Summary
- Ahsoka Tano is on a mission to hunt down Grand iral Thrawn and find her missing friend Ezra Bridger.
- Luke Skywalker's role in Ahsoka's quest is speculated to involve him offering key insights and guidance from his travels across the galaxy.
- The events of Ahsoka take place concurrently with The Mandalorian season 3 and directly follow The Book of Boba Fett, suggesting Ahsoka sought Luke's help before continuing her mission.
A new theory for Ahsoka helps explain Luke Skywalker's role in the quest for Grand iral Thrawn. Returning to the galaxy years after disappearing into the Unknown Regions, the brilliant Imperial tactician intends to become "Heir to the Empire" during the New Republic Era. As a result, it follows that the danger posed by Thrawn would gain the attention of other Force-wielding heroes beyond Ahsoka Tano herself.
In the original Thrawn trilogy of novels which have become non-canonical Legends, Luke Skywalker played a significant role in the conflict between the New Republic and the shattered Empire. However, it seems as though Ahsoka will be the primary Force-wielder standing against the Imperial Remnant's leader in the established Star Wars canon. As confirmed in a new Ahsoka interview with Entertainment Weekly:
"When the series begins, Ahsoka is lonely. She's crossed paths with other Force-s like Grogu and Luke Skywalker, but Dawson describes her as a "lone wolf,"a ronin-like wanderer committed to a single goal: hunting down the villain Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) for clues to help her find her missing friend Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi)"
That being said, Ahsoka being a "lone wolf" on a mission doesn't mean Luke won't be involved to some degree in the prevention of yet another Galactic Civil War, so soon after the events of Star Wars' original trilogy of films.
Luke Skywalker Traveled The Galaxy After Return Of The Jedi
Following Return of the Jedi in the years before his exile on Ahch-To, Luke Skywalker sought to learn everything about the past Jedi Order, wanting to absorb as much knowledge as he could to begin a brand-new Jedi Order. Seeking sacred Jedi texts and artifacts, Luke's various travels can be seen in the story campaign for the Battlefront 2 video game, Adam Christopher's Shadows of the Sith novel, Charles Soule's Rise of Kylo Ren and flagship Star Wars comics, and more canon materials.
Even after Luke Skywalker finally built his new Jedi Temple on the planet Ossus, he would continue searching for relics of the past Jedi Order, hoping to increase his own knowledge and ability in order to what he learned to his students. However, this was something Luke would come to regret after his nephew Ben Solo fell to the dark side of the Force, resulting in the destruction of his Jedi Temple and the deaths of his other students. Having idolized and deified the previous Jedi Order, Luke neglected to see and learn from their flaws (which they certainly had).
How Luke Skywalker Could Help Ahsoka In Her Quest
Regardless, Luke Skywalker is in a far more hopeful place when Ahsoka Tano comes to visit him as seen in The Book of Boba Fett. With his Jedi Temple still under construction, Luke is in the early stages of his New Jedi Order, having only taken on the child Grogu for Jedi training before the child chose to reunite with the Mandalorian Din Djarin. However, one has to wonder why Ahsoka stopped to visit Luke on Ossus if she's so committed to her mission locating Grand iral Thrawn (and hopefully Ezra Bridger).
A strong theory is that Ahsoka was seeking Luke Skywalker's help to locate Thrawn in The Book of Boba Fett (while also wanting to meet the son of her former master). Luke had already traveled and made discoveries across the galaxy in the handful of years since Return of the Jedi when these current New Republic Era shows are taking place. It stands to reason Luke might have offered some key insights into places where Ahsoka could find Thrawn, or perhaps any potential artifacts she could use in her quest.
Trailers for Ahsoka have seen the titular hero searching what looks to be ancient ruins of an old Jedi outpost or temple. Perhaps Luke was the one who helped guide her there in the hopes of aiding her search for Thrawn. While Luke could also be featured in the Ahsoka show itself or even in the Mandalorian movie expected to bring all the New Republic shows together in a big crossover, it makes sense that his role is more limited with new heroes having risen in the established canon. However, it's good that he even has a role to begin with, as his total absence wouldn't make sense.
Ahsoka Theory Would Set Up Its Role In The Star Wars Timeline
Lucasfilm has indicated that both The Mandalorian season 3 and Ahsoka take place concurrently, meaning they both directly follow the events of The Book of Boba Fett. This would mean that the Ahsoka show's place on the Star Wars timeline would see her leaving Luke and his Jedi Temple on Ossus and heading right into the events of his own show, continuing her search for Grand iral Thrawn. As such, this certainly s the idea that Ahsoka had come to Ossus seeking Luke's help for the next stages of her mission. At any rate, more insights will undoubtedly be revealed when Ahsoka's two-episode premiere begins streaming August 23rd on Disney+.