Photo:Jeff Spicer/Getty
Jeff Spicer/Getty
After nearly three years of anticipation, the newestStar Warsseries,Ahsoka, is coming to Disney+.
TheRosario Dawson-led show, which was first announced in December 2020, follows the popular character Ahsoka Tano as she searches for Jedi-in-training Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi), who was lost in space during a previous battle. Actor Hayden Christensen also makes his return as Anakin Skywalker, despite the series being set five years after the events of 1983’sStar Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, which saw the death of Darth Vader.
Ray Stevenson will alsoappear posthumously in the seriesas Baylan Skoll. The actor,who died at age 58 in May, previously toldYahoo! Entertainmentof his character, “I think the exciting thing is to see and feel where this journey goes and how it’s impacting his journey. Basically, if you’re in his way, he’ll politely request you get out of it, and if you don’t, you’ll be removed.”
Dawson has expressed her enthusiasm for the role and the series in general, telling the audience at aStar Warsconvention in 2022, “It’s just been athrill and an honor to bring this character to life, and to feel the energy of everyone wanting to see her come to life. And it’s been exciting to experience and to see this story continue.”
From returning characters to new faces, here’s everything to know about the cast of the Disney+ seriesAhsoka.
Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano
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Dawson, 44, plays titular character Ahsoka Tano. While the character Ahsoka was first introduced in the animated seriesStar Wars: The Clone WarsandStar Wars Rebels, Dawson made her debut in the role in 2020 during an episode ofThe Mandalorian.
Taking the character from animation to live action was a challenge that Dawson andMandaloriancreators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni took seriously. The actress later toldEntertainment Weeklythat despite the challenges of bringing the colorful character to life, she was enthralled with what she saw reflected back at her. The actress said of her excitement: “I was literally doing jumping jacks. I remember seeing Jon and Dave’s faces, like, ‘Ooh, did we make the right decision? She’s a little bit … hyped fangirl.’ ”
Prior to playing Ahsoka, Dawson was known for her performances inRent(2005) and Hulu’sDopesick. In July 2023, Dawson also starred inHaunted Mansion. Her upcoming projects includeGhosts of RuinandSpeed of Light.
In her personal life, Dawson is a mother to daughter Isabella, whom she adopted at age 11. The actress was also previously in a two-year relationship with Sen.Cory Booker, though the twoannounced their breakupin early 2022. Later that year, she was linked toNnamdi Okafor.
Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker
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Hayden Christensen, 42, is no stranger to theStars Warsuniverse. He first played Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader inStar Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones(2002), thoughhis characterwas originally met with pushback from some fans. Ahead ofRevenge of the Sith(2005),Star Warscreator and directorGeorge LucastoldVanity Fair: “Poor Hayden. His performance is great. They just don’t like the character.”
In 2022, however, Christensen toldTheGuardianhe was thrilled to return to the franchise and reprise the role in the Disney+ seriesObi-Wan Kenobi.
“It just seemed like a really exciting opportunity. It was a no-brainer. In a heartbeat. When I got the call, I was instantly elated,” he said. “I was just so excited to get to come back after all these years.”
Christensen has remained tight-lipped about his character in the new series and it is unclear how Anakin will appear in the show asAhsokais set five years after Darth Vader dies.
The actor has also worked to keep his personal life out of the public eye. He shares daughterBriar Rosewith actressRachel Bilson, whom he met while filming the 2008 movieJumper. The former couple got engaged in 2008 before breaking up in 2010. They reunited three months later and welcomed Briar in 2014, before ultimatelycalling it quits in 2017.
Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn
Lars Mikkelsen, 59, is no stranger toStar Warsor to Grand Admiral Thrawn, having voiced the character inStar Wars Rebels.Ahsokawill continue the storyline fromRebels, with Ahsoka pursuing the villainous Imperial military leader.
Speaking onEntertainment Weekly’sDagobah Dispatchpodcast, Mikkelsen recalled his reaction to being formally announced in the part. “It was a very emotional moment that I didn’t expect to have. But I think there’s a lot of love to be taken care of from the audience. And I felt enormous gratitude. It was amazing. Never tried anything like that,” he said. “I had a hard time actually keeping my tears back. I was really tearing up. I didn’t expect that.”
The Danish actor is best known for his roles in series likeSherlock,House of CardsandThe Witcheras well as films likeHeadhunterandWinter Brothers.
Mikkelsen has been married to his wife Anette Støvelbæk since 1989 and the pair have two children. His brother,Mads Mikkelsen, starred inRogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016).
David Tennant as Professor Huyang
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Star Warswould be nothing without its droids, and David Tennant, 52, has previous experience playing lightsaber expert Huyang inThe Clone Wars. In 2013, Filoni toldIGNthat Tennant’s role on the BBC seriesDoctor Whoplayed a big part in his introduction to theStar Warsuniverse.
“My wife had been having me watchDoctor Who, relentlessly, when we were pitching,” Filoni said. “I just thought David Tennant’s performance was just fantastic. I loved that whole arc with him and Rose, and I just thought that was great. I’d heard reports that he was a pretty bigStar Warsfan himself, and so I thought, ‘Well, this will be a great merging of the fan world if I could get him interested in this.’ ”
The Scottish actor is best known for his roles inDoctor Who,Harry PotterandGood Omens. Next up, Tennant will be seen in the seriesHideandRivals.
Tennant met his wife Georgia Moffett, daughter ofDoctor Whoalum Peter Davison and actress Sandra Dickinson, in 2008. They married in 2011 and have five children together.
Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll
The lateRay Stevensonwill appear as former Jedi Baylan Skoll.
Stevenson died of undisclosed causes in May 2023 at the age of 58. The actor, who also starred in the first threeThorfilms andPunisher: War Zone, had sharedhis excitementabout joining the cast ofAhsoka, telling Yahoo! Entertainment in April 2023, “Every day, it was exciting to find out is he really a bad guy? He’s not quite good but he’s quite bad.”
That same month, he toldEW’s Dagobah Dispatch podcast that the series’ design elements blew him away. “One of the things that was so overwhelming at first was the costumes are works of art. And the set designs,” he shared. “You think, ‘Who designed this?’ And then you look at the set construction that is surrounding you — the technical and creative talent is quite breathtaking. And you’ve got to summon it up from the balls of your feet, stand your ground and own the space.”
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 38, is joining the cast ofAhsokaas General Hera Syndulla.
The actress feels very connected to the character, tellingEntertainment Weeklyin 2023, “What I love about her is that she’s such a strong leader and fighter, and she’s also so maternal and nurturing. We don’t often see that depicted on screen. We see army generals being these very masculine, hard figures. And Hera has that, but she also has this softness to her. She really wants her crew to be loved and looked after, and at the same time, she’s pushing them to be better.”
Even prior to joiningAhsoka, Winstead had a connection to theStar Warsfranchise: She is married toEwan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy and the Disney+ seriesObi-Wan Kenobi.
Winstead also toldEWthat their son,Laurie, learned aboutStar Warsearly on. “In terms of our son’s favorite toys, he’s got his Grogu, he’s got Lola from theObi-Wanseries, and there’s a lot of Dadas around from different eras of Obi-Wan,” Winstead said. “He always knows that if he sees any sort of Obi-Wan figure around, that’s Dada. That’s what he knows it as right now."
Winstead is well known for her performances inScott Pilgrim vs. the WorldandHarley Quinn: Birds of Prey. In 2023,Deadlinereported that she will appear in the upcoming thrillerRich Flualongside Rafe Spall and Lorraine Bracco.
Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren
Australian actressNatasha Liu Bordizzo, 28, is a new face in theStar Warsuniverse. Though her character, a Mandalorian fighter named Sabine Wren, has not yet appeared in any live-actionStar Warsshows or films, Sabine appeared with Ahsoka inStar Wars Rebelsand the web seriesForces of Destiny.
Bordizzo has said her character has a “deep level of respect” for Ahsoka. “In the show they’ve been through a lot in the time that has passed, some of which we know about, some of which we don’t,” she toldSFXmagazine. “Their quests kind of end up overlapping, bringing them back together.”
Prior toAhsoka, she appeared inThe Greatest ShowmanandThe Voyeurs.
Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger
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Eman EsfandijoinedAhsokaas one of the most popular animatedStar Warscharacters, con artist and Jedi-in-training Ezra Bridger
The actor shared his excitement when the show’s trailer was released in April 2023. “It was an absolute joy and honor to play a live-action hologram of such a beloved character,” hetweeted. “#EzraBridger aka Spectre-6, Jabba the Hut, & everyone’s favorite blueberry!!”
Prior to joiningAhsoka, Esfandi appearedKing Richard. He is also a musician, releasing music under the stage name DragonWulf.
Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati
Ivanna Sakhno, 25, is joiningAhsokaas Shin Hati, one of the show’s villains.Colliderdescribed the character as a “disciple and apprentice of Baylan” who is ordered to kill Ahsoka.
Sakhno has made it clear she’s proud of her character despite Shin’s dubious origin story. “Shin is quite an intense and ambitious Force-wielder,” she toldEW’sDagobah Dispatch. “She is very skilled in lightsaber combat. She is a new character, so I don’t want to give away too much of who Shin is, as I would love the audience to be able to discover her.”
Diana Lee Inosanto as Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth
Diana Lee Inosanto’s character, Imperial Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth, was first introduced onThe Mandalorian, during which she notably lost a battle to Ahsoka. While speaking onDagobah Dispatchwith costar Lars Mikkelsen, Inosanto, 57, said that she didn’t even know her character’s name until after she filmedThe Mandalorian.
“Everything was such a complete surprise,” she toldEW. “Listen, I didn’t even know my name was Morgan Elsbeth until the night it aired. Seriously! … I just knew I was the Magistrate, so I had to make up this complete backstory. The night it aired, I was just stunned! I’m like, ‘I have a name?’ ”
Inosanto — also a stuntwoman and martial arts instructor — is married to martial arts practitioner Ron Balicki. Her father, Dan Inosanto, is an acclaimed martial arts instructor who had a close working relationship withBruce Lee. (Lee was also Diana’s godfather.) In addition toAhsoka, Inosanto will next be seen inBetween the Aisles.
Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma
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Irish actressGenevieve O’Reilly, 46, will reprise her role as the senator and Rebel Alliance leader Mon Mothma, which she first debuted back inStar Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith(2005). O’Reilly also appeared as Mon Mothma inRogue One,Star Wars RebelsandAndor.
“What a lovely surprise to have the opportunity to play this woman again,” she toldDiscussing Filmin 2023. “And not only play her but to actually discover her as a woman, not just as the senator — to really stretch within her to find out about her life and who she was.”
O’Reilly is married to chiropractor Luke Mulvihill. The couple live in London with their two kids.
source: people.com
