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Ahsoka Season 2: Insights from the Star Wars Celebration in Japan
During a recent panel at the Star Wars Celebration in Japan, creators of Ahsoka, including Dave Filoni, producer Jon Favreau, and stars Rosario Dawson and Hayden Christensen, shared exciting details about the upcoming Season 2 of the series. Filming is scheduled to commence “in one week,” according to Dawson. The conversation navigated various topics: from the legacy of Ray Stevenson, who played Baylan Skoll, to the overarching themes of the series and the evolution of the Ahsoka character within the Star Wars universe.
Christensen’s presence strongly hinted at the return of Anakin Skywalker, which was later confirmed during the panel. He remarked:
“I mean, there’s not much that I can share, but Anakin will be back for Season 2.”
In addition to this notable reveal, the panel provided more captivating insight into Season 2. Filoni unveiled that Fleet Admiral Gial Ackbar, a beloved character from the original trilogy, is set to appear in a more significant role than before. While Ackbar made a brief cameo in Season 1 at Hera Syndulla’s hearing, he will be more prominently featured in the new season, even facing off against the main antagonist, Grand Admiral Thrawn. Filoni elaborated:
“[Creature effects supervisor] Neil Scanlon and I collaborated, and I said, ‘Neil, we need an Ackbar that really moves. I want all the wiggle that the puppet had. I want all of that.’ So we’ve got Admiral Ackbar back for Season 2 in a much, much, much bigger way, because he’s gonna go head-to-head with Thrawn. Give them some competition. You know, what’s a Death Star compared to the blue guy? So let’s go for it.”
Filoni humorously acknowledged the iconic line associated with Ackbar, stating, “It took all of my effort to resist writing the line ‘It’s a trap.’ Because I’m like, I can’t do that. That would be so lame, because Ackbar can’t always fall for the trap!”
Bringing Back Thrawn, Loth-Cats, and Noti
As the discussion continued, Filoni hinted at the return of a variety of Star Wars creatures, including the Noti, a turtle-like species. He mentioned their plight in Season 2, noting, “We’ve got little old Notis, and they’re in some peril, which is tough. Not everybody’s happy about that.” He also touched upon the inclusion of Loth-cats, a fan-favorite, which Dawson humorously referred to as “mothballs” and “Lothballs.” Filoni highlighted one particular Loth-cat, owned by Sabine Wren, saying, “I brought Murley back because he was evidently a big star, and I didn’t know it.”
Returning to Thrawn, Filoni emphasized his significance as the right antagonist for this narrative era, especially drawing upon the character’s roots in Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire. He illustrated Thrawn as a cunning villain who, despite lacking the Force, showcases remarkable intellect and tactical acumen. “He’s very smart, very tactical, and a warrior,” Filoni explained, reflecting on the character’s leadership qualities, which had not been fully explored in prior Star Wars films. He expressed admiration for the actor portraying Thrawn, stating:
“Lars plays him brilliantly. I was amazed because I had never worked with Lars in the studio on Rebels; he was always remote. I had no idea how tall he was. This is perfect because I wanted a very tall, towering Thrawn. He looks imposing next to Baylan, who is large. So, yeah, he’s just the right villain for this era, trying to reform the Empire while maintaining its control.”
As anticipation builds for Ahsoka Season 2, fans can look forward to more updates about the series. In the meantime, Season 1 is available for streaming on Disney+.
Source
movieweb.com