Grand Admiral Thrawn was revealed as a villain in Star Wars Rebels S3, and that’s not even the whole of it. Timothy Zahn – who gave his blessing to the Rebels version via video – is writing a canon Thrawn novel that’ll be out in April 2017.
The Rebels Thrawn is being voiced by Lars Mikkelsen, Mads Mikkelsen’s brother.
Thrawn, who originated in Zahn’s Heir to the Empire in 1991, is the first Legends character to make the jump to the new canon.
When asked if Mara Jade could be next, Filoni was fairly straightforward: “No, not likely.” (I am, for the record, more than okay with that.) Filoni also said that the ysalamiri aren’t making the leap to canon, although there are some visual nods to them in the production design of Thrawn’s introduction.
On his Facebook, Zahn said he’s just turned in the first draft of the novel.
The trailer also featured Wedge Antilles and a Force sensitive character named Bendu, who’s being voiced by Fourth Doctor Tom Baker. For more on everything else about Rebels S3, head to StarWars.com.
Two episodes were show (but not livestreamed) and you can read one review, with some spoilers, over at io9.
Filoni and Lucasfilm’s Kiri Hart talk about how the show makes Thrawn work on Sunday, comparing him to Vader as a villain: “We want to treat him like a big time villain, as much as Darth Vader,” Filoni said. “But on the strategic, military side of things.”
Watch the panel video under the cut.
So…………freaking……….great!
I am giddy (I mean, I think I’m also coming down with something/sick again, that may be part of it, but…mostly Thrawn.) To the point I almost missed…dammit, Filoni, did you just revise Wedge’s long-established back story? One hand giveth, one hand taketh away. (Also…no one wants to see more Maul. No. One.) Oh, well. Thrawn. Zahn-written Thrawn novel. And for fan ficcing purposes it’s even a convenient separate AU from the HTTE Star Wars universe. Between this and the Rogue One buildup…The Star Wars gods are indeed kind and generous.
If they screw it up, I swear, I will…well, I don’t know what, but I’ll think of something.