The Ahsoka trailer teases an iconic Star Wars storyline

Thrawn is arguably the greatest Star Wars character never to make it into live action. Very different from Darth Vader or Palpatine, Thrawn is a member of the alien race known as the Chiss, whose greatest weapon is his wits. He’s a master tactician, and given that, the idea of ​​him taking what’s left of the Empire and bringing them together to once again rule the galaxy is an intriguing idea. That’s the promise of Heir to the Empire, and it seems like Dave Filoni has been building on that for quite some time.

First off, Filoni brought Thrawn into the official canon of Star Wars Rebels in the show’s third season. That show’s finale left Thrawn in the game and ultimately set the stage for the events of “Ahsoka.” Not only that, elements of “Rebels” have been infusing into the Mando-Verse for a while. Also, we had references to cloning technology in The Mandalorian, which is a huge subplot in Heir to the Empire. Filoni knows Star Wars better than perhaps anyone else on this side of George Lucas, and it’s very clear that this was all a purposely long game.

If there’s anyone who can pull this off, it’s Filoni. No story outside of the movies had a bigger impact on Star Wars than Zahn’s beloved trilogy. While it’s a bit reckless to speculate, it seems fair to assume that Filoni’s film will be the culmination of all this world-building, leading to an adaptation of this beloved trilogy. The pieces are in place, and it’s clear Thrawn’s time has come. That’s the way, so to speak.

Ahsoka premieres on Disney+ in August 2023.