Ahsoka: Eman Esfandi joins the Star Wars series as the beloved character Ezra Bridger

Disney’s D23 Expo is in full swing, and intriguing casting news is already making its way out of the big show. Star Wars Rebels fans, grab hold of something because you’re about to get blown away. We hear Eman Esfandi (Red 11, King Richard) plays Ezra Bridger in the live-action Star Wars series Ahsoka. The highly-anticipated series stars Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, a Force-sensitive Togruta warrior and former Jedi Padawan. Other stars gearing up for the series set in a galaxy far, far away include Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ivanna Sakhno, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, and Hayden Christensen. Ray Stevenson also stars as a villain in the series. The pop culture site Cinelinx first reported the news.

Ezra Bridger forced his way onto the Star Wars scene in 2014 through the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Voiced by Taylor Gray, Bridger is a Force-sensitive orphan who is handy with a lightsaber and ready to dive head-long into danger. Bridger ranks highly among Star Wars characters fans have been clamoring for since Disney and Lucasfilm began their Disney+ takeover.

In Ahsoka, Dawson’s title character searches for Grand Admiral Thrawn, a former commander in the Empire. There will be more to it than that, but we’ll have to wait for further details. Thankfully, the series is in great hands, with Star Wars Rebels co-creator Dave Filoni writing and executive producing the show. Jon Favreau is an executive producer, too. Ahsoka also features Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse co-director Peter Ramsey getting behind the camera for at least one episode.

What do you think about Eman Esfandi playing Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka? What other characters from Star Wars Rebels do you hope to see in this anticipated live-action series? Feel free to drop some character names and dream-casting ideas in the comments section, and let us know what else you’re excited about as Disney’s D23 Expo continues.