Both Star Wars Celebration and the latest trailer for Ahsoka confirmed Grand Admiral Thrawn will return as "Heir to the Empire," a nod to Timothy Zahn's beloved series of novels.
While we know the Empire eventually becomes the First Order (suggesting Thrawn's quest to rule the Galaxy is both a success and failure), the role this villain will play in upcoming stories should make for compelling viewing on the small and big screens.
Yes, we expect Thrawn to take centre stage in Dave Filoni's planned Star Wars movie and new details from Bespin Bulletin (via SFFGazette.com) have today shed new light on how Ahsoka sets the stage for that.
The site explains that Ahsoka is akin to The Empire Strikes Back in the Mando-verse, with the good guys failing to overcome the show's big bad by the time all is said and done.
While the second half of the season is expected to focus on Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren as they set out to rescue Ezra Bridger, the duo must also stop Thrawn's return and planned ascension. Both he and Ezra were pulled into the far corners of the Galaxy in Star Wars Rebels' closing moments by the Purrgil, meaning they're inextricably linked.
The report goes on to suggest Lars Mikkelsen's villain will be at full power by the eighth and final episode, with a scene showing him exiting his ship and observing the forces he will use to destroy the New Republic and restore the Empire to its former glory.
Among them will be the Nightsisters, fallen Jedi Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, resurrected Stormtroopers, and a gold-faced bodyguard thought to be called Enoch. It's at this point Thrawn supposedly revels in his return and promises to unleash a reckoning, setting the stage for the war to come.
It's previously been reported Ahsoka could run for multiple seasons, so we can't say for sure that this will necessarily be a direct lead into Filoni's movie. Either way, all signs point to the live-action Rebels follow-up being an absolute must-watch.
Ahsoka launches with a two-part premiere on August 23.