LIVE UPDATES! ‘Ahsoka’ Panel Explores ‘Clone Wars’ and ‘Rebels’ Hero in New Light
After yesterday’s trailer, a full panel dedicated to the Ahsoka series has arrived, and we’re covering the news on it as they arrive.
The Ahsoka series panel, which starts at 3:00 AM PT / 6:00 AM ET and is set to run for about one hour, will unfortunately not be livestreamed to the public. Thankfully, members of the press are able to live-blog the event by texting on their phones as they watch new footage and more. The official Star Wars Twitter page covers significant Celebration Europe announcements, as does their official website in recap form after the panels, but some details are only shared via dutiful reporters on the scene who are covering some of the more nuanced bits of information as they come in.
We will be covering any significant announcements revealed at Celebration Europe in this presentation as part of this article (make sure to refresh the page from time to time, once the event starts), and will provide more detail in subsequent articles on Star Wars News Net as more details on them are revealed throughout the four-day event. Without further ado, here are the live updates!
We’re back at #StarWarsCelebration for Day Two! The first panel of the day is #Ahsoka, and we’ll be live-tweeting updates, news, photos and more as it goes.
Or wait, has it begun already? That’s Ahsoka, Vader, Thrawn, and… Jeff? pic.twitter.com/PDqY8qAWEB
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
10:55 AM: Five minutes until the Ahsoka series panel is expected to start.
11:00 AM: The panel is on stand-by.
11:07 AM: The panel has begun. Chris Hewitt is serving as the moderator.
11:09 AM: Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau have come onto the stage and are greeted by a loud round of applause.
Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have stepped on stage to rapturous applause for the #Ahsoka panel. “You never get used to it,” says Filoni. “It’s awesome!”#StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/dk9J672Jc4
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11: 12 AM: Dave Filoni walks the crowd through original sketches for the character of Ahsoka.
We’re going right back to the very beginning of the character to start the panel. “He named her Ahsoka,” says Dave Filoni, looking back at creating the character with George Lucas for the animated Clone Wars movie. #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/rVNPONVdOP
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11:15 AM: Jon Favreau walks the crowd through what is was like bringing this iconic animated character into live-action.
Jon Favreau is talking about bringing Ahsoka Tano into live-action in The Mandalorian Season 2. “Having Ahsoka as a guest star in the episode that Dave wrote gave us an opportunity to find the right person, find the right tone,” he says. “Dave very much leaned into the Kurosawa,… pic.twitter.com/F3ZSw2yxuq
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11: 17 AM: Rosario Dawson arrives on stage, and she isn’t alone! She walks onto the stage with none other than the famed Rebels astromech named Chopper.
Rosario Dawson is here! And she’s brought Chopper with her. “Ashley Eckstein, bringing this character from a teenager up until this show, did such an incredible job developing her,” she say. “The complexities she brought and the nuances was something to build from. It feels like… pic.twitter.com/8XKabSXjSB
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11:19 AM: Rosario Dawson informs the audience that Ahsoka’s pursuit of Ezra is the driving force in the series.
Rosario Dawson says Ahsoka’s pursuit of Ezra “drives her” in the new show #StarWarsCelebration #StarWars #StarWarsCelebration2023 pic.twitter.com/qPTe2fGNIB
— Star Wars Holocron @ SWCE (@sw_holocron) April 8, 2023
11:20 AM: Rosario speaks about the antagonizing forces in the series.
Let’s talk Thrawn. “That guy…” says Rosario. “[Ahsoka] really is driven by trying to do good. I think she recognises a threat that other period aren’t necessarily seeing.” And Thrawn? “He is formidable, and not someone to take lightly,” she says. “She has sensed that there is… pic.twitter.com/orrqryTzZj
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11:23 AM: Dawson dives into the evolution of the costume and makeup for Ahsoka.
The makeup takes 1.5 to 2 hours now, it used to take 3
— Star Wars Explained@SWCE (@StarWarsExplain) April 8, 2023
11:26 AM: It seems Dave Filoni can’t help but stay away from animation! He talks briefly about creating Tales of the Jedi.
