Grand Admiral Thrawn (full name: Mitth'raw'nuruodo) is a fictional character in the ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various film ...
'' franchise. He is notable for appearing as the
eponym
An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''.
Usage of the word
The term ''epon ...
ous character in the ''Thrawn'' trilogy of novels (1991–1993) by
Timothy Zahn. Thrawn is an imperial military leader and member of the
Chiss race who returns from the unknown and leads the remnants of the scattered
Galactic Empire
Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of ...
in a campaign against the New Republic. Thrawn faces off against classic ''Star Wars'' characters
Luke Skywalker,
Princess Leia
Princess Leia Organa is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, portrayed in films by Carrie Fisher. Introduced in the original ''Star Wars'' film in 1977, Leia is princess of the planet Alderaa ...
,
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. The character first appeared in the 1977 film '' Star Wars'' portrayed by Harrison Ford, who reprised his role in '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) an ...
,
Chewbacca
Chewbacca ( ), nicknamed "Chewie", is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a Wookiee, a tall, hirsute, bipedal, intelligent species originating from the fictional planet of Kashyyyk. Chewbacca is the loyal friend and fi ...
, and
Lando Calrissian in the ''Thrawn'' trilogy, but is ultimately defeated. He is seemingly resurrected in the ''Hand of Thrawn'' duology (1997–1998), and his backstory is explored in various other novels, short stories, comics, and video games in the
''Star Wars'' expanded universe.
In 2014, these early works were among those rebranded as ''
Star Wars Legends
''Star Wars'' has been expanded to media other than the original films. This spin-off material is licensed and moderated by Lucasfilm, though during his involvement with the franchise ''Star Wars'' creator George Lucas reserved the right to bot ...
'' by
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC is an American film and television production company and a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which is a business segment of The Walt Disney Company. The studio is best known for creating and producing the '' Star Wars'' and ...
, and rendered non-
canon. Thrawn reentered official canon in the
3D animated
Computer animation is the process used for digitally generating animations. The more general term computer-generated imagery (CGI) encompasses both static scenes (still images) and dynamic images (moving images), while computer animation refer ...
TV series ''
Star Wars Rebels'' from 2016 to 2018, and Zahn published a new ''Thrawn'' trilogy (2017–2019) and then the ''
Thrawn Ascendancy
''Thrawn Ascendancy'', also known as ''Thrawn: The Ascendancy Trilogy'' or simply ''The Ascendancy Trilogy,'' is a trilogy series of ''Star Wars'' novels released in the years 2020 and 2021 consisting of the books ''Chaos Rising'', ''Greater Go ...
'' trilogy (2020–2021).
Thrawn has been called one of the most significant and popular characters in the ''Legends'' continuity. Several
''Star Wars'' action figures and other merchandise have been produced of the character.
Character
Thrawn first appeared in the 1991
Timothy Zahn novel ''Heir to the Empire'', the first installment of what became known as the first ''Thrawn'' trilogy.
He is a
grand admiral
Grand admiral is a historic naval rank, the highest rank in the several European navies that used it. It is best known for its use in Germany as . A comparable rank in modern navies is that of admiral of the fleet.
Grand admirals in individual n ...
in the
Imperial Navy,
and categorically "the most brilliant of the Emperor's minions".
A member of the alien
Chiss species, native language Cheunh,
Thrawn is described as a tall, solidly built humanoid with blue skin and glowing red eyes who wears the white uniform befitting his rank.
He has risen in power thanks to his "tactical brilliance and cunning", and has been described as "one of the most threatening antagonists" in the ''Star Wars'' universe.
He is an unparalleled military strategist and tactical genius who has made extensive study of military intelligence and the artwork of other cultures, and the ''Thrawn'' trilogy finds him commanding the remnants of the Imperial Fleet in a series of stunning victories against the
New Republic.
His full name was given as Mitth'raw'nuruodo.
IGN described the character as "diabolical, brilliant and ruthless".
Zahn describes Thrawn's command style as considerably different from that of
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
and other typical Imperial commanders; instead of punishing failure and dissent, Thrawn promotes creativity among his crew and accepts ideas from subordinates.
Zahn said in 2017:
Referencing Zahn's annotations in the 20th Anniversary Edition of ''Heir to the Empire'', John Booth wrote in ''
Wired
''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San ...
'' that Zahn "created and developed Thrawn as a character
ydeliberately establishing the Grand Admiral as a villain who leads not by coercion and fear but through valuing strategy and loyalty".
Zahn explained in 2008 that Thrawn's version of the Empire is different from that of
Palpatine
Sheev Palpatine, also known by his Sith name Darth Sidious, is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Initially credited as the Emperor in the original trilogy films, '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) ...
because Thrawn does not have Palpatine's
megalomania
Megalomania is an obsession with power and wealth, and a passion for grand schemes.
