By George Bate & Josh Bate
In an interview with Empire Magazine for their Review of the Year 2023, Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni spoke about Thrawn’s live-action debut and teased the future of the character.
In Chapter 23: The Spies of The Mandalorian Season 3, viewers were introduced to the mysterious Imperial Shadow Council, composed of various former Imperial officials whose goal is to restart the fallen Empire. Filoni mentions Captain Pellaeon, a member of the Shadow Council played by Xander Berkeley, as possibly interacting with Thrawn in the future. “We set up Captain Pellaeon in The Mandalorian,” Filoni said. “And that’s a character that goes with Thrawn, so I’d love to see the two of them together.”
Filoni here is referencing Timothy Zahn’s iconic Heir to the Empire novel, which featured the debut of Grand Admiral Thrawn and his right-hand man Gilad Pellaeon.
Another character Filoni hopes Thrawn crosses paths with is Hera Syndulla, who recently made her live-action debut in Ahsoka played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. “His foil throughout Rebels was Hera,” Filoni said. “Pitting the two generals against one another is something that I find interesting.”
Thrawn himself Lars Mikkelsen also commented to Empire Magazine about his character’s motivation. “Straighten out all the others and tidy up the shop,” Mikkelsen described. “I could imagine something in terms of a power play within the Empire.”
With Moff Gideon killed at the end of The Mandalorian Season 3 and Thrawn now residing on Dathomir after the finale of Ahsoka, it seems the stage is set for Thrawn to take command of the Imperial Remnant and go head-to-head with the New Republic.
It’s unlikely we’ll see much, if any, of Thrawn in 2024 as The Mandalorian Season 4 is unlikely to debut until 2025. That doesn’t there isn’t plenty of Star Wars stories to look forever to next year though. Check out a full breakdown of all the Upcoming Confirmed and Rumored Star Wars Shows below.