The upcomingStar WarsseriesAhsokaon Disney Plus features the Twi’lek pilot and rebel hero Hera Syndulla, last seen in animated form onStar Wars Rebels(and voiced by Vanessa Marshall). InAhsoka, she will now be played byBirds of Preystar Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and the actress was excited about the opportunity.
Ahsokaseems to be an unspoken continuation ofStar Wars Rebels, complete with several characters from the animated series making their live-action debut. This includes Natasha Liu Bordizzo as the artistic Mandalorian Sabine Wren (originally voiced by Tiya Sircar) and Eman Esfandi as the young Jedi Ezra Bridger (previously voiced by Taylor Gray). Alongside Rosario Dawson as the title character, Togruta Jedi Ahsoka Tano, they’ll all be joined by Winstead in the role of Hera. But how did she go about getting into an already-establishedStar Warscharacter?
RELATED:Star Wars Ahsoka: Who Is Hera Syndulla?
In a recent interview withEntertainment Weekly’sDagobah Dispatchpodcast, Winstead revealed that she was pretty happy to have some history to look to for her performance. “Having a character who’s already existed and has such a rich history on something likeRebels, as an actor, it’s incredible,” she explained. “Because sometimes we’re tasked with creating our own backstories or trying to flesh out a character that doesn’t really have that much on the page. And so to play a character that has season after season of storylines and complex histories with everyone in their life and relationships and experiences was really something I’ve never experienced quite like that.”
Winstead previously played Huntress inBirds of Prey, so this wasn’t the first time she’s played a previously-established character. But unlike that instance, which saw a new take on an already known character,Ahsokawill feature figures like Hera as the versions that appeared inStar Wars Rebels. It makes sense, considering howRebelsandAhsokashare creator Dave Filoni. But it was also helpful, according to Winstead. “To haveRebelsto refer to, and to have Dave to speak to about it every day on set, was a real luxury for sure,” she added.
As the leader of theGhost crew onStar Wars Rebels, Hera’s leadership qualities were another aspect that drew Winstead to the role. “She is very maternal, but also she’s this leader of this crew. And as we see, she continues and becomes a general. And so she’s leading quite a lot of people and she’s become something of a legend in her own right,” the actress explained. “She’s also very soft and warm, and people come to her for advice and solace and comfort. Seeing those things combined is very unusual, and something that I really wanted to play on screen, because that’s such a aspirational thing, I think, as a woman — or just a person — to be able to be all of those things in one.”
WhileAhsokawill feature Lars Mikkelsen’s return as Thrawn, it’s exciting to see how other characters will fare with new actors playing them. Winstead knows what she’s doing and who Hera truly is, so the beloved Twi’lek general is in good hands. Now all that’s left is the hope that Chopper will be his usual war-crime-loving self in live-action.
