Who ever thought we would get live-action Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano together in a project? We had always dreamed of this day, and we’re finally getting with the Ahsoka series dropping soon on Disney+. Unfortunately, we know nothing about the show’s story outside of the small tidbits we’ve gotten since the former Jedi apprentice popped up on The Mandalorian Season 2 episode, “The Jedi.”
We only know that Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla and Ezra Bridger play a part in the story and that Grand Admiral Thrawn will be involved somehow too. What hasn’t been mentioned is whether Anakin plays a part too. The Hollywood Reporter revealed in October 2021 that Hayden Christensen would reprise his iconic role of the doomed Jedi Knight in the series. This has not been confirmed yet. However, when there should be confirmation at the beginning of 2023 sometime. This is due to the series appearing in the 2023 Disney+ promo video for the first part of the year.
We’re here to discuss what role Anakin could play in the Ahsoka series if he does show up.
Flashbacks
One of the most talked about rumours is whether flashbacks will be used to depict Ahsoka’s time as Anakin’s Padawan. This has become a relevant talking point in the past week or so, with it being revealed that Ariana Greenblatt will reportedly play a younger Ahsoka in the series. According to Comic Book, there has also been a report that multiple actresses will play the former Padawan at various points in her life until we see her in The Mandalorian.
Having younger actresses play Ahsoka makes sense and given her time as Anakin’s Padawan, we would see two, maybe three different actors over the cause of the three-year Clone Wars. To recount, Anakin and Ahsoka were together as master and apprentice when Tano was fourteen. By the time the war ended, she was seventeen.
There might be reenactments from The Clone Wars series. There was even a rumour that there would be a live-action version of the Duel on Malachor with Hayden back in the Darth Vader suit like he was in Obi-Wan Kenobi. A current “leak” will be a scene where Ahsoka ventures into the World Between Worlds, and she sees an alternate version of the Mustafar fight from Revenge of the Sith. Instead of Obi-Wan, it’s Ahsoka in the war. The outcome would be different, too, where Anakin doesn’t lose his limbs similarly, according to Stupendous Wave.
Ahsoka And Anakin Together In Live-Action
Having real-life friends Hayden and Rosario come together to play these characters in a live-action would be every prequel fan’s dream. It’s ours, and we’re not afraid to say it. Seeing a different version of Anakin and Ahsoka will be exciting to see if this is true.
While we may get Ahsoka and Vader clash where its teenage Ahsoka and Anakin without the armour, we may even get a live-action version of the Star Wars Rebels scene where Ahsoka slices open the left side of Vader’s helmet to see Anakin’s face underneath. Obi-Wan Kenobi paid homage to this by having the right side sliced open.
Going off the timeline, Obi-Wan slices open the right side of Vader’s helmet in 9BBY, six years before Ahsoka does the same on the left side in 3BBY. Seeing the left side be cut open in live-action would be as gut-wrenching as the Kenobi scene.
Force Ghost Anakin?
Given we may be getting young Ahsoka, could this mean we get adult Ahsoka talking to Force Ghost Anakin? For those who might not be aware, the Ahsoka show takes place five years after Anakin’s death on the second Death Star, which occurred in 4ABY.
[For any casual Star Wars fans, ABY is the short form for After Battle of Yavin. BBY is Before the Battle of Yavin. The years for BBY go backward as a countdown to the Battle of Yavin. ABY counts forward.]
It’s entirely possible that Ahsoka or Anakin could reach out to the other if necessary. The Book of Boba Fett highlights one fact that people have been wondering; did Ahsoka meet Luke and Leia? She knew about at least Luke. There is no way she didn’t know about Leia. We’ve come back to that in a moment.
There has been speculation that Anakin will appear either in flashbacks or as a Force Ghost. We believe it might be both. Given that the takes place in 9ABY and he died in 4ABY, it makes sense for him to appear to his former apprentice. In addition, he might issue an apology for what happened between them.
We know from legends material that it’s rare for Force Ghosts to appear and that Anakin appeared to Leia only once, and she wanted nothing to do with him.
Lessons From The Past
Let’s say that we are getting young Ahsoka and Anakin in flashbacks. This might provide some context into lessons that older Ahsoka uses throughout the series. Anakin’s teachings never left her, as she used a few during her time with the Ghost crew. One example is the tactical droid head that she gives Kanan and Ezra, which leads them to Rex, Gregor and Wolfe. She mentions that the droid helped her and Anakin hide “when they didn’t want to be found.” Though, she doesn’t reference her master by name.
She might also bring up something else that allows her to connect with her late master’s memory. There might even be a reference to how Ahsoka found out and met Luke. About six months ago, Jon Favreau, who will be an executive producer on Ahsoka, said in an interview as per CBR that he knows how Ahsoka and Luke met, but he’s not allowed to tell anyone how it happened yet.
Whether we get this in Ahsoka is anyone’s guess at the moment. Will Luke show up, and his father’s former student teaches him a few things? Probably not. Our logic behind this is due to what was hinted at in The Mandalorian Season 2 episode, The Jedi.
When Ahsoka fights with Morgan Elsbeth, she asks where Grand Admiral Thrawn is. Unfortunately, we don’t know if this occurred before or after she joined Sabine Wren in her search for Ezra Bridger. Hopefully, the show will explain when this happens.
