Recent reports state that Disney is actively casting a live-action Sabine Wren for the upcoming Ahsoka show, leading to widespread speculation as to who should play the fan-favorite Star Wars Rebels character. Earlier rumors held that Sabine would make her live-action debut in The Mandalorian season 2, played by Sasha banks, but that turned out to be false, as Banks played a different Mandalorian character. But now, with Ahsoka on the horizon, it looks like Sabine is finally making her return.
Sabine Wren debuted in the Star Wars universe in Star Wars Rebels, where she was a central member of the Ghost crew. Through the animated series, Sabine fought in numerous campaigns against the Empire and its allies, often fighting to defend her home planet of Mandalore and even wielding the Darksaber at times. Since the end of Star Wars Rebels, her canonical whereabouts have been a matter of fan speculation, though the show’s montage ending does reveal that, at some point after the end of the Galactic Civil War, Sabine joined up with Ahsoka Tano to search for the missing Ezra Bridger. Now, it seems more likely than ever that will be the main story of the Disney+ Ahsoka show.
The reports that Sabine will feature in Ahsoka in a prominent role is particularly exciting for Star Wars fans. But with no concrete news yet as to who will play the role, there are a lot of different directions in which the new live-action Sabine could go. Here are a few stars who could be great choices to bring Sabine to life, and why they’d be perfect in the Mandalorian armor.
Chloe Bennet
Best known for playing fan-favorite superhero Quake in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Chloe Bennet has been a popular pick to play Sabine in live-action since the rumors of the character’s return first started. In many ways, Bennet’s success and popularity as Quake are as good of an audition as one could ask for. The characters are very comparable in their personalities, belief systems, and combat capabilities, and Bennet was the high point of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for many viewers. She also wouldn’t be the first star to hop between the MCU and Star Wars, and her history with Disney could put her in the perfect position to land the part.
The bigger question with Bennet is whether or not her schedule would allow for her to take a starring role in a big-budget series like Ahsoka. She was set to star as Blossom in The CW’s impending live-action reboot of The Powerpuff Girls, but when the show went back to the drawing board after the first filmed pilot was rejected, Bennet departed the project, citing scheduling conflicts. Hopefully, whatever projects she has on the way wouldn't prohibit Bennet from trying out for the role of Sabine if she gets the chance.
Jessica Henwick
Another popular pick to play Sabine among Star Wars Rebels fans is Jessica Henwick, who’s proven her mettle in both genre fiction and action-heavy series with her roles as Nymeria Sand in Game of Thrones and Colleen Wing in Netflix’s live-action Marvel series. Through her appearances in shows like Iron Fist, Luke Cage and The Defenders, Henwick has shown off her ability to play the warrior archetype, which is a must for a character like Sabine. She has a bit on her plate right now with upcoming roles in films like The Gray Man and Knives Out 2, but that doesn’t mean she couldn’t find time to play the iconic Mandalorian.
Of course, some Star Wars fans will recognize Henwick from her role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in which she played Resistance X-Wing pilot Jessika Pava. The role was small enough that it wouldn’t be too jarring to have Henwick return to the Star Wars universe as a different character, and in fact, her prior experience with the franchise might work to her benefit. Many fans are calling for Henwick to be the new Sabine, and with good reason.
Priyanka Chopra
An actor, model, activist, producer, musician, and more, Priyanka Chopra is a renaissance woman in every sense of the term. That might mean that playing a role in a big genre franchise like Star Wars could be outside of the star’s current plans, but if Chopra is at all interested in Sabine, she could be a great pick. Aside from the physical resemblance and obvious talent, Chopra possesses one particular quality that is essential for any Mandalorian – immediate, indisputable onscreen presence, with a gravitas worthy of Sabine’s reputation.
Jamie Chung
On paper (and on camera), Jamie Chung is an ideal candidate to play Sabine in Ahsoka. She has the action resume covered from films like Sucker Punch and Dragonball Evolution, she has the Disney experience from her time in the Big Hero 6 franchise, she’s had success in genre television in Lovecraft Country and, on the lighter side, as Mulan in Once Upon a Time (also Disney), and she looks the part. It doesn’t hurt either that a lot of the Star Wars fan base has thrown her name around as a popular pick for the role. Chung has proven time and again throughout her career that she’s as versatile as she is talented, and she’d be a great choice to bring Sabine Wren to live action.
Tiya Sircar
Last but certainly not least on this list is the star who originally brought Sabine to life in Star Wars Rebels, Tiya Sircar. Much of Sabine’s existing popularity is due to Sircar fantastic vocal performance throughout the animated series, which ahs caused many fans to call for her to rerise the role in Ahsoka. The modern Star Wars franchise has brought voice actors back to play their old characters in live action before, seen in The Mandalorian season 2 when Katee Sackhoff returned to portray Bo-Katan Kryze. That precedent could bring Sircar back into the Star Wars fold as the live-action Sabine, and the star herself has publicly said that she would love return to the role.
Sircar’s extensive experience playing Sabine in Rebels would be invaluable in her jump to live action, just as Sackhoff’s past work as Bo-Katan was for her. And if Sircar isn’t ultimately cast to play Sabine again in Ahsoka, whoever takes her place will inevitably face extra scrutiny in being compared to the character’s previous star.