Ever since the end of Season 1 of “The Mandalorian,” Lucasfilm has been teasing that Season 2 might actually feature some more fan-favorite characters and possible connections to The Skywalker Saga. Of course, given that this is the new Disney-run Lucasfilm, many expected the worse. Maybe the series would feature a Force Ghost Luke appearance or some other ham-fisted, fan-service moment. But according to /Film, one of the most beloved characters from the animated “Star Wars” canon, with ties to the Skywalkers, is finally coming to live-action, with Rosario Dawson being cast as Ahsoka Tano.
That’s right, after existing primarily in the animated realm (voiced by Ashley Eckstein in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels”), as well as appearances in comics, books, and video games, fan-favorite character, Ahsoka Tano, is finally making the leap to live-action in Season 2 of “The Mandalorian.” And making that news all the sweeter is the fact that she’s going to be played by Rosario Dawson.
If you’re not a fan of the animated “Star Wars” series or the various other places Tano has appeared, the short version of her bio is basically, she’s the Padawan learner under the tutelage of Anakin Skywalker during the events of ‘The Clone Wars,’ between ‘Attack of the Clones’ and ‘Revenge of the Sith.’ Obviously, she played a huge role in the series, and she had a pretty emotional journey, which peaked with her leaving the Jedi Order. She’s scheduled to finish her Anakin/‘Clone Wars’ story with the series final season.
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Suffice to say, of all the characters introduced in the animated “Star Wars” universe, Ahsoka Tano is the one that even casual fans will probably recognize, as she has an incredibly unique look and has been one of the biggest characters to come out of ‘The Clone Wars.’ And with that, Dawson’s portrayal of the character will attract a ton of interest, as she has some big shoes to step into. Plus, the inclusion of Tano gives “The Mandalorian” a link to the greater Skywalker Saga without being hit over the head with a random appearance of a beloved character.
“The Mandalorian” Season 2 is scheduled to arrive on Disney+ in October. Update: the report confirmed by Variety and all the trades.