Originally introduced in the tie-in novels of the ’90s, Grand Admiral Thrawn has been a fan-favorite Star Wars antagonist ever since, though it wasn’t until 2016 that he first appeared on-screen, in Star Wars Rebels. However, it was only in 2023’s Ahsoka series that Thrawn appeared in live action, with Lars Mikkelsen reprising the role after voicing the character in Rebels.
As fans of the franchise will know, however, Ahsoka ties into various other Star Wars series — most notably the space western The Mandalorian. Thrawn is easily one of the Star Wars franchise’s most unnerving villains, because he is cold, callous, and utterly evil. Ahsoka left off with Thrawn returning to the galaxy, but his future is so far unclear — he’s sure to be back at some point, and The Mandalorian is the right place for his return.
Given the various plot threads that opened in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett, all which run more-or-less concurrently, it would make sense for the next chapter of this saga to give Thrawn his silver screen debut. With the series set to continue in the upcoming theatrical film The Mandalorian and Grogu, it seems like the perfect opportunity to bring Mikkelsen’s live action portrayal of Thrawn to the big screen.
Tying Up Loose Ends in ‘Star Wars’
One of the biggest changes to the Star Wars franchise since the launch of the streaming service Disney+ is that there are several series which run alongside — and tie into — each other. The best examples of this are The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett. All three shows take place within the same continuity, and several characters appear in more than one series. Most notably, the story of The Mandalorian between seasons two and three was chronicled in The Book of Boba Fett. The events of Ahsoka also take place after The Mandalorian season two, following the eponymous characters’ first meeting.
It would be a shame if the events of The Mandalorian’s second season were the only times that Ahsoka and Din interacted, and the prospect of the pair rejoining with Grand Admiral Thrawn added into the mix is simply too good an idea not to do. Thrawn also appeared in the 2024 Tales of the Empire series. The episode “The Path of Anger” showcased his relationship with Morgan Elsbeth, a character originally created for the second season of The Mandalorian. With the set-up in place across three different shows, it’s a great opportunity to weave the plot threads together to culminate in something extraordinary.
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Connecting ‘Star Wars’ Canons
One of the biggest controversies when Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise was that much of the extended universe material — comics, novels, and video games, for example — were deemed “non-canon” to the main Star Wars timeline. This included the original run of Thrawn novels — Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command, all written by Timothy Zahn. While much of Thrawn’s characterization has been re-integrated into the continuity of the subsequent films and TV series, there exists context from the “Legends” novels which could bring even more new angles to the character.
Additionally, The Mandalorian’s place in the grander Star Wars timeline could even allow for some of the original plot points of the novels to take shape on screen. Both the Heir to the Empire trilogy and The Mandalorian take place between the films Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. This is a huge gap in continuity, and could benefit by integrating, for example, the rivalry between Thrawn and Luke Skywalker — especially as Luke has previously appeared in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. There’s potential for the “Legends” and “canon” timelines to have a couple of matching points if Disney goes down this route, so putting Thrawn in The Mandalorian would be sure to please the fans.
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Lars Mikkelsen Is a Great Actor
Something peculiar to Thrawn within the Star Wars landscape is that he is played by the same actor both in live action and animation. Lars Mikkelsen has taken the character from Rebels, and from the novels preceding it, and has run with the role. He delivers lines with a distinctly cool and sinister tone, and maintains his composure throughout his introduction scene in Rebels, in which it is revealed that his attack on Batonn led to more civilian casualties than rebel deaths. Mikkelsen’s delivery here immediately signals to the audience that Thrawn isn’t fazed by much — so perhaps Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin would be the perfect match 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.
Release Date November 12, 2019
Main Genre Sci-Fi
Seasons 3
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