Ex: Ashley Eckstein talks the Clone Wars finale and Ahsoka Tano’s future

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

“You don’t have to carry a sword to be powerful. Some leaders’ strength is inspiring greatness in others.”

– Ahsoka Tano

The Clone Wars, Season 4, Episode 2: “Gungan Attack”

While we humans continue to practice social distancing in the face of an ongoing pandemic, big and exciting things are happening in a galaxy far, far away. I'm talking of course about the triumphant return of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, which is currently celebrating its seventh and final season courtesy of Disney+. It's the animated event that Star Wars fans have been waiting for, and recently I got to spend a portion of my COVID-19 quarantine with Ahsoka Tano voice actress and Star Wars royalty, Ashley Eckstein!

Thanks to the power of the internet, Ashely and I were able to chat while sitting much more than 6-feet away from one another, as we talked about everything from her impressions of the final season of Clone Wars to Rosario Dawson's potential casting for Ahsoka Tano in Season 2 of THE MANDALORIAN and beyond. We even had time to hype the release of her Little Golden Book I Am a Padawan, which is available now and is able to be purchased online.

Of course you're more than welcome to watch the entire interview posted above, but while we're here, why don't I give you some of the highlights?

On the opportunity to give Star Wars: The Clones Wars its proper conclusion:

"It's definitely a dream come true that we're getting the chance to do a final season for Clone Wars. I really have to thank the fans, because to be honest, I had given up on the Clone Wars ever coming back. I'm actually a very positive person, a very optimistic person but, I think we were all so crushed when Clone Wars ended. I had given up on it ever coming back, but the fans didn't."

On Ahsoka's much-maligned debut and transforming the character into a fan favorite over time:

"She did come on really strong in the beginning, but we were always a season ahead of what the fans were seeing. When fans saw the Clone Wars movie and even the first couple episodes, we were already done with season one, and so I'd asked fans, I'd begged them to go on this journey with her. I said no character should be perfect on the outset, because if they're perfect than that's going to be a really boring storyline. Thankfully, they [the fans] did.

People can smell a fraud from a mile away, and I kind of have this rule about being honest with fans. I was honest about who Ahsoka was, what she represented, and what they were going to see or could expect from her. Thankfully, fans stuck with her."

On Rosario Dawson's potential casting as Ahsoka Tano for Season 2 of THE MANDALORIAN and her excitement for the character's live-action future:

"As I'd shared on Instagram, Ahsoka is literally a part of my heart and soul. I care about Ahsoka just like I care about a family member. As an Ahsoka fan, of course I want more Ahsoka too. While I always hope to be involved in any way I can, I'll always be happy for more Ahsoka. For me, Ahsoka is bigger than me. It takes a team of people to bring Ahsoka to life, but she's even bigger than that team. Ahsoka means so much to so many people, and what I've heard from a lot of fans is that Ahsoka means "hope." I would never want to stand in the way of that, and the more Ahsoka stories we get the more hope she'll continue to spread. I'm excited! Anytime we get more Ahsoka is a good day for me."

For more of Ashley's thoughts on Ahsoka Tano, the final season of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, and the release of her Little Golden Book I Am a Padawan, be sure to check out the video above. Stay safe out there, everybody, and may the force be with you, always.