Megalomania or megalomaniac may also refer to:
Psychology
* Narcissistic personality disorder
* Grandiose delusions
* Omnipotence (psychoanalysis), a stage ...
and
xenophobia
Xenophobia () is the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange. It is an expression of perceived conflict between an in-group and out-group and may manifest in suspicion by the one of the other's activities, a ...
.
Calling Thrawn and
Mara Jade
Mara Jade Skywalker is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise. She appears in the now non-canon ''Legends'' series as the wife of Luke Skywalker and mother of Ben Skywalker. She has been voiced by Heidi Shannon, Edie Mirman and ...
his favorite of the characters he created, Zahn noted in 2006 that writing the Grand Admiral "provides the intellectual challenge of trying to come up with new, clever, and (hopefully) workable tactics and strategies".
Zahn has also stated that Thrawn's entire motivation, both serving in the
Empire
An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
and the Ascendancy, is to protect the
Chiss people and "everything else flows from that."
Portrayal
Thrawn is voiced by Tris King in the 1994 computer game ''
Star Wars: TIE Fighter'', and by Tim Russell in the 1997 audio drama ''Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire''. In seasons three and four of ''Star Wars Rebels'', Thrawn is voiced by
Lars Mikkelsen.
Appearances
''Legends'' works
![10](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/10.12.12TimothyZahnByLuigiNovi3.jpg)
According to Zahn,
Lou Aronica
Lou Aronica (born 1958) is an American editor and publisher, primarily of science fiction. He co-edited the ''Full Spectrum'' anthologies with Shawna McCarthy. As a publisher he began at Bantam Books and formed their Bantam Spectra science fiction ...
of
Bantam Spectra had negotiated a book deal with Lucasfilm in 1989, and the publisher put Zahn's name at the top of their list of possible authors. He said, "My original instructions from
LucasArts
Lucasfilm Games (known as LucasArts between 1990 and 2021) is an American video game licensor that is part of Lucasfilm. It was founded in May 1982 by George Lucas as a video game development group alongside his film company; as part of a large ...
consisted of exactly two rules: the books were to start 3–5 years after ''
Return of the Jedi,'' and I couldn't use anyone who'd been explicitly killed off in the movies."
Zahn used information from the original film trilogy as his primary source, but supplemented that with details from the many sourcebooks created for
West End Games
West End Games (WEG) was a company that made board, role-playing, and war games. It was founded by Daniel Scott Palter in 1974 in New York City, but later moved to Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Its product lines included ''Star Wars'', ''Paranoia'', ...
' ''
Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'',
saying that they "saved me from having to reinvent the wheel many times".
In turn, each novel in the trilogy had its role-playing game sourcebook created for it by West End Games.
Introduced in the ''Thrawn'' trilogy (1991–93),
Thrawn became a fan favorite and subsequently appeared in multiple works in what became known as the
''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe, including novels, comics and video games, through 2006.
He is often cited as one of the most popular characters in the franchise.
''Star Wars Rebels'' executive producer
Dave Filoni
David Filoni (born June 7, 1974) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and voice actor. He has worked on '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'', '' The Mandalorian'', and on the theatrical film and television series of '' Star Wars: The Clon ...
said of the character in 2016, "You couldn't have grown up a ''Star Wars'' fan without encountering Thrawn in ''Heir to the Empire''. It was a dark time when there weren't any more movies, and it blew our minds that there could be more."
The ''Thrawn'' trilogy itself is widely credited with reviving interest in the ''Star Wars'' franchise.
In 2010, ''
Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' creator Filoni expressed interest in using Thrawn in that series. Some fans of Zahn's ''Thrawn'' series had long hoped the books would be adapted, and after the 2012 announcement that
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on Octobe ...
had acquired Lucasfilm and planned to produce film sequels to ''Return of the Jedi'', Zahn commented that if material from the expanded universe was used in the films, "we'd all be thrilled to death".
With the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney, most of the licensed ''Star Wars'' novels and comics produced since the originating 1977 film ''Star Wars'' were rebranded as ''Star Wars Legends'' and declared non-canon to the franchise in April 2014.
Though Lucasfilm made it clear that new media would "not tell the same story told in the post-''Return of the Jedi'' Expanded Universe", it was also established that "creators of new ''Star Wars'' entertainment have full access to the rich content of the Expanded Universe."
Acknowledging that Thrawn had long been considered by Lucasfilm when developing projects, Filoni later said in 2016 that in particular the character had been on his list of potential villains when developing ''Star Wars Rebels''.