Dave Filoni says he made Tales of the Jedi because he saw how much fun his colleagues were having making The Bad Batch#StarWarsCelebration #StarWars #StarWarsCelebration2023 pic.twitter.com/UDoFiwP4YV
— Star Wars Holocron @ SWCE (@sw_holocron) April 8, 2023
Cont: Jon Favreau interjects a hilarious comment about Dave seeing his creations come to life.
‘There’s definitely a period of time where he’s not very useful creatively… with Ahsoka it was a whole other level,’ says Favreau on Filoni’s dumbstruck awe at seeing his creations make the leap to live action for the first time on set #SWC2023 pic.twitter.com/8sblsMWkFF
— Total Film (@totalfilm) April 8, 2023
11:30 AM: Dave shares about how closely he and Rosario Dawson worked on this project.
Dave Filoni has included Rosario Dawson as a major collaborator on the show. “When I write, we get together and talk about everything,” he says of his leading star. “We go through every line.” #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/x7DW4DSl20
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11:32 AM: Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Mary Elizabeth Winstead take the stage. It’s time for Sabine and Hera news!
Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who play Sabine and Hera, join the #SWCE stage pic.twitter.com/YyG1jMnwtF
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 8, 2023
11:33 AM: Mary Elizabeth Winstead informs the audience she did watch Star Wars: Rebels as she prepared to take on the role of Hera Syndulla.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead prepared for her role as Hera in Ahsoka by watching Star Wars Rebels#StarWars #StarWarsCelebration #StarWarsCelebration2023 pic.twitter.com/GxGy5QkgGs
— Star Wars Holocron @ SWCE (@sw_holocron) April 8, 2023
11:34 AM: Here is a new look at Sabine Wren.
New look at Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine in ‘AHSOKA’. pic.twitter.com/MBxVSJqu2d
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 8, 2023
11:34 AM Cont: New Look at Hera Syndulla in the series as well.
New look at Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera in ‘AHSOKA’. #SWCE pic.twitter.com/sVG1TWp13a
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 8, 2023
11:35 AM: Rosario Dawson breaks down the family dynamic of the Ghost crew. Here she elaborates on Hera’s protective nature. She is, after all, the figurative mother of the group.
Rosario Dawson is talking the dynamic between the Ghost crew. “One the things about Hera that’s so incredible is, she’s so protective,” she says. “There’s absolute trust that they’re going to handle what they need to handle.” #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/XBAKbOmfN2
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11:39 AM: There wouldn’t be talk of the Ghost Crew without some Chopper conversation!
Cantankerous droid Chopper “has beef with other droids and gets distracted,” says Rosario.
“He doesn’t like the Loth-cat,” adds Dave Filoni. #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/47dELRobQN
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11:40 AM: The iconic David Tennant will return to voice Huyang, the droid we first met in The Clone Wars.
David Tennant will return as Huyang in ‘AHSOKA’. #SWCE pic.twitter.com/d4hQLj1SL0
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 8, 2023
11:40 AM Cont: Here is a brand-new look at Huyang.
New look at Huyang, voiced by David Tennant, in ‘AHSOKA’. #SWCE pic.twitter.com/1n3xqNmn5f
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 8, 2023
11:41 AM: Diana Lee Inosanto arrives on stage to discuss her character, Morgan Elsbeth.
Diana Lee Inosanto (@TheRealDLI) arrives on stage to discuss her role as Morgan Elsbeth in Ahsoka#StarWars #StarWarsCelebration #StarWarsCelebration2023 pic.twitter.com/uA8quoMJNo
— Star Wars Holocron @ SWCE (@sw_holocron) April 8, 2023
11:41 Cont: We find out from Inosanto that the duel between Elsbeth and Ahsoka coming to life was part of a grueling 17-hour filming day.
