Jon Favreau Explains Absence of Ahsoka Tano and Grand Admiral Thrawn in ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

Jon Favreau has clarified why two beloved Star Wars characters, Ahsoka Tano and Grand Admiral Thrawn, are not featured in ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’, despite fan hopes. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Favreau discussed how the film was designed for a broader audience, rather than just fans of the Disney+ series.

As the director and co-writer of the film, alongside Noah Kloor and Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni, Favreau emphasized the intention to prevent the movie from feeling like a continuation that only makes sense for those who have watched multiple seasons of ‘The Mandalorian’ and related shows.

He elaborated on the change in direction that occurred when the project transitioned from a potential fourth season of the show to a theatrical film. He stated, “When we were discussing doing a fourth season of [The Mandalorian], which was put on hold, and then the idea of doing a theatrical presentation… It changed the way we approached how interconnected things should be.” Favreau noted that while a TV season assumes viewers are familiar with the backstory, a film must stand independently.

Due to this decision, characters like Ahsoka Tano (played by Rosario Dawson) and Grand Admiral Thrawn (portrayed by Lars Mikkelsen) were omitted from the film’s central narrative. Favreau explained that the aim was to avoid overwhelming new viewers with extensive knowledge of the broader Star Wars timeline.

Instead, the film features a blend of new and familiar characters, but in a more restrained manner. A notable returning character is Zeb Orrelios, who originally appeared in the animated series ‘Star Wars Rebels’, making his live-action debut in the movie. Favreau highlighted Zeb as a prime example of how they could incorporate familiar elements without relying heavily on crossover storytelling.

He explained, “We did put some characters in that people know about and want to see more of, and I think Zeb is a really good example of that. We had the time to build out really complicated action sequences [and] make him a lead character, which we never could have done in the time frame or budget of streaming.”

Other characters from the wider Star Wars universe also make appearances, including Embo, a bounty hunter featured in ‘The Clone Wars’ and ‘The Bad Batch’. However, Favreau emphasized that the focus was not on cramming in cameos, but rather on supporting the narrative of Mando and Grogu.

He also pointed out that Zeb’s inclusion was effective due to existing audience familiarity from earlier animated series, while still allowing new viewers to grasp and enjoy the character without prior knowledge. He stated that the film was crafted to strike a balance where both long-time fans and newcomers can follow the story.

Lucasfilm’s Dave Filoni shared a similar viewpoint, stating that the team does not include characters solely for crossover appeal. He remarked, “It’s not always about character crossovers… It’s about the characters and what they’re experiencing.” He also mentioned that Ahsoka was initially introduced in the series for a specific narrative reason related to Grogu’s past, rather than just as a fan service addition.

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ continues the journey of the bounty hunter and his adopted companion as they collaborate with the New Republic on new missions. According to Favreau, the creative aim was to keep the film accessible while still rewarding dedicated fans of the franchise.