''Thrawn'' trilogy (1991–1993)
The ''Thrawn'' trilogy, also known as the ''Heir to the Empire'' trilogy, was written by Timothy Zahn between 1991 and 1993. Approximately five years after the events depicted in ''Return of the Jedi'', the
Rebel Alliance, now known as the New Republic, has driven out the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy and is attempting to set up a functional government.
Princess Leia
Princess Leia Organa is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, portrayed in films by Carrie Fisher. Introduced in the original ''Star Wars'' film in 1977, Leia is princess of the planet Alderaa ...
and
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. The character first appeared in the 1977 film '' Star Wars'' portrayed by Harrison Ford, who reprised his role in '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) an ...
are married and expecting twins.
Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited new line of
Jedi
Jedi (), Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are the main heroic protagonists of many works of the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, and later supporting the Rebel Alliance, the Jedi ...
Knights. Thousands of
light year
A light-year, alternatively spelled light year, is a large unit of length used to express astronomical distances and is equivalent to about 9.46 trillion kilometers (), or 5.88 trillion miles ().One trillion here is taken to be 1012 ...
s away, Grand Admiral Thrawn, the last and most brilliant of the 12 grand admirals, has taken command of the shattered Imperial Fleet and prepared it to attack the New Republic. Thrawn is searching for a
Dark Jedi
Jedi (), Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are the main heroic protagonists of many works of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, and later supporting the Rebel Alliance, the Jedi Or ...
to join his side and is confident he can restore the Empire.
In ''Heir to the Empire'' (1991), master tactician Grand Admiral Thrawn plots to destroy the New Republic despite their numerical advantage over the remaining Imperial forces. He sets his sights on the
Wayland storehouse of the late
Emperor Palpatine
Sheev Palpatine, also known by his Sith name Darth Sidious, is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Initially credited as the Emperor in the original trilogy films, ''The Empire Strikes ...
, which contains a massive array of Spaarti cloning cylinders and a working cloaking shield. To this end, Thrawn and his subordinate
Gilad Pellaeon
This is an incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, now rebranded ''Star Wars Legends''. The accompanying works were declared non-canon to the '' Star Wars'' franchise by Lucasfilm in 2014.
This list applies ''o ...
, captain of the
Star Destroyer ''Chimaera'', enlist the help of smuggler Talon Karrde and his second-in-command
Mara Jade
Mara Jade Skywalker is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise. She appears in the now non-canon ''Legends'' series as the wife of Luke Skywalker and mother of Ben Skywalker. She has been voiced by Heidi Shannon, Edie Mirman and ...
to obtain several salamander-like creatures called
ysalamiri. Thrawn uses the ysalamiri, which possess the natural ability to disrupt the Force, to subdue the storehouse's guardian
Joruus C'baoth, a twisted clone of a
Jedi Master whom the Grand Admiral had killed years before. C'baoth offers his allegiance in exchange for two acolytes to bend to his will: Darth Vader's twin children, Luke and Leia. Thrawn sends some of his
Noghri killers to capture Luke and a pregnant Leia, but their attempts repeatedly fail. Leia defends herself from one attack and is surprised when the Noghri suddenly surrenders. Thrawn launches his first offensive, a series of hit-and-run attacks into New Republic territory, and then steals a complement of mole miners from
Lando Calrissian's mining operations on
Nkllon. In need of warships, and with his previous tactics having forced over 100 lightly crewed ships to be stationed at the
Sluis Van shipyards as he planned, Thrawn invades. His
stormtroopers use the stolen miners to board and hijack the ships, but they are thwarted when Lando can seize control of the miners remotely. The Grand Admiral withdraws his forces, but thanks to Thrawn's plotting, his New Republic nemesis
Admiral Ackbar is soon arrested for treason.
''Dark Force Rising'' (1992) reveals that before the
Clone Wars, the
Old Republic had constructed a fleet of highly automated
heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in caliber, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval T ...
s, known as the ''Katana'' fleet. A virus infected the crews of the entire fleet and drove them insane. The fleet was never seen again until smuggler Talon Karrde discovered it (several years before the events of the first book). With access to Palpatine's private storehouse on the planet Wayland, Thrawn presses his advantage to marshal more forces for the battle against the New Republic. Mara Jade, in an attempt to exonerate the Empire's warrant for Karrde's arrest, goes to Thrawn and offers to reveal the location of the ''Katana'' fleet. Instead, he has her followed and Karrde is captured. Luke and Mara rescue Karrde from Thrawn's Star Destroyer as Thrawn attempts to capture another man who knows about the ''Katana'' fleet. Meanwhile, Leia learns that the Noghri serve the Empire because they revere her late father,
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
, who they believe saved their planet
Honoghr from ecological disaster. Leia convinces them that they have been deceived and effectively enslaved by the Empire, and they switch sides. With Ackbar temporarily neutralized as a tactical opponent, Thrawn leads an army of clones to claim the so-called "''Katana'' fleet", outmaneuvering Luke, Lando, and
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. The character first appeared in the 1977 film '' Star Wars'' portrayed by Harrison Ford, who reprised his role in '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) an ...
