We’re going to go ahead and dub April Thrawn Month. Just in the last week, we’ve seen a new Thrawn book published (Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good) and were gifted with new images predicting how three different actors would look as the blue-skinned, red-eyed Imperial grand admiral. Now, we’re adding a fourth actor to that list.
Though Thrawn is a legendary character in the Star Wars universe — appearing in three different trilogies of books and an animated series — he’s yet to appear in live-action. Fans believe that will likely change after former Jedi Ahsoka Tano appeared in season 2 of The Mandalorian and mentions she is looking for Thrawn. Ahsoka is set to get her own live-action series in the near future on Disney+, and her mention of Thrawn makes us think her series will pick up where Star Wars Rebels left off.
The last time we saw Thrawn was also the last time we saw Ezra Bridger, the young Jedi trained by Kanan Jarrus. At the end of Rebels, Ezra and Thrawn became lost in deep space after being carried into hyperspace by purrgil, Force-sensitive space whales. Ahsoka and Mandalorian Sabine Wren then teamed up to try to find them.
It’s all but confirmed that a live-action Thrawn will appear in Ahsoka and possibly another new Star Wars series. An actor for the role has also not been confirmed, but fans are still having a great time imagining who could take up the title.
What Lars Mikkelsen could look like as Thrawn in Star Wars
So, who’s next on our Thrawn actors wishlist? Rebels fans have been particularly excited to see this actor return to the Star Wars universe.
In a stunning piece of fan art from @barrett.digital on Instagram, Lars Mikkelsen is the stoic, intellectual Grand Admiral Thrawn — complete with his signature Imperial white uniform and the artist’s take on a Ysalamir lizard.
These reptilian-like creatures first appeared in Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire and could supposedly reduce a Jedi’s ability to use the Force. In Rebels, Ysalamiri sculptures were seen inside Thrawn’s office aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera.
In the post, @barrett.digital says they would be “blown away if Lars Mikkelsen had the chance to play (Thrawn) in live action!”
Mikkelsen, older brother to Mads Mikkelsen — who’s also been portrayed recently as the blue-skinned Chiss — is the chilling voice behind the ruthless Grand Admiral Thrawn in the animated Rebels series. He voiced the character for 16 episodes from 2016 to the show’s finale in 2018. The Danish actor has also starred in Sherlock, House of Cards and The Witcher, which would make a live-action Star Wars series the perfect addition to his acting career.
Do you think Lars Mikkelsen should return to Star Wars as a live-action Thrawn? Who else would you like to see become the Chiss? Let us know in the comments!