Star Wars latest TV series hits Disney+ beginning on August 22, 2023 in the form of Ahsoka. But who exactly is Ahsoka?
First introduced as the 14-year-old Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker in 2008, Ahsoka is a supporting character in the animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the subsequent animated television series voiced by Ashley Eckstein. She reappears in the sequel series Star Wars Rebels as a member of the Rebel Alliance, under the codename Fulcrum; in the live-action film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as a voiceover cameo; and in the miniseries Tales of the Jedi. Her live-action debut, played by Rosario Dawson, was in the second season of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.
Ahsoka was created by George Lucas and Dave Filoni. The character was developed to illustrate how Anakin Skywalker develops from the brash, undisciplined Padawan apprentice in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones to the more reserved Jedi Knight in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Lucas, who had two daughters, also wanted the character to appeal to girls. Early in development, Ahsoka’s name was “Ashla”. Lucas renamed her after the ancient Indian emperor Ashoka; the spelling was then altered by screenwriter Henry Gilroy.
She made her comic book debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars #1 published September 18, 2008 by Dark Horse. The comic was written by Henry Gilroy with pencils from Scott Hepburn. It was the first issue of a six-issue Star Wars: The Clone Wars that was later expanded into a monthly series.
The first two episodes of the eight-episode season hits Disney+ on August 22, 2023.