.
In ''The Last Command'' (1993), set about a month after the previous book, Thrawn uses the ''Katana'' fleet, crewed with clones, to mount a successful offensive against the New Republic. Seizing one planet after the other, the Grand Admiral soon immobilizes the galactic capital world,
Coruscant. He has placed multiple cloaked asteroids around the planet, and through a ruse, he has led the New Republic leadership to believe that Coruscant is surrounded with them. Learning of the deception, the Republic fleet attacks the Imperial shipyards at Bilbringi to capture a device that can find the cloaked
asteroid
An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...
s, but Thrawn's forces intercept and surround them. Meanwhile, Luke and Leia lead a group to destroy the cloning facility on Wayland, killing C'baoth and destroying the
cloning
Cloning is the process of producing individual organisms with identical or virtually identical DNA, either by natural or artificial means. In nature, some organisms produce clones through asexual reproduction. In the field of biotechnology, c ...
cylinders. Just as Thrawn and Pellaeon learn that the Noghri aided in the attack on Wayland, Thrawn's Noghri bodyguard,
Rukh, kills the Grand Admiral—whose last words are, "But ... it was so artistically done." The tide of battle at Bilbringi turns, and with the hope of victory dashed by Thrawn's death, Pellaeon orders the Imperial forces to retreat.
''The Hand of Thrawn'' duology (1997–1998)
Zahn's ''Specter of the Past'' (1997) finds Thrawn seemingly resurrected ten years after his death when he reappears to lead the decimated Imperial forces against the unstable New Republic.
A record surfaces called the Caamasi Document, which indicates that a small group of
Bothans were perpetrators in the tragic destruction of the planet Caamas and causes more than a hundred alien warships to gather in orbit over the Bothans' homeworld, which the Empire hopes to use to its benefit.
In ''Vision of the Future'' (1998), Admiral Gilad Pellaeon admits that the Empire, down to only a few sectors, is now fighting a losing battle, and initiates peace talks with Princess Leia. However,
Moff Disra
This is an incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, now rebranded ''Star Wars Legends''. The accompanying works were declared non-canon to the '' Star Wars'' franchise by Lucasfilm in 2014.
This list applies '' ...
hires a con artist,
Flim, to impersonate the deceased Grand Admiral Thrawn to motivate the Imperial forces. Major
Grodin Tierce
This is an incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, now rebranded ''Star Wars Legends''. The accompanying works were declared non-canon to the '' Star Wars'' franchise by Lucasfilm in 2014.
This list applies ''o ...
, the clone of a former stormtrooper imbued with Thrawn's tactical intellect by the grand admiral himself, strategizes that the false Thrawn could also rally support for the Empire and intimidate the New Republic. The tactic is successful until Pellaeon and Talon Karrde—on opposing sides but both desiring peace—expose Flim. Meanwhile, at a fortress called the Hand of Thrawn, Luke and Mara discover a gestating and near-complete clone of Thrawn, which is killed during their escape.
An expedition by Thrawn to the galaxy's Unknown Regions is also mentioned. Finally, a peace treaty is signed by Pellaeon and the New Republic's president.
Other works
=Novels
=
Thrawn appears as a captain in the 1997
William C. Dietz novella ''
Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire''.
He also appears in the 1998 young reader's book ''
Galaxy of Fear: The Swarm''.
Before the theatrical release of ''
Attack of the Clones
Attack may refer to:
Warfare and combat
* Offensive (military)
* Charge (warfare)
* Attack (fencing)
* Strike (attack)
* Attack (computing)
* Attack aircraft
Books and publishing
* ''The Attack'' (novel), a book
* ''Attack No. 1'', comic an ...
'', Lucasfilm suggested that Zahn write a prequel-era book.
Zahn decided to have his 2004 novel ''
Survivor's Quest
''Survivor's Quest'' is a novel set in the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, published by Del Rey on February 1, 2004. Written by Timothy Zahn, it is a sequel to Zahn's 1998 '' Star Wars'' novel ''Vision of the Future''.
Setting
''Survivor's Qu ...
'' (the sequel to ''The Hand of Thrawn'' duology) cover the end of the Outbound Flight story arc before exploring its beginning in his prequel novel.
In ''Survivor's Quest'', Luke and Mara journey to investigate the wreckage of Outbound Flight, a Jedi expedition destroyed by Thrawn years before.
Newly discovered by the Chiss, the remains turn out to be the lure in a trap laid by the bloodthirsty
Vagaari to avenge themselves on the Chiss.
