As a longtime fan of the Star Wars universe and its expansive lore, I wholeheartedly agree that bringing Grand Admiral Thrawn into the live-action realm, specifically The Mandalorian, would be an absolute masterstroke.
First appearing in ’90s tie-in novels and quickly becoming a beloved adversary in the Star Wars universe, Grand Admiral Thrawn didn’t make his on-screen debut until 2016 in Star Wars Rebels. Yet, it wasn’t until the Ahsoka series in 2023 that Thrawn was portrayed in live action, with Lars Mikkelsen reprising his role after having voiced the character previously in Rebels.
Fans of the Star Wars series are aware that Ahsoka intertwines with several other shows within the franchise, particularly the space western The Mandalorian. Thrawn is one of the Star Wars universe’s most chilling antagonists due to his cold, ruthless, and malevolent nature. Ahsoka concluded with Thrawn reentering the galaxy, but his subsequent actions remain unknown – it’s only a matter of time before he resurfaces, and The Mandalorian seems like the ideal setting for this comeback.
As a fan, I can’t help but feel excited about where the Star Wars saga is headed next. With so many captivating storylines unfolding in shows like The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett, it only seems natural that the narrative should expand to introduce a beloved character like Thrawn. Given that The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to hit the big screen soon, I can’t help but think that this would be the perfect moment to bring Thrawn to life on the silver screen with Mikkelsen’s live-action portrayal.
Tying Up Loose Ends in ‘Star Wars’
One significant shift in the Star Wars universe since Disney+ launch is that multiple series are interconnected and progress concurrently. For instance, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett share a common timeline. Key figures from these shows appear across different series. Notably, the storyline between seasons two and three of The Mandalorian was further explained in The Book of Boba Fett. Additionally, the events of Ahsoka unfold after season two of The Mandalorian, chronicling their first encounter.
It would be unfortunate if Ahsoka and Din Djarin, characters from The Mandalorian, only interacted during the second season and didn’t have further encounters. Introducing Grand Admiral Thrawn into their potential reunion makes for a compelling idea that seems too good to pass up. You might recall that Thrawn was also featured in the 2024 Tales of the Empire series. In The Mandalorian’s second season episode “The Path of Anger,” we witnessed Thrawn’s connection with Morgan Elsbeth, a character introduced in that same season. With these connections established across three different shows, it presents an excellent opportunity to intertwine the storylines to create something extraordinary.
Connecting ‘Star Wars’ Canons
Among the debates when Disney took over the Star Wars franchise was the decision to label a significant portion of the extended universe content, such as comics, novels, and video games, as non-essential or “non-canon” in relation to the primary Star Wars storyline. This included Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy – Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. Although many aspects of Thrawn’s character have been reintroduced into the newer films and TV shows, there are intriguing details from the “Legends” novels that could offer fresh perspectives on this character.
Furthermore, the setting of “The Mandalorian” within the broader “Star Wars” narrative opens up possibilities for storylines from the novels to translate onto the screen. Notably, both “The Mandalorian” and the “Heir to the Empire” trilogy occur between the movies “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens,” a significant gap in the chronology. This could be bridged by incorporating storylines such as the rivalry between Thrawn and Luke Skywalker, given that Luke has already been featured in “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett.” If Disney decides to align some events from the “Legends” and “canon” timelines, introducing Thrawn into “The Mandalorian” would undoubtedly delight fans.
Lars Mikkelsen Is a Great Actor
In the Star Wars universe, what sets Thrawn apart is that he’s portrayed by the same actor in live-action and animated series. Lars Mikkelsen has brought the character to life, first in Rebels and then in novels set before it. He delivers his lines with a chilling, menacing cadence, and remains composed even during his revealing scene in Rebels, where we learn that his attack on Batonn resulted in more civilian deaths than rebel casualties. Mikkelsen’s performance here hints that Thrawn is unflappable – making Pedro Pascal’s character, Din Djarin, a potential ideal counterpart for him.
The transition to live action didn’t leave anything behind, either. While there was some negative fan response to other animated characters’ live action counterparts (Cad Bane in particular), Mikkelsen’s presence is felt even more when he appears in the flesh. Mikkelsen reserves the use of his facial emotions only for when they’re utterly necessary, but this is a chilling performance. Viewers hang on every word Thrawn utters, and it would be incredible to see this character come face-to-face with The Mandalorian team.
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2024-12-08 07:01