The Untold Origins and Mind-blowing Future of Star Wars Villain Grand Admiral Thrawn

Summary

Grand Admiral Thrawn will be a vital villain in the future of Star Wars canon, with his importance evident in upcoming TV shows and a cinematic event.

Actor Lars Mikkelsen, known for his portrayal of Thrawn in Star Wars Rebels, is set to return as the character in the upcoming live-action series Ahsoka. In the current Star Wars canon, Thrawn's background includes a notable encounter with Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars, and he has had a significant impact in the Expanded Universe following the events of the original trilogy.

Grand Admiral Thrawn, a timeless Star Wars villain from the Expanded Universe, is poised to play a crucial role in the franchise's future canon. While Star Wars initially thrived as a film series, its success has extended across other platforms, particularly the small screen with an ever-growing lineup of live-action Disney+ TV shows. Building on this TV triumph, the storyline will eventually converge in a cinematic event led by Dave Filoni, featuring Grand Admiral Thrawn after his introduction in Ahsoka. This film will bring together characters from The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and possibly Skeleton Crew, showcasing the battle against the formidable Chiss Grand Admiral. This development emphasizes the significance of Thrawn in the Star Wars canon, defying expectations that his Legends stories were confined to that realm. With Filoni adapting "Heir to the Empire," it becomes evident just how vital Thrawn is to the future of Star Wars.

Lars Mikkelsen Plays Star Wars' Grand Admiral Thrawn

Grand Admiral Thrawn's Villain Origin In Star Wars Legends

Lars Mikkelsen will lead Thrawn's live-action Star Wars debut in Ahsoka. Having voiced the character in Star Wars Rebels, fans speculated on whether he would return for the New Republic Era. At Star Wars Celebration 2023, Mikkelsen appeared on stage during the Ahsoka panel, confirming his reprisal of Thrawn. Although the extent of his role in Ahsoka remains uncertain, Mikkelsen's return underscores Grand Admiral Thrawn's significance to the future of Star Wars, as continuity is maintained between his voice work in Rebels and his live-action debut.

Grand Admiral Thrawn, a Chiss from the enigmatic Unknown Regions of the Star Wars galaxy, distinguished himself as the sole non-human to ascend to the highest ranks of the Imperial military. Crafted by the imaginative mind of novelist Timothy Zahn, this blue-skinned, red-eyed warrior emerged from a realm shrouded in mystery - an uncharted expanse teeming with solar storms, rogue magnetospheres, black holes, gravity wells, and a multitude of other enigmatic phenomena. Thrawn's unparalleled mastery in strategizing military operations, his intricate knowledge of the Unknown Regions, and his unrivaled ability to fathom adversaries through their artistic expressions, bestowed upon him immense worth in the eyes of Palpatine.

The Grand Admiral, despite his flaws, exhibited a glaring ineptitude in handling political affairs, which ultimately led to his exile on an exploratory expedition to the far reaches of the Unknown Regions. As depicted in Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy, originating in 1991, Grand Admiral Thrawn emerged from the enigmatic Unknown Regions to launch a war against the budding New Republic. He came alarmingly close to triumph, narrowly foiled by the exceptional competence of his adversaries - and a considerable stroke of fortune.

Thrawn Was Crucial To Star Wars After The Original Trilogy

Thrawn's significance in the '90s Star Wars era cannot be overstated. The Thrawn Trilogy gained immense popularity, receiving critical acclaim and becoming a best-selling series on the New York Times' list. It served as an inspiration for a continuous series of novels that expanded on the post-Return of the Jedi era. Zahn's contributions to the Expanded Universe established him as one of its most influential writers, consistently revealing more about his iconic creations, including the Chiss, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and the former Imperial asset, Mara Jade. Interestingly, the return of Mara Jade to Star Wars canon could potentially align with Thrawn's presence in Filoni's upcoming film.

The Star Wars Expanded Universe revitalized the franchise's presence in popular culture and played a pivotal role in inspiring George Lucas to create the prequels. Notably, Lucas drew inspiration from the Thrawn Trilogy, incorporating elements such as the city-planet Coruscant. However, with Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, these stories were reclassified as Legends. Although Thrawn himself was reintroduced in the canon through Star Wars Rebels, set in a different time period, his original Legends narrative has experienced a resurgence in the wake of Rebels' conclusion. Thrawn now wages war against the New Republic once again, bringing his captivating storyline back to the forefront.

Thrawn's New Origin In Star Wars Canon

Thrawn's origin in the current Star Wars canon is intriguing due to his unique incorporation of both canon and Legends material. A comprehensive understanding of Thrawn's backstory has been established through various Star Wars books, with author Zahn taking the opportunity to delve into his history. Notably, Zahn unveils a pivotal encounter between Thrawn and Anakin Skywalker himself during the Clone Wars, where the Jedi was assigned to a mission on the fringes of the Unknown Regions.

