The Star Wars Disney+ shows may be building towards a new version of the Thrawn Trilogy, and how might Ahsoka Tano replace Luke Skywalker as the story’s main Jedi hero? Ahsoka made her long-awaited live-action debut during season 2 of The Mandalorian, revealing her mission to find Grand Admiral Thrawn. The Mandalorian, along with several upcoming Disney+ shows, is reportedly building towards a crossover event. Given the gravitas and threat level of Thrawn, a major canon Thrawn storyline is likely on the horizon, and Ahsoka will probably take Luke’s Legends-era role.
The Star Wars franchise’s Legends continuity was once its official timeline until it became an alternate universe in 2014. Legends content experienced a renaissance in the 1990s, with stories like Dark Empire and Shadows of the Empire breathing new life into the Star Wars saga. The Thrawn Trilogy of novels was arguably the most famous of these new additions, introducing fan-favorite characters like Mara Jade in addition to the titular Grand Admiral. For many fans, these books were the unofficial sequel trilogy.
While Luke Skywalker remains arguably the main hero of the Star Wars original trilogy in both continuities, he’s a drastically different character in canon when compared to Legends. Luke’s involvement in the New Republic and general galactic affairs outside of rebuilding the Jedi Order will affect his participation in a new Thrawn storyline. Ahsoka, on the other hand, is in a much better position to take his place as the arc’s main Jedi hero, since it’s her mission to find Thrawn, likely having to do with her old friend Ezra Bridger.
Thrawn’s last appearance in canon was the series finale of Star Wars Rebels, where he and Bridger were sent careening through hyperspace into the Unknown Regions of the galaxy. While they were confirmed to survive, they didn’t participate in the Galactic Civil War. Thrawn appears to be back, and while he will surely pose a massive threat to the fledgling New Republic, Ahsoka may wish to find him as a means of bringing her friend back from the Unknown Regions.
In Legends, Luke was part of the Thrawn Trilogy’s ensemble cast of heroes, working closely with the New Republic (in an unofficial capacity since the Battle of Mindor), but it’s difficult to see his canon counterpart doing the same. Canon’s Luke rarely got involved with the New Republic, spending most of his time and energy learning everything he could about the Force and the Jedi Order so that he could rebuild it. Unlike his Legends counterpart, canon Luke ultimately failed to establish an improved iteration of the Jedi, unfortunately.
While finding and rescuing Ezra will likely be Ahsoka’s primary goal in the Thrawn storyline, her friendship with Din Djarin and the threat of Thrawn potentially bringing the galaxy back into darkness will likely force her to take an active role in defeating the Grand Admiral. While Luke will almost certainly be involved in a new Thrawn storyline in some form, Ahsoka’s indirect connection to Thrawn and more active role in fighting the forces of the dark side make her a fitting replacement for him in the upcoming Star Wars crossover event.
