In the series finale of Star Wars Rebels, Grand Admiral Thrawn disappeared alongside Ezra Bridger and his fate has remained a mystery ever since. However, those of you expecting to see him make his live-action debut in Star Wars Episode IX next year might be disappointed because while Richard E. Grant may seem like the perfect choice to play the villain, he's confirmed that won't be happening.
During a recent interview, Grant was asked directly if he's been cast as Thrawn and responded: "I’m not playing the Star Wars character you just mentioned. I’m not allowed to tell you anything. Otherwise I would be fired. It’s a complete lockdown on any information whatsoever." Honestly, that makes sense because this new trilogy has avoided digging up old characters for the most part.
For the time being, the identity of Grant's character remains a mystery but he would certainly suit a villain regardless of whether or not it's someone from the larger Star Wars Universe. There is, of course, a slim chance that the actor is playing Thrawn but that seems highly unlikely and he'll probably return in another animated series or novel somewhere down the line. What do you guys think?