Thrawn's military strategies clashed with Chiss culture, leading his commanders to devise a plan of feigning his exile. This served as an opportunity to dispatch him as a covert operative throughout the vast galaxy. It was not until after the Clone Wars that the Empire discovered Thrawn, who managed to earn the trust of Palpatine. From there, he ascended the Imperial ranks, mirroring the path he took in the old EU. However, unbeknownst to the Empire, he also clandestinely facilitated the transfer of resources and pivotal allies to the Chiss when the opportunity arose.

Thrawn's Role In Star Wars Rebels & What Happened To Him

Grand Admiral Thrawn made his first significant appearance in the Star Wars Rebels series, where he was assigned to confront the rebels of Phoenix squadron. Despite being incredibly effective in his tactics, Thrawn's lack of knowledge in the Force, as seen in the Legends canon, eventually led to his downfall. Jedi apprentice Ezra Bridger formed a connection with a group of creatures known as Purrgils, which later made a brief appearance in live-action during Season 3 of The Mandalorian. Utilizing these creatures, Bridger successfully decimated Thrawn's fleet and pulled his flagship into hyperspace.

The Mandalorian Has Set Up Grand Admiral Thrawn's Return

Lothal's liberation from the Empire was a significant blow to Palpatine, resulting in the loss of his esteemed strategist, Thrawn. During the era of the original Star Wars trilogy, Thrawn was mysteriously absent, along with Ezra, the Jedi who played a vital role in the victory. Ezra's courageous act of self-sacrifice occurred when he vanished along with Thrawn on the Star Destroyer. This pivotal event forms the foundation of Ahsoka's narrative, as she embarks on an extensive galactic search for both Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra. Meanwhile, Thrawn is silently regaining his strength in the shadows, preparing to strike back against the New Republic.

Ahsoka is on a mission to find Grand Admiral Thrawn, and the return of Thrawn has been hinted at throughout the three seasons of The Mandalorian. The first mention of Thrawn in the New Republic Era occurred in season 2, episode 5 of The Mandalorian. In this episode, Din Djarin meets Ahsoka Tano, who is revealed to be in conflict with Imperial magistrate Morgan Elsbeth on the planet Corvus. After defeating the Imperial forces together, Ahsoka questions Elsbeth about the whereabouts of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

This was Thrawn's first appearance in the Star Wars canon since Star Wars Rebels. The Mandalorian season 3 builds upon this by establishing the groundwork for the Grand Admiral's return. In episode 7 of The Mandalorian season 3, Moff Gideon attends a meeting of the Imperial Shadow Council. This secretive group forms the core of the Imperial Remnant in the Outer Rim and is led by Grand Admiral Thrawn. The Mandalorian also introduces Captain Pellaeon, Thrawn's trusted lieutenant from Legends, who mentions the Admiral's expanding military capabilities, set to be unleashed against the New Republic. These events seamlessly lead to Thrawn's anticipated return in Ahsoka, where his presence in the known galaxy becomes a reality.

Grand Admiral Thrawn's Star Wars Future Explained

The teases discovered in The Mandalorian serve as evidence of Thrawn's significant role in the future of Star Wars. Recent announcements have provided some insight into how Grand Admiral Thrawn's storyline in the New Republic Era will unfold. It is expected that Thrawn's presence in Ahsoka will be relatively limited, despite high anticipation. While he serves as the show's antagonist, Ahsoka primarily focuses on the titular character and her connection with Sabine Wren. The pursuit of Thrawn acts as the catalyst for their collaboration.

Grand Admiral Thrawn Will Return In The Ahsoka Disney+ TV Show

In the trailer, Ahsoka clearly recognizes Grand Admiral Thrawn as the "heir to the Empire," a reference to Timothy Zahn's novel that introduced Thrawn to Legends. Strong rumors suggest that this will be the official title for the upcoming movie set in The Mandalorian Era, with Filoni confirming Thrawn as the primary antagonist in The Mandalorian movie. Filoni describes Thrawn as an "iconic villain," distinguishing him from other traditional adversaries who wear helmets and wield lightsabers. Thrawn is a unique kind of foe, a brilliant strategist who poses a true threat with his ability to outsmart and unleash precise military force upon his adversaries.

The long-awaited return of Grand Admiral Thrawn will be witnessed by Ahsoka. The official trailer has provided a glimpse of Thrawn's live-action appearance, accompanied by Ahsoka's urgent narration highlighting the necessity of stopping him at any cost. Thrawn will take on the role of the primary antagonist in Ahsoka, while enigmatic newcomers Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati also hunt him down in pursuit of power. Elsbeth remains devoted to the Grand Admiral and possesses a star map that could potentially indicate his location. Assisting her as a mercenary is the former Inquisitor Marrok. The manner in which Thrawn will make his comeback in the Star Wars universe is yet to be revealed, but after a decade of plotting, it is bound to be monumental.

Episodes 1 and 2 of Ahsoka premiere Wednesday, August 23 on Disney+.