Zahn's 2006 novel ''Outbound Flight'' is set fifty years before ''Survivor's Quest''.
It follows the story of the doomed titular expedition, led by Jedi Master
Jorus C'baoth
This is an incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, now rebranded ''Star Wars Legends''. The accompanying works were declared non-canon to the '' Star Wars'' franchise by Lucasfilm in 2014.
This list applies ''o ...
, that is attacked by a young Chiss commander named Mitth'raw'nuruodo—informally known as Thrawn.
In the story, a Republic fleet comes across the Chiss for the first time. The alien commander, Thrawn, can handily defeat the Republic ships despite inferior weapons and numbers. Darth Sidious, Palpatine's alter-ego, seeks to destroy the ''Outbound Flight'', and he and his agent
Kinman Doriana
Grand Admiral Thrawn (full name: Mitth'raw'nuruodo) is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise. He is notable for appearing as the eponymous character in the ''Thrawn'' trilogy of novels (1991–1993) by Timothy Zahn. Thrawn is a ...
convince Thrawn that the ship and its Jedi pose a threat to the peaceful future of the galaxy. Thrawn agrees, hoping to get C'baoth to turn back before taking more drastic action. The Jedi refuses and Thrawn fires on the ship, but Doriana launches an assault that kills every Jedi and sends the ''Outbound Flight'' careening to its destruction on a nearby planet. Thrawn's brother Thrass and Lorana, the sole surviving Jedi, sacrifice their lives to save what survivors they can. Thrawn is reprimanded by his Chiss superiors for his hostile behavior, and summoned back to his home planet
Csilla
Csilla () is a Hungarian feminine given name that comes from the Hungarian word ''csillag'', literally meaning ''star''. The name may refer to people:
* Csilla Balázs (born 1996), Hungarian–Romanian footballer
* Csilla Bátorfi (born 1969), Hu ...
.
''
Publishers Weekly
''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' called Thrawn the "true star" of the novel, noting that his attack on the ship, secretly influenced by Palpatine's agents, "insures his own eventual exile from his race and sets other sinister wheels in motion". Zahn said of writing the novel, "as always, it was immensely fun to play tactics with Thrawn".
Though StarWars.com suggests that in ''Outbound Flight'', Thrawn is "too smart and basically decent to become the servant of Palpatine that he later becomes",
Zahn explains:
Set between ''
Star Wars: A New Hope'' and ''
The Empire Strikes Back
''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a stor ...
'', Zahn's ''
Choices of One
''Allegiance'' is a '' Star Wars'' novel released in January 2007 by Del Rey. The book was written by Timothy Zahn, and was followed in 2011 with ''Choices of One''.
Story
The story is set just after '' Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope''. ...
'' (2011) pits Thrawn against the alien warlord Nuso Esva, his nemesis from the Unknown Regions.
=Short stories
=
Thrawn, exiled by the Chiss to an inhospitable planet, is found by the Imperial Captain Voss Parck in "Mist Encounter" a short story by Zahn that was originally published in ''
Star Wars Adventure Journal
The ''Star Wars Adventure Journal'' was a publication distributed by West End Games between 1994 and 1997. Fifteen issues were printed, containing short stories set in the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe by both well-known and relatively unknown ...
'' #7 (August 1995).
Parck realizes Thrawn's value as a strategist and decides to bring him to the Emperor.
In "Command Decision", a November 1996 short story by Zahn published in ''Star Wars Adventure Journal'' #11, Thrawn is an admiral in the Imperial Navy with Parck as his subordinate. Thrawn orchestrates a plan to locate a Rebel base in "Side Trip" by Zahn and
Michael A. Stackpole
Michael Austin Stackpole (born November 27, 1957) is an American science fiction and fantasy author best known for his '' Star Wars'' and ''BattleTech'' books. He was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, but raised in Vermont. He has a BA in history from ...
, published in ''Star Wars Adventure Journal'' #12 (February 1997) and #13 (May 1997), and reprinted in the November 1997 anthology ''
Tales from the Empire
''Tales from the Empire'' (1997) is an anthology of short story, short stories set in the fictional ''Star Wars'' universe. The book is edited by Peter Schweighofer.
The centerpoint of the anthology is a short novel by Timothy Zahn and Michael A ...
''. The success of this mission earns him the command of Darth Vader's Noghri commandos.
Zahn's novella ''Crisis of Faith'', published with the 20th Anniversary Edition of ''Heir to the Empire'' on September 6, 2011, is set immediately before ''Heir to the Empire'' and finds Thrawn finally able to defeat Nuso Esva.
