Star Wars: The Clone Wars character Ahsoka Tano was molded by George Lucas himself. Series director Dave Filoni says that Lucas was integral to the character's creation and introduction into the Star Wars universe.
Originally appearing in The Clone Wars movie, Ahsoka Tano is one of the main characters in The Clone Wars animated series. She was a padawan trained under Anakin Skywalker, before she famously left the Jedi Order after she was framed for a crime she did not commit. The Clone Wars season 7 largely centers around Ahsoka and her navigating her new life as a former Jedi. Ahsoka has become a beloved character, especially among younger Star Wars fans who have grown up with the character. This is why fans were especially excited to learn that she will be making her live-action debut on The Mandalorian, heavily rumored to be played by Rosario Dawson.
When creating the story for The Clone Wars, George Lucas stated that he wanted Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi to be the main characters, but he also wanted to include a youngling. Lucas eventually came up with the name Ahsoka, and the character was to be the padawan of Anakin Skywalker. Lucas thought that the dynamic between Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka would be interesting, especially since people wouldn't expect Anakin to have a padawan. This initially came off as a bit odd, as there was no indication in the past films that Anakin had a padawan. Filoni notes this in a interview he did with Vanity Fair. "And at first it seems like, well that’s a far-out idea. Growing up, I never thought Anakin had a padawan." Filoni notes that Lucas' ability to go with his instincts and create what is now an iconic character is what makes Lucas great.
Ahsoka does not appear in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the film that canonically follows the events of The Clone Wars. However, she does appear in Star Wars Rebels, a series that takes place after Episode III. This led fans to wonder what happened to Ahsoka in the time between each series, and how she survived the infamous Order 66 that wiped out most of the Jedi. In the final season of The Clone Wars, fans will finally get answers to these questions. The final arc of the season is centered around the Siege of Mandalore, an event that sees the return of the villainous Darth Maul. According the voice of Ahsoka, Ashley Eckstein, these final episodes will be integral to Skywalker saga.
The success of The Clone Wars and the popularity of Ahsoka Tano proves that Star Wars can thrive on television as well as in theaters. As the sequel films have concluded and Lucasfilm appears to be taking a break from movies, they can now focus their attention on upcoming Star Wars series. The Mandalorian season 2 premieres in the fall and season 3 is already in pre-production. There is also a planned series centered around Obi-Wan Kenobi and his whereabouts after Revenge of the Sith, as well as a series that follows Rebel spy Cassian Andor and his adventures before Rogue One. Even though Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7 is its last, fans can expect much more Star Wars television.
Source: Vanity Fair