Grand Admiral Thrawn's live-action debut in Ahsoka earlier this year was welcomed by fans, especially with Lars Mikkelsen reprising his Star Wars Rebels role.
By the time the series ended, Thrawn had escaped Peridea and returned to the main Galaxy with the Great Mothers in tow. Their mission remains a mysterious one, though all signs point to them returning to Dathomir to resurrect an army of Nightsisters who can wage war on the Galaxy.
Talking to Empire Online, showrunner Dave Filoni - who brought Thrawn into the current canon in Rebels - strongly hinted that The Mandalorian season 3's Shadow Council scene will be key to what comes next.
"We set up Captain Pellaeon in The Mandalorian, and that’s a character that goes with Thrawn, so I’d love to see the two of them together," he teased before adding, "His foil throughout Rebels was Hera. Pitting the two generals against one another is something that I find interesting.” We could be in for an almighty clash of blue vs. green."
Hera Syndulla did take something of a backseat during Ahsoka's first season so having her match wits with the Grand Admiral...well, it would be nothing short of epic. Mikkelsen also spoke to the site and shared his take on what the villain is planning.
"Straighten out all the others and tidy up the shop," he teases. "I could imagine something in terms of a power play within the Empire." So, he's not on their side? Interesting.
Earlier this year, Filoni was made Lucasfilm's chief creative officer and, following Ahsoka season 2, he'll helm his own Star Wars movie bringing together all these small screen Star Wars characters. "In this new role, it’s opened up to basically everything that’s going on," the filmmaker explained when the news broke. "When we’re planning the future of what we’re doing now, I’m involved at the inception phase."
"I’m not telling people what to do. But I do feel I’m trying to help them tell the best story that they want to tell. I need to be a help across the galaxy here, like a part of a Jedi Council almost," he continued. "I can also lend a perspective on the challenges that telling these stories will present. I feel more capable of actually being helpful outside of just saying, ‘Well, Jedi are like this, and Sith are like this.'"
Set after the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka follows the former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.
In addition to Rosario Dawson in the title role, the series stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, the late Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, David Tennant as Huyang, Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Eman Esfandi appearing as Ezra Bridger.
Ahsoka was written by Dave Filoni, who executive produces alongside Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, and Carrie Beck. Directors include Filoni, Steph Green, Peter Ramsey, Jennifer Getzinger, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Rick Famuyiwa.
All episodes of Ahsoka are now streaming on Disney+.