Ahead of the upcoming Ahsoka series, Rosario Dawson praises the character's original voice actress, Ashley Eckstein. Developed by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, the show will serve as a spinoff of The Mandalorian and looks to premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2023. An expansion of the Star Wars franchise, it will follow the adventures of Ahsoka Tano, the fan favorite character first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Ahsoka is confirmed to exist alongside several other spinoffs, including The Book of Boba Fett, through a series of interrelated events. In addition to Dawson in the titular role, the cast of Ahsoka will feature Hayden Christensen, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Ray Stevenson.
Ahsoka first appeared as the Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker in the 2008 animated Star Wars film, The Clone Wars, and later became a main character in the Cartoon Network television series of the same name. Eckstein voiced the role of Ahsoka in both projects, as well as in Disney XD's 2014 show Rebels, where the character played an important role in aiding the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Eckstein has discussed the possibility of her joining the live-action side of the Star Wars franchise, saying that it would be a "dream" to meet Dawson and be involved in the live-action universe.
In a recent conversation with Vanity Fair, Dawson speaks about her admiration for Ahsoka and details a lot of the challenges involved with taking on the role. She then goes on to praise Eckstein and the evolution of the character over the years, stating that the amount of work she has and is able to use for guidance and inspiration is rare. Read Dawson's quote regarding Eckstein's portrayal of Ahsoka below:
"I’m building on top of years of work from so many other people. What Ashley did growing this character from a teenager on has given me a breadth of work to look at and build off of, which is so unusual."
The character of Ahsoka is one that Star Wars fans have come to love, having watched her develop a lot over the years. In looking ahead to the spinoff series, Dawson also addressed the future of Ahsoka, explaining that she was cast because she is known for being committed. After having already introduced audiences to her live-action portrayal in The Mandalorian season 2, she indicates that could be playing the role for a while. After watching Eckstein bring Ahsoka to life for several years, Dawson must feel inspired to make her own mark on the character.
Given the reception towards The Mandalorian and its first spinoff, The Book of Boba Fett, it seems likely that audiences will get to see Dawson portray Ahsoka in stories outside of the upcoming show. The Star Wars franchise continues to grow, and if Ahsoka goes on to be another success, it will also be interesting to see if Eckstein appears in any related future projects. It would be really special to have two different Ahsokas come together onscreen, even if Eckstein ends up playing someone else. Fans can look forward to seeing more of Dawson and learning where the series takes the beloved character when Ahsoka premieres on Disney+ next year.
Source: Vanity Fair