The Ahsoka show has been a focal point of Star Wars Celebration 2023, and Grand Admiral Thrawn’s live-action adaptation has been attracting lots of attention. As the Mandoverse continues to grow on Disney+, more characters who originally debuted in animated series such as Star Wars Rebels are becoming increasingly intrinsic to the Star Wars universe as they migrate to live-action. Ahsoka, which essentially acts as a Rebels sequel, will include not only the search for the Jedi Ezra Bridger, but also the return of the iconic villain Grand Admiral Thrawn, both of whom disappeared into unknown space at the end of Rebels.
Now that the Star Wars Celebration Ahsoka panel has confirmed that Lars Mikkelsen is reprising his role as Grand Admiral Thrawn from Rebels, comparisons between the two versions of his character are inevitable. While some live-action adaptations of animated characters have been well-received, such as Katee Sackhoff’s reprisal of Bo-Katan Kryze and the brief return of Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios in The Mandalorian, others have not fared as well. The Grand Inquisitor’s design in Obi-Wan Kenobi, for instance, was widely derided for being too simplistic. The Ahsoka panel previewed exclusive footage to those lucky enough to attend (including Screen Rant), making it possible to compare Thrawn’s live-action depiction with his animated Rebels appearance.
How Lars Mikkelsen Looks As Thrawn In Ahsoka
Descriptions of the exclusive Ahsoka footage, which included a shot of Thrawn from the front, should assure fans that Lars Mikkelsen’s live-action adaptation has transitioned well from animation. His hairstyle is neat and tight with a dark blue hue, the blue shade of his skin is quite consistent in comparison to his animated counterpart, and his uniform is pristinely white as well, including a few familiar color accents of gold and black. Thrawn’s intimidating red eyes are a focal point, with some viewers describing them as glowing. That final piece of information should certainly be a relief, given that the Grand Inquisitor’s live-action eyes in Obi-Wan Kenobi, unfortunately, did not capture that same radiant quality.
Thrawn Live-Action Differences Explained
Though Thrawn’s overall look in Ahsoka is relatively similar to his well-known appearance in Rebels, there are a few subtle differences. While it was hard to tell in the footage, Thrawn’s eyes, while red, don’t seem to be as all-encompassing – there’s a more pronounced difference between the iris, pupils, and what is most commonly referred to as the whites of someone’s eye, which in Thrawn’s case, is, of course, a different shade of red.
Additionally, while the animated version of Thrawn in Star Wars Rebels had some very stylized facial features, such as an extremely pronounced brow ridge and incredibly sharp cheekbones, these seemed to have been toned down a bit in live-action. This is likely because too many prosthetics would make it harder for Mikkelsen to act as desired within the role. As the overall look of Mikkelsen’s live-action Thrawn is being well received by those in attendance at the Ahsoka panel, these differences shouldn’t be too glaring or distract from what is certain to be a riveting character portrayal.
Why Ahsoka Was Right To Bring Back Lars Mikkelsen As Thrawn
Before Mikkelsen’s return was officially announced, many Star Wars fans had hoped and speculated that he’d be returning to the role in live-action. Lucasfilm was absolutely right to do so – the Celebration audience was ecstatic and the internet exploded with interest. Some Star Wars voice actors are the best people for the job in live-action; Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze is a prime example. The main reason Thrawn became such a memorable and formidable villain in Rebels was because of Mikkelsen’s voice performance – menacing, intelligent, curious, and perhaps even strangely empathetic at times, Thrawn became a new, more sinister sort of Imperial.
It would be hard to imagine Thrawn with another voice, and it would be too easy for any other actor to try to imitate Mikkelsen’s work unreliably. Mikkelsen is a gifted actor, one familiar with the character, his history, and his mannerisms. With each new drop of information about Ahsoka, the hype only grows, and Grand Admiral Thrawn’s live-action casting is quickly becoming one of the top reasons why.
