Ashley Eckstein Calls This ‘Star Wars’ Show the One That Saved the Entire Franchise

Ashley Eckstein, who voices Ahsoka Tano, spoke about how different things used to feel for Star Wars before the franchise expanded into the huge shared universe it is today. She explained that when “The Clone Wars” first aired, the situation around Star Wars was very uncertain.

At that time, there were no new films and no other major Star Wars projects on television. Eckstein said the team working on the animated series felt like they were the only ones keeping the franchise alive. She described it as a moment where they believed Star Wars might be finished.

She said, “For us, it’s easy to forget, but when Clone Wars was on the air, there was no other Star Wars. We thought Star Wars was done. This was before Disney bought it and we were the only thing on the air… Without the success of Clone Wars we might not be seeing Mandalorian, Boba Fett, etcetera.”

Her comments reflect how important “The Clone Wars” became over time. What started as an animated side project slowly turned into one of the most important parts of the entire franchise. Characters and storylines from the series ended up shaping almost everything that came later.

The show introduced deeper versions of characters like Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, but it also created brand new characters that became fan favorites. One of the most important is Ahsoka Tano, played by Eckstein. Ahsoka later became a central figure in live-action Star Wars projects, showing just how far the influence of the series has reached.

Today, many Star Wars shows on Disney+ are directly connected to ideas first explored in the animated era. Series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ahsoka,” “The Bad Batch,” and “Star Wars Rebels” all build on storylines and characters that trace back to “The Clone Wars.”

Even recent projects continue to reflect that connection. “The Mandalorian” has included characters and references from the animated series, including fan-favorite appearances that reward viewers who followed the older shows. The same shared universe approach now connects almost every new Star Wars project.

However, not all fans agree on this direction. Some viewers feel that modern Star Wars has become too dependent on interconnected storytelling. In particular, later seasons of “The Mandalorian” received mixed reactions from audiences who preferred the simpler style of its early episodes. Others enjoy the deeper continuity and long-running story threads.

The influence of Dave Filoni, one of the key creative minds behind “The Clone Wars,” is now clearly visible across the franchise. Many current Star Wars projects are either directly developed by him or shaped by ideas he helped introduce years ago.

There have also been behind-the-scenes changes in how these stories are planned. At one point, “The Mandalorian” Season 4 was expected to set up future events in “Ahsoka.” However, those plans shifted when focus moved toward a film project, “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” Even so, reports suggest the movie still includes small connections to upcoming stories.

Fans are now waiting for the next chapter in this timeline. “Ahsoka” Season 2 is currently expected to arrive in 2027 on Disney+.

Looking back, Eckstein’s comments highlight how unexpected the franchise’s journey has been. A show that once felt like the end of Star Wars ended up becoming the foundation for its modern era.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!