Ahsoka’s True Fate Was Hinted at By Dave Filoni, So Fans Don’t Worry
The Rise of Skywalker, while not the most favored Star Wars movie, still gave fans a lot of good things. It ended the Skywalker saga and delivered a ton of Easter eggs from past films and shows. From Sith Temples that Star Wars Rebels highlighted, to the new lightsaber shown at the end, it was full of connections to the past. One instance was very obvious, and included a ton of Jedi cameos.
It did, however, leave a lot of fans worried about their favorite former Jedi, Ahsoka Tano. But thanks to Dave Filoni, fans don’t have to worry about Ahsoka’s fate hanging in the balance. MAJOR spoilers for The Rise of Skywalker ahead.
‘The Rise of Skywalker’ featured Jedi voices from the past, including Ahsoka’s
For Rey to defeat Palpatine, her grandfather, she had to duel him alone. He’s the only Sith Lord at this point, and all the past Sith are working through him, making him very powerful. The Emperor threw Ben Solo off a cliff, so Rey is all the Jedi and the Resistance has left as a defense. She thinks she’s all alone, but when she calls the Jedi, their voices come back to her and give her the strength to defeat him.
Jedi Masters from Obi-Wan Kenobi (both McGregor and Alec Guinness), to Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) all make voice-appearances. Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker played a big part, in addition to Frank Oz’s Yoda and Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker. And, of course, Ahsoka Tano is also a part of this chorus of Jedi.
Voiced by Ashley Eckstein in all forms of the character, Ahsoka has gone on to become one of the most favored Jedi and Star Wars characters ever. She appeared on Seasons 1-5 of The Clone Wars and a couple seasons of Star Wars Rebels. Even this brief cameo was a major gift to fans.
Fans of Ahsoka were left panicking what that could mean for the former Jedi
While this was exciting for viewers to hear Ahsoka among live-action Jedi, and for the first time ever in a Star Wars film outside of 2008’s The Clone Wars, it also panicked fans. Ahsoka’s voice seemed to confirm that Ahsoka was dead, since Force ghosts and other Jedi apparitions like this only occur when after a Jedi’s death. Hence the “ghost” part.
At the end of Revenge of the Sith, Yoda shared with Kenobi that Qui-Gon Jinn discovered how to do this. Since then, Force ghosts have shown up in the most critical moments, like in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. For Ahsoka to be a part of this group, calling out to Rey, she must be dead by Episode IX. She’d be in her 60s, but the assumed confirmation of her death was still a rude awakening for fans of the character.
Don’t worry though; the boss hinted that Ahsoka is still alive
But, no one’s ever really gone in Star Wars, and in Ahsoka’s case, she’s really not gone. On Dec. 25, Supervising Director for The Clone Wars, Dave Filoni, tweeted out a special sketch of Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, talking to Ahsoka. He’s saying, “People thought I was dead too. Look how that turned out.” Filoni wrote, “Was thinking of all of you this fine morning, Happy Holidays! – Dave.”
So while it doesn’t 100 percent confirm Ahsoka’s alive, it sure hints that she is. After Ahsoka was left on Malachor to fight Darth Vader in Star War Rebels, fans were devastated to think she died. But then by the end of the series, fans see that Ezra saved her through the World Between Worlds, which defies time and space. Through a portal like that, Ahsoka might have been able to communicate with Rey. Not through death.
Ahsoka has had so many chances at life. Whether it was Anakin resurrecting her with the Daughter’s help on The Clone Wars or Ezra pulling her out of Vader’s range, Ahsoka’s survived a lot. As one of the most beloved characters in Star Wars — up there with Yoda, Anakin, and Obi-Wan — it’s a relief that Filoni set the record straight.
