Ahsoka Star Discusses Her Character’s Gandalf-Like Transformation-TGN

Summary

• Ahsoka’s transformation from Gandalf the Gray to Gandalf the White is explored in the upcoming Ahsoka series, according to actress Rosario Dawson and creator Dave Filoni.

• Ahsoka’s earlier struggles with leadership and her connection to the Rebel Alliance will be developed as she becomes a wartime leader against Thrawn.

• The slight retcons in Ahsoka’s appearance between Rebels and the Ahsoka series suggest her journey towards becoming Ahsoka the White will be depicted, possibly involving a major setback in her fight against Thrawn.

After the tease of a Gandalf-like transformation at the end of Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka star Rosario Dawson has commented on the character’s connections to The Lord of the Rings’ wizard. At the end of Star Wars Rebels season 4, Ahsoka returns from her mysterious original trilogy disappearance donning a white cloak and a white staff. This led to many making comparisons between Ahsoka and Gandalf, the latter of whom transformed from Gandalf the Gray to the more powerful Gandalf the White in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ahsoka actress Rosario Dawson commented on her character’s similarities to Gandalf and what she and Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni envisioned:

These comments shed some light on Ahsoka’s transformation between Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka. In the former, Ahsoka was a friend of the Rebel Alliance but was not ready to be a leader due to her issues with needing to face Darth Vader, for example. By the time of the Ahsoka show’s story though, Dawson makes it clear that she and Filoni see her transformation from Gandalf the Gray – who was similarly a friend to Lord of the Rings’ Fellowship rather than a leader – into Gandalf the White taking place, now a wartime leader much like Ahsoka is shaping up to be against Thrawn.

How Will Ahsoka Become Ahsoka the White?

Dawson’s comments also include the idea that Ahsoka still has some development to go through, however, before truly becoming the Star Wars equivalent of Gandalf the White. This is something reflected in the slight retcons made between Ahsoka and Rebels‘ ending. In Rebels, Ahsoka is seen with her white cloak and staff, something Ahsoka‘s marketing has changed with the character instead wearing a gray cloak. This reflects Dawson’s comments and could prove that Ahsoka has been changed somewhat in that it tells the story of how she becomes what was teased at the end of Rebels.

In Lord of the Rings, Gandalf is only resurrected as Gandalf the White after almost losing his life to the Balrog. This could hint that Ahsoka‘s story will center on the character fighting against Thrawn only to lose in some capacity by the end of the series. This could then tie further into Filoni’s Star Wars movie in which Ahsoka comes back as Gandalf the White did, ready to lead the armies of the New Republic against Thrawn’s Empire. Regardless, it is clear Ahsoka creator Dave FIloni and actor Rosario Dawson have put a lot of thought into the parallels between Star Wars‘ fan-favorite space wizard and her Middle-Earth equal.

Episodes 1 and 2 of Ahsoka release Wednesday, August 23 on Disney+

Source: Entertainment Weekly