Ahsoka Tano has become a legend in the Star Wars universe as a consummate survivor fighting for the greater good, and Ashley Eckstein has voiced the character in everything from Star Wars: The Clone Wars to Star Wars Rebels to even a surprise cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. With the end of The Clone Wars in 2020, however, Eckstein closed a chapter of Ahsoka's story that seemed unlikely ever to be finished. Now, the actress has reflected on her final day voicing Ahsoka for The Clone Wars.
The Disney+ revival of The Clone Wars in 2020 brought the show back to finish the story that had been cut short by the show's unceremonious cancellation back in 2013, which filled in some very big blanks regarding Ahsoka Tano and what happened between her leaving the Jedi Order in Clone Wars and turning up again in Star Wars Rebels. Ashley Eckstein weighed in to ComicBookMovie.com on whether she was playing those final episodes as a temporary goodbye or a farewell for good, saying:
When we did get to wrap it up, I was so grateful for it, and I take every moment as saying, ‘Well, if this is the last chance I’m ever going to get to fill Ahsoka’s shoes, I don’t mourn it. I’m grateful for it!’ I don’t look at what I don’t have, but what I do have. I started recording the voice of Ahsoka in 2006 and never in my wildest imagination did I think I would be here in 2021 still talking about Ahsoka. I’m just so grateful for the time that I’ve had to be the voice of Ahsoka Tano that that is how I choose to look at it.
When Ashley Eckstein starting voicing Ahsoka in 2006 for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated movie (which released in 2008), nobody – including Eckstein herself – could have guessed that Padawan newcomer Ahsoka would become such a fan-favorite in a series also featuring iconic Star Wars characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda.
If the series finale of The Clone Wars was indeed Ashley Eckstein's final bow as Ahsoka (with Rosario Dawson playing the character in live action starting with The Mandalorian), the actress clearly feels good about how long she was able to play the character.That's not to say that Eckstein considers the Clone Wars finale to be her final bow as Ahsoka Tano no matter what, however! She elaborated on her time as Ahsoka:
Of course, do I dream of getting to step into Ahsoka’s shoes again one day? I would love that. I hope I get to do that, but I also don’t look at it that way. I look at it as, ‘Wow, I’ve had the chance to voice Ahsoka Tano now for, oh gosh, going on fifteen years.’ I’m just forever grateful because she’s changed my life.
If Ahsoka's many appearances in the Star Wars saga are proof of anything, it's that fans should never rule out the possibility of her appearing in live action or animation. Even though Rosario Dawson will play the character in live action, it's a pretty safe bet that Star Wars isn't going to be done with animation when The Bad Batch ends, and Rise of Skywalker even proved that Eckstein's Ahsoka can appear in non-animation projects. And Forces of Destiny definitely proves that Eckstein can contribute as Ahsoka in non-traditional series as well.
As for whether or not Ashley Eckstein will reprise her role as Ahsoka or if The Clone Wars was the end, only time will tell. For now, you can always find all things Ahsoka streaming on Disney+, including the full run of The Clone Wars, all of her episodes of Star Wars Rebels, and more. For some additional viewing options now and in the coming weeks, check out our 2021 summer TV premiere schedule. And if you're now in the mood for some fresh Star Wars content, new episodes of The Bad Batch release on Fridays on Disney+.
