Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney.
David Tennant and Lars Mikkelsen have joined Lucasfilm’s upcoming Ahsoka series.
The news was confirmed on stage at Star Wars Celebration in London this morning, where series creators Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau appeared alongside series director Rosario Dawson.
“You have to have him. He makes it work,” Filoni said of Tennant
Tennant, best known for his role as Doctor Who, will play the droid character Huyang in the series. He previously voiced the character in Filoni’s animated version of the series and won a Daytime Emmy for his work on the series.
Later during the panel, Filoni and Favreau shared new footage from the show, which also revealed that Lars Mikkelsen is returning to the Star Wars universe to play Admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka. Mikkelsen voiced Thrawn in the animated series. Mikkelsen later appeared on stage with the cast to tease his role.
“It’s wonderful,” he said when asked how it feels to return to Star Wars.
The cast of directors who will be working on the series were also unveiled in London this morning. Filoni will direct episodes alongside Steph Green, Peter Ramsey, Jennifer Getzinger, Geeta Patel and Rick Famuyiwa.
Disney unveiled the first trailer for Ahsoka during the Lucasfilm Studios Showcase at Star Wars Celebration yesterday. The same teaser was shown today with a few extra scenes. The studio also released a slew of updates yesterday, including a broad release date for the show: August 2023.
Ahsoka is Disney+’s spin-off of the hit series The Mandalorian. Rosario Dawson plays the titular Ahsoka Tano. Dawson was present at Star Wars Celebration along with other cast members and the likes of Jude Law, who directs another spin-off, Skeleton Crew.
Written by Star Wars Rebels co-creator Dave Filoni and executive produced by Filoni and Jon Favreau, Ahsoka will continue Ahsoka’s story from The Mandalorian. She comes from the alien species Togruta, known for their large montrale and headtails, as well as their colorful pigments. The character of Ahsoka was co-created by George Lucas and Filoni.
Details of Ahsoka’s plot have been kept under wraps. There has been no word on Hayden Christensen’s alleged return as Luke Skywalker on the show.
The cast also includes Ray Stevenson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren from the animated series “Star Wars Rebels” and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Winstead will play Hera, which was also revealed on stage at the celebration.
You can watch yesterday’s teaser trailer here.