=Comics
=
Trade paperbacks:
* ''Heir to the Empire'' (collects ''Star Wars: Heir to the Empire'' #1–6, 160 pages, September 1996, )
* ''Dark Force Rising'' (collects ''Star Wars: Dark Force Rising'' #1–6, 160 pages, February 1998, )
* ''The Last Command'' (collects ''Star Wars: The Last Command'' #1–6, 144 pages, June 1999, )
* ''The Thrawn Trilogy'' (collects ''Star Wars: Heir to the Empire'' #1–6, ''Star Wars: Dark Force Rising'' #1–6, and ''Star Wars: The Last Command'' #1–6, 420 pages, December 2009, )
In the 1997
Dark Horse
A dark horse is a previously lesser-known person or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals, or a contestant that on paper should be unlikely to succeed but yet still might.
Origin
Th ...
comic ''
Star Wars: X-wing – Rogue Squadron 25: The Making of Baron Fel'', set four years after ''A New Hope'', Imperial pilot
Soontir Fel
This is an incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, now rebranded ''Star Wars Legends''. The accompanying works were declared non-canon to the '' Star Wars'' franchise by Lucasfilm in 2014.
This list applies '' ...
participates in an ambush on a Rebel convoy. He realizes that the operation was planned by the "alien Admiral" Thrawn, who is given no acknowledgement by Vader or the Emperor. Fel understands that such reliance on an alien undercuts the xenophobic foundation of the Empire, and Thrawn goes unrewarded after the successful mission.
=Video games
=
In the "Tour of Duty III" segment of the 1994
space flight simulator/combat
computer game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This feedback ...
''
Star Wars: TIE Fighter'', then-Vice Admiral Thrawn establishes order in a "wild" system at the frontiers of the Empire. The game expansion packs ''Defender of the Empire'' and ''Enemies of the Empire'' follow the story of how Thrawn thwarts the efforts of the traitorous
Grand Admiral Zaarin
This is an incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, now rebranded ''Star Wars Legends''. The accompanying works were declared non-canon to the '' Star Wars'' franchise by Lucasfilm in 2014.
This list applies '' ...
to depose the Emperor, and Thrawn is promoted to Grand Admiral in his place.
Thrawn is also a recruitable character for The Empire in the 1998
strategy
Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "art of troop leader; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the " ...
computer game ''
Star Wars: Rebellion'', and later appears in ''
Forces of Corruption'' expansion pack for the 2006
real-time strategy
Real-time strategy (RTS) is a subgenre of strategy video games that do not progress incrementally in turns, but allow all players to play simultaneously, in "real time". By contrast, in turn-based strategy (TBS) games, players take turns to p ...
game ''
Star Wars: Empire at War''. Thrawn cameos in ''
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron'' as a "Leader" character for the Galactic Empire in Galactic Conquest, earned by conquering all planets in the Northern Quadrant of the map and allows an army to move twice in one turn if the first move is begun within said quadrant. This power is shared with Admiral Ackbar for the Rebel Alliance. He is also a collectible character in the 2015
mobile collectible
A collectable (collectible or collector's item) is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector. Collectable items are not necessarily monetarily valuable or uncommon. There are numerous types of collectables and terms t ...
Role-playing video game
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
, ''
Galaxy of Heroes''.
Canon works
''Star Wars Rebels'' (2016–2018)
With the sequel film ''
Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' in production, in April 2014 most of the licensed ''Star Wars'' novels and comics produced since the 1977 film ''Star Wars'' were declared non-canon to the franchise.
However, ''Star Wars Rebels'' executive producer
Dave Filoni
David Filoni (born June 7, 1974) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and voice actor. He has worked on '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'', '' The Mandalorian'', and on the theatrical film and television series of '' Star Wars: The Clon ...
announced at the London
''Star Wars'' Celebration in July 2016 that Thrawn would be reintroduced into the franchise in the third season of the ''Rebels'' series.
The character debuted in the season 3 premiere, "
Steps into Shadow
'' Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D CGI animated television series produced by Lucasfilm and Lucasfilm Animation. Beginning fourteen years after ''Revenge of the Sith'' and five years before ''A New Hope'', ''Rebels'' takes place during an ...
",
which aired on September 24, 2016.
Though in ''Legends'' works Thrawn was mostly used in post-''Return of the Jedi'' storylines, ''Rebels'' takes place within the five years before the events of the original 1977 film.
After seeing an advanced clip from the series, Zahn told StarWars.com, "even that short bit was awesome, and just a bit surrealistic. Authors don't get to see our creations come to life very often, and it was a real treat to see a walking, talking Grand Admiral Thrawn".
Acknowledging that Thrawn had long been considered by Lucasfilm when developing projects, Filoni said that in particular, the character had been on his list of potential villains when developing ''Rebels''.
