‘Ahsoka’ Is Handing the Spotlight to Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Eman Esfandi Can’t Wait

Few Star Wars villains inspire as much devoted fan energy as Grand Admiral Thrawn. He was a legend in books long before he became a cartoon antagonist, and then a live-action threat.

Now that he has fully arrived in live action, the question for fans is how much of him they will get. A cast member from ‘Ahsoka’ has just offered a very encouraging answer.

Eman Esfandi, who plays Ezra Bridger, says viewers will get a lot more time with Thrawn in ‘Ahsoka‘ Season 2. He shared the tease during a panel at LA Comic-Con alongside co-stars Rosario Dawson and Natasha Liu Bordizzo.

Esfandi was cheeky about it. He described Thrawn as a very specific war criminal that everybody really loves to see, a nod to how fans embrace the character despite his crimes.

The comment also fits where the story left off. In Season 1, Ezra and Thrawn were found in another galaxy and returned to the main Star Wars galaxy, while Ahsoka and Sabine were stranded behind with Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati.

That put Thrawn back in the New Republic’s backyard, which sets up a very different kind of threat. Lars Mikkelsen plays the character in live action.

Esfandi’s character has a big job ahead. Ezra has made it back to the main galaxy, but he faces the consequences of Thrawn’s invasion while trying to find a way to rescue Ahsoka and Sabine.

That puts the two characters on a collision course. Ezra knows Thrawn better than most, having shared a Purrgil-powered exile with him, so scenes between them carry real history.

Dave Filoni has also teased that fans will see a showdown between Thrawn and Admiral Ackbar. He said Ackbar will not be falling into a trap this time.

Thrawn was not the only highlight for Esfandi. He said he enjoyed working with the puppeteers who moved Chopper around, and called it an honor for the whole cast.

He also hinted at other unnamed beloved characters appearing in the season. Lucasfilm has not confirmed who they are, so fans will have to wait for the episodes to find out.

Chopper’s presence is a nice link to ‘Star Wars Rebels,’ the animated series where many of these characters first appeared. Season 1 of ‘Ahsoka’ was often described as a continuation of that story.

The first trailer for ‘AHSOKA’ Season 2 has been released. Releasing January 20 on Disney+ https://t.co/12ImTgPe2F

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 15, 2026

The panel also revealed a notable production change. Esfandi said the new season shot much more outdoors, whereas the first season relied heavily on the Volume, the large LED stage that transforms into different locations.

He called that technology a remarkable feat, but said working outside was a welcome change. The shift could give the series a more tactile, natural look.

Filming began on Apr 28, 2025, in the United Kingdom. Filoni wrote all 8 episodes himself.

Lucasfilm revealed the release date and a teaser trailer at D23 in August. ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2 premieres on Jan 20, 2027, exclusively on Disney+.

That follows a long wait since the first season aired between Aug 22 and Oct 3, 2023. The delay was partly due to the Hollywood strikes, which kept Filoni from starting work on the sequel until later.

Filoni, now Lucasfilm’s president and chief creative officer, has also been developing a feature film that is expected to build on this corner of the Star Wars universe. Season 2 is widely expected to lead into it.

Thrawn is the kind of villain who rewards patience. His appeal comes from strategy rather than brute force, and a longer screen presence gives the writers room to show that.

If Esfandi’s tease holds up, the season may let the character deliver the kind of calculated menace book readers have always loved. For fans who felt Season 1 only scratched the surface, that is welcome news.

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