisitor named Marrok. This was unexpected, considering that the Inquisitors had not been seen in Star Wars since the events of the original trilogy. They were primarily associated with the Dark Times, which fell between Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Ahsoka, however, will introduce Inquisitors into the New Republic era through the character of Marrok, leaving many unanswered questions about this new antagonist.
The Inquisitors Are The Empire's Jedi Hunters
The Inquisitors in Star Wars are a subject worth exploring. They were first introduced in Star Wars Rebels, a show that tells Ahsoka's story. This animated series showcases a group of Force-users named the Inquisitorius. This group consists of a select number of Inquisitors who were trained by Darth Vader himself. Although not trained in the ways of the Sith, they possess Force powers, either as fallen Jedi or Force-sensitive Imperial sympathizers. The primary role of the Inquisitors in the Star Wars timeline, known as the Dark Times, was to track down and eliminate any surviving Jedi who managed to escape Order 66. They are fiercely loyal to the Empire and posed a significant threat to surviving Jedi such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kanan Jarrus, and Ezra Bridger in Star Wars Rebels. The revelation of an Inquisitor named Marrok in Ahsoka, after the Empire's defeat, was a surprising development that raised intriguing questions about their nature.
Marrok Appears To Be The Last Of The Inquisitors
Marrok appears to be the remaining Jedi hunter in the galaxy after the fall of the Empire, as Inquisitors are rarely seen in the Star Wars series. The main objective of the Inquisitors was to track down and eliminate any surviving Jedi, but their purpose became obsolete with the assumption that all Jedi had been killed, until Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi emerged. This information is explained in the book Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith, where Palpatine disbands the Force-users from the Empire.
As a result, no Inquisitors were shown in the original trilogy or subsequent events after Return of the Jedi. However, the appearance of Marrok in Ahsoka challenges this, sparking numerous theories to explain Ahsoka's connection to this mysterious Inquisitor. Though Marrok is no longer part of the Imperial organization following its disbandment, they become the last active member of the Inquisitorius. Instead, Marrok now serves a new master that is tied to Ahsoka's past and future.
Marrok Is Now A Mercenary Working For Morgan Elsbeth
Marrok's allegiances were initially unclear, but Lucasfilm has updated the Star Wars Databank entry to provide more information. It is now revealed that Marrok is working for Morgan Elsbeth, the Imperial Magistrate of Corvus introduced in The Mandalorian season 2. Ahsoka tracks her down to uncover Thrawn's location.
In addition to Ahsoka, Elsbeth is also searching for Thrawn, along with Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, in the upcoming series Ahsoka. They are likely to recruit Marrok and other Force-wielding allies to aid in their search. Elsbeth's main goal is to reach Thrawn before Ahsoka does, so it is possible that she enlisted Marrok's help to slow down Ahsoka's progress.
Who Plays Marrok In Ahsoka?
Lucasfilm's entry into the Star Wars Databank also indicates that Marrok has transitioned into a freelance mercenary. It is probable that Marrok managed to escape with the lightsaber and armor of the Inquisitorius once the Emperor disbanded the group. Since the events of the original trilogy and Return of the Jedi, Marrok has sought employment as a mercenary, utilizing the training received from Vader and their Force abilities to earn a living on a per-job basis. One of Marrok's clients appears to be Morgan Elsbeth, with the Magistrate most likely enlisting Marrok's services due to their proficiency in hunting Jedi like Ahsoka.
In Ahsoka, the identity of the actor playing Marrok has piqued curiosity. Although there isn't much information available about Marrok, keen Star Wars fans noticed that Paul Darnell was named as the performer for the Inquisitor in the official captions of stills from the Ahsoka trailer. Paul Darnell, an accomplished Hollywood stunt double, boasts an impressive career, having worked on various Star Wars projects. He was credited as a stunt performer in the first episode of The Mandalorian, Season 1. Additionally, Darnell served as the stunt double for Timothy Olyphant's character, Cobb Vanth, in the first episode of The Mandalorian, Season 2.
Darnell, who plays Olyphant's stunt double in The Book of Boba Fett, also takes on the role of a Night Wind Assassin tasked with killing the main character in episodes 1 and 2. What's intriguing about Darnell's character, Marrok, is that the official confirmation pertaining to the character's gender is yet to be disclosed, including in the Star Wars Databank. Hence, it is possible that Darnell serves as the stunt actor for Marrok when in armor, while another actor may portray the character when the mask is off.
This arrangement would allow Marrok to showcase exceptional combat skills thanks to Darnell's abilities, while also aligning with various speculations about the character. The prevailing theory suggests that Marrok could be Barriss Offee, Ahsoka's former friend and fellow Padawan from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, underneath the mask. However, Darnell does not match Barriss' gender or appearance in any manner. Nonetheless, more details about Marrok will be unveiled once Ahsoka debuts on August 23, 2023. At present, it is certain that Paul Darnell will deliver an impressive stunt performance for the character.
Episodes 1 and 2 of Ahsoka release Wednesday, August 23 on Disney+.