He explained that unlike how the character
Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Introduced as the Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, she is a supporting character in the animated film '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008) and the subsequent animated tel ...
has been a foil for
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
in previous seasons of ''Rebels'', "There's no one to defend
he Rebels
He or HE may refer to:
Language
* He (pronoun), an English pronoun
* He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ
* He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets
* He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...
against Thrawn. We want to treat him like a big-time villain, as much as Darth Vader, but on the strategic, military side of things."
=Storylines
=
In "Steps into Shadow", Thrawn is the commander of the Seventh Fleet, recently promoted to Grand Admiral for crushing a rebel insurgency on Batonn without regard for civilian casualties. He is brought in by Imperial Governor
Arihnda Pryce
This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt ...
to help destroy the series' eponymous rebel cell. A patient tactician, Thrawn allows the rebels to escape, intending to manipulate them into orchestrating the complete downfall of their rebellion.
In "
Hera's Heroes
'' Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D CGI animated television series produced by Lucasfilm and Lucasfilm Animation. Beginning fourteen years after ''Revenge of the Sith'' and five years before ''A New Hope'', ''Rebels'' takes place during an ...
", he takes command of the Imperial occupation of
Ryloth
The fictional universe of the '' Star Wars'' franchise features multiple planets and moons. While only the feature films and selected other works are considered canon to the franchise since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disne ...
, home planet of
Hera Syndulla, and has his first face-to-face contact with the rebels. He reappears in "
Iron Squadron
''Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D CGI animated television series produced by Lucasfilm and Lucasfilm Animation. Beginning fourteen years after ''Revenge of the Sith'' and five years before '' A New Hope'', ''Rebels'' takes place during an ...
", where he orders the incompetent Admiral Konstantine to deal with rebels and rebel sympathizers in the Mykapo system; after Konstantine's ship is disabled, Thrawn arrives in his personal Star Destroyer, the ''Chimaera'', and is revealed to have previously encountered rebel Commander Jun Sato. "
An Inside Man
'' Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D CGI animated television series produced by Lucasfilm and Lucasfilm Animation. Beginning fourteen years after ''Revenge of the Sith'' and five years before ''A New Hope'', ''Rebels'' takes place during an ...
" reveals Thrawn now in charge of the Imperial occupation of the planet
Lothal
Lothal () was one of the southernmost sites of the ancient Indus Valley civilisation, located in the Bhāl region of the modern state of Gujarāt. Construction of the city is believed to have begun around 2200 BCE.
Archaeological Survey of ...
, overseeing the factory where the new TIE Defender and various other pieces of equipment are manufactured. He puts an end to rebel acts of sabotage by enforcing a policy of the workers testing their creations and is also shown to be studying pieces of artwork that grant insight into each member of the ''Ghost'' crew. He also determines that there is a rebel spy within the Imperial ranks, but intends to use this to his advantage. In "
Warhead
A warhead is the forward section of a device that contains the explosive agent or toxic (biological, chemical, or nuclear) material that is delivered by a missile, rocket, torpedo, or bomb.
Classification
Types of warheads include:
* Explosiv ...
", Thrawn uses probe droids to determine that Sato's hidden rebel base is located on one of less than a hundred planets. Thrawn is shown to be skilled in hand-to-hand combat in "
Through Imperial Eyes", and learns that
Agent Kallus
This incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt Dis ...
is the rebel spy. In "
Secret Cargo
''Secret Cargo'' (French: ''Cargaison clandestine'') is a 1947 French drama film directed by Alfred Rode and starring Luis Mariano, Käthe von Nagy and Claudine Dupuis.Bock & Bergfelder p.336
Cast
* Luis Mariano as José
* Käthe von Nagy as ...
", Thrawn and Pryce pursue Senator
Mon Mothma
Mon Mothma is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, primarily portrayed by actress Genevieve O'Reilly. Introduced as the leader of the Rebel Alliance in '' Star Wars: Return of the Jedi'' (1983), portrayed by Caroline Blakiston, M ...
, who is being transported to safety by the rebels after speaking out publicly against Palpatine. In "
Zero Hour", Thrawn confronts Kallus about being Fulcrum, and executes his carefully planned attack on the rebel base on
Atollon. He is thwarted by the ingenuity of the rebels and the assistance of
Bendu, who cryptically warns Thrawn of his impending defeat, "like many arms surrounding you in a cold embrace". In the series finale "
Family Reunion and Farewell", Thrawn's Star Destroyer is attacked by
Purrgil
''Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D CGI animated television series produced by Lucasfilm and Lucasfilm Animation. Beginning fourteen years after ''Revenge of the Sith'' and five years before '' A New Hope'', ''Rebels'' takes place during a ...
while hovering over Lothal. Ensnared in the creatures' tentacles while simultaneously being confronted by the Force-wielding
Ezra Bridger
Ezra Bridger is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, voiced by Taylor Gray. He is featured as the protagonist of the animated series ''Star Wars Rebels'' (2014–2018) and appears in related works. Ezra also appears in ''Star W ...
