During this year's Star Wars Celebration, it was revealed that a new series of shorts, Tales of the Jedi, is coming to Disney+ taking us back to key moments in this Galaxy Far, Far Away's history. Liam Neeson will reprise the role of Qui-Gon Jinn, while we'll also catch up with Anakin Skywalker and Count Dooku when he was still a Jedi.
However, most exciting for fans was the news that the show will explore Ahsoka Tano's origin story. That's something we were going to see addressed in The Clone Wars once upon a time, and with Ashley Eckstein set to reprise the role, fans are understandably counting down the days to the show's launch.
Earlier this week, we spoke to Eckstein about the return of the Her Universe Fashion Show to Comic-Con next weekend, and asked what she could share about Tales of the Jedi.
"I am just beyond honoured to step back into Ahsoka’s boots and breathe life into her again for Tales of the Jedi. Dave Filoni promises me I would always be the voice of Ahsoka in animation, and I’m thrilled to return and so excited," the actress teased. "The shorts are beautiful. The stories are wonderful. I can’t wait to share them with everyone."
Later in our conversation, we asked what it's like to now share the role of Ahsoka Tano with Rosario Dawson. When she was cast in The Mandalorian, there were concerns that Eckstein would be sidelined, though her casting in Tales of the Jedi has obviously proved otherwise.
"Yeah, it’s very exciting. It’s something I always approach with so much gratitude. I don’t look at what I’m not doing, I look at what I have been able to do. Every new opportunity, I’m so grateful for," Eckstein enthused. "I’m honoured to be able to do Tales of the Jedi, and when I’m not filling Ahsoka’s boots in animation, I’ve made it my, literally, life’s goal to be a real-life version of her day in and day out."
"She’s a piece of my heart and soul and guides my everyday decisions. I’m thrilled to be able to carry out Ahsoka’s legacy in my daily work as well. I can’t wait to share that show with everyone."
We couldn't be happier to see Eckstein continue breathing life into the character she helped put on the map, and based on what we've seen from Dawson so far, she's doing her animated counterpart proud. Ahsoka living on across all forms of media makes perfect sense, and the fact these two performers can share her in this way is a win/win for Star Wars fans.
Tales of the Jedi is set to premiere on Disney+ sometime this Fall.