Lars Mikkelsen cast as live-action Grand Admiral Thrawn and High Republic news – Star Wars Celebrations day two recap
As day two of Star Wars Celebrations comes to a close, fans finally get the reveal they’ve been waiting for since midway through The Mandalorian season two. The identity of the actor playing Grand Admiral Thrawn is unveiled,
Starting with the Ahsoka panel, the biggest news is that Lars Mikkelsen will be returning to the role of Thrawn, only this time in the flesh. He has already voiced the character in seasons three and four of Star Wars: Rebels.
His return was heavily rumoured and speculated on by fans, but now there is confirmation.
Mikkelsen is not the only voice actor reprising his role from animation. David Tennant, the voice of Huyang in Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be returning to voice the character once again.
Morgan Elsbeth, played by Diana Lee Inosanto, was a surprising addition in the trailer, and will have more details given about her background.
It’s already been revealed in The Mandalorian her world was devastated by the Clone War, which raises the possibility of flashbacks.
Ray Stevenson and Ivanna Sakhno, playing the mysterious lightsaber wielding foes seen in the trailer, are called Baylon and Shin. Dave Filoni refused to say more about them.
Filoni will direct multiple episodes of the show, and other directors include Steph Green, Peter Ramsey, Jennifer Getzinger, Geet Patel, and Rick Fumuyiwa.
Kevin Kiner will score Ahsoka. He has frequently collaborated with Filoni on The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Star Wars: The Bad Batch.
Ludwig Goransson will also be involved in the show, having scored other ‘Mandoverse’ projects.
Fans of The High Republic initiative received positive news. The Acolyte, which will be set in The High Republic, will feature a character from the major publishing movement.
Rebecca Henderson will play Vernestra Rwoh, a Jedi Knight that first appeared in The High Republic: The Light of the Jedi book in 2021.
Turning to book news, phase two of the High Republic will conclude with The Night of Sorrow.
Phase three will start with George Mann’s book The Eye of Darkness on November 14, and will be set one year after the fall of Starlight Beacon.
Continuing the tale on January 30, 2024 will be Daniel Jose Older and Alyssa Wong’s novel Escape from Valo, followed by Defy the Storm by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland on March 24, 2024.
George Mann will author another book titled Tears of the Nameless in fall of 2024, and in spring 2025 Claudia Gray will author a book titled Into the Light.
Charles Soule will write the final novel in phase three, Trials of the Jedi, releasing spring 2025.
Finally, Marvel’s High Republic comics will be restarting in December 2023, with Cavan Scott once again writing.
Starting in October, Lydia Kang will be writing short stories in Star Wars Insider magazine, in a narrative titled Chronicles from the Occlusion Zone.
A late reveal from Dave Filoni confirmed a second season for Tales of the Jedi, an anthology series exploring the lives of Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano.
No release date has been set and the Jedi that will be featured haven’t been announced.
Star Wars Celebrations will return for a third and fourth day on April 9 and 10.