The duel between Ahsoka and Morgan Elsbeth involved a 17 hour filming day on #TheMandalorian #StarWars #StarWarsCelebration #StarWarsCelebration2023 pic.twitter.com/GIlelDXJxj
— Star Wars Holocron @ SWCE (@sw_holocron) April 8, 2023
11:46 AM: Morgan Elsbeth’s loyalty is not in question; it belongs to Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Morgan “absolutely is very loyal to Grand Admiral Thrawn,” says Inosanro. “But we also know she’s a hard worker. You’re gonna learn more about her background, I’m really excited about that.” #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/bOpjOZp6WS
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
11:48 AM: Ray Stevenson and Ivanna Sakhno arrive on stage to discuss their new characters. Ray Stevenson will play a villainous character named Baylan. Sakhno’s character is named Shin, and she is handy with a lightsaber. They inhabit the same world as Thrawn.
Ray Stevenson and Ivanna Sakhno are playing villainous characters Baylon and Shin in #Ahsoka, who inhabit the same world as Thrawn and Morgan. What can Dave Filoni tell us about them? “Absolutely nothing,” he laughs. #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/q1mzho2bm3
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
Ray Stevenson will play a villainous character named Balen in Ahsoka#StarWars #StarWarsCelebration #StarWarsCelebration2023 pic.twitter.com/fvnGlNYhsi
— Star Wars Holocron @ SWCE (@sw_holocron) April 8, 2023
Ivanna Sakhno will play a villain named Shin who is skilled with a lightsaber #StarWars #StarWarsCelebration #StarWarsCelebration2023 pic.twitter.com/gfJHhgCWwT
— Star Wars Holocron @ SWCE (@sw_holocron) April 8, 2023
11:55 AM: The list of directors is announced: Dave Filoni, Steph Green, Peter Ramsey, Jennifer Getzinger, Geeta Patel, and Rick Famuyiwa.
11:57: AM: It’s announced Kevin Kiner will score the Ahsoka series.
Kevin Kiner, who wrote the Ahsoka theme back in the day, is returning to score the #Ahsoka series. #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/k89TJ15jOe
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
12:01 PM: New footage indicates Lars Mikkelsen will reprise his role as Thrawn in Ahsoka.
Lars Mikkelsen returns as Thrawn in ‘AHSOKA’. #SWCE pic.twitter.com/r1uzhExBpd
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 8, 2023
12:03 PM: Thrawn himself arrives on stage! An extended trailer is shown offering the first live-action look at the villain.
Lars Mikkelsen joins the #SWCE stage, after the announcement of his return as Thrawn in ‘AHSOKA’ pic.twitter.com/ztE5PpKEaU
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 8, 2023
12:06 PM: Timothy Zahn fans will be pleased to know Dave Filoni has been consulting with the famous Thrawn author.
Dave Filoni consulted with Timothy Zahn on how to bring Grand Admiral Thrawn to life in the Ahsoka series.
“We want to make sure we get it right.”#StarWars #StarWarsCelebration #StarWarsCelebration2023 pic.twitter.com/H41nAygvU3
— Star Wars Holocron @ SWCE (@sw_holocron) April 8, 2023
12:12 PM: The trailer was exclusive to those at the panel, but a brief description can be found below. Our own Miguel Fernández, who is in attendance, believes the “epic speeder bike sequence was 99% taking place on Lothal.”
The extended #Ahsoka trailer, only shown in the #StarWarsCelebration room, sees Thrawn named as “Heir to the Empire”, has Sabine Wren in a lightsaber duel, a thrilling speeder bike stunt – and was that a shot of an epic Purrgil at the end? It certainly seemed so… Bring on… pic.twitter.com/rBp51F6gJY
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) April 8, 2023
And that’s it! There is so much to unpack after this panel. Be sure to follow Star Wars News Net as we break down everything announced and more.
Ahsoka stars Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, David Tennant as Huyang, Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, and Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. The series was written by Dave Filoni, executive produced by Filoni, Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, and Carrie Beck, and co-executive produced by Karen Gilchrist.
Ahsoka will begin airing on Disney Plus in August 2023.
Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.
Finding ways to nonchalantly incorporate Star Wars quotes into 8th grade classroom, Tyler lives and breathes Star Wars. His morning tradition is sending the latest number in the countdown for different Star Wars projects and loves engaging in uplifting Star Wars dialogue. If you are passionate about Star Wars you can follow him on Twitter at TyBrad5.