, who brought the Purrgil to defend Lothal, the Star Destroyer is dragged from the planet's vicinity by them, leaving both Thrawn's and Bridger's fates unknown.
''Thrawn'' trilogy (2017–2019)
In a prerecorded video also presented at the July 2016 London ''Star Wars'' Celebration, Zahn announced that he was writing a new novel titled ''
Star Wars: Thrawn'', which was released by
Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn, by Penguin Random House. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It ...
in April 2017.
According to Zahn, it was "very exciting" to write the character again, and he noted that "with this book I'll be visiting a part of his life that I never before had a chance to explore".
Zahn later said, "I get to show how he's treated by his fellow officers and shipmates on his way up the military ladder, particularly when he's not in a command position over them."
Although in ''Legends'' works Thrawn was mostly placed in post-''Return of the Jedi'' storylines, ''Thrawn'' is set before the events of the original 1977 film.
It covers several years between Thrawn's "first encounter" with the Empire and the events of the third season of ''Rebels'', chronicling his rise to power.
In the novel, exiled Chiss warrior Thrawn is rescued by Imperial soldiers, and soon proves a valuable asset to the Empire. His cunning and expertise as a tactician soon attract the attention of Emperor Palpatine, though Thrawn's renegade tactics ignite the ire of his superiors. As he rises in rank, Thrawn trains his ''
aide-de-camp'' Ensign
Eli Vanto
''Star Wars: Thrawn'' (also known simply as ''Thrawn'') is a ''Star Wars'' novel by Timothy Zahn, published on April 11, 2017 by Del Rey Books. It chronicles the origins of Grand Admiral Thrawn, a popular character originating from the '' Star Wa ...
in the ways of war, and finds himself in an uneasy alliance with ruthless administrator
Arihnda Pryce
This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt ...
.
A comic book miniseries adaptation of the first novel by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
began in early 2018.
A sequel to the novel, titled ''
Thrawn: Alliances'', was released on July 24, 2018. This novel is set during the reign of the Empire. The main story line follows Grand Admiral Thrawn a "brilliant strategist" and the "ruthless enforcer"
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
on a mission to investigate a threat to the Empire on a planet called Batuu, which resides at the edges of the Unknown Regions. This is the same planet that many years previously Thrawn, then an officer of the Chiss Ascendancy, crossed paths with General
Anakin Skywalker
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
, flashbacks to this encounter tells of their "uneasy alliance" while facing several dangers.
A third novel, ''
Thrawn: Treason'', was released on July 23, 2019.
''Thrawn Ascendancy'' trilogy (2020–2021)
At the 2019 New York Comic Con, a new trilogy from Timothy Zahn was announced, to be entitled ''Thrawn: The Ascendency Trilogy'', or simply the ''Thrawn Ascendancy'' trilogy, to launch with ''Book I: Chaos Rising'' in May 2020. After being delayed twice, the first novel was ultimately released on September 1, 2020. In the novel, it was revealed that Thrawn was born as Kivu'raw'nuru (core name Vurawn) before being adopted by the Mitth family, changing his name to Mitth'raw'nuru (core name Thrawn). The novel also covered more of Thrawn's backstory alongside other Chiss characters, such as Ar'alani, that also appeared in ''
Thrawn: Treason'', the previous novel by publication order.
A sequel to ''Chaos Rising'', titled ''Greater Good'', was released on April 27, 2021.
The third book of the trilogy called ''Lesser Evil'', was released on November 16, 2021.
''The Mandalorian'' (2020)
Grand Admiral Thrawn is mentioned by
Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Introduced as the Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, she is a supporting character in the animated film '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008) and the subsequent animated tel ...
in ''
The Mandalorian
''The Mandalorian'' is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is the first live-action series in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, beginning five years after the events of ''Retur ...
'' in episode "
Chapter 13: The Jedi", as the master to the Magistrate of Corvus.
Other works
Thrawn is mentioned in the 2017
Chuck Wendig
Charles David Wendig (born April 22, 1976) is an American author, comic book writer, screenwriter, and blogger. He is best known for his online blog Terribleminds, for his 2015 ''Star Wars'' novel trilogy ''Aftermath'', the first book of which d ...
novel ''
Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire's End'' as the source of the information about the Unknown Regions which Palpatine uses in his Contingency plan. This plan results in the creation of the
First Order.
=Video games
=
Thrawn appears as a playable character in the 2017
real-time
Real-time or real time describes various operations in computing or other processes that must guarantee response times within a specified time (deadline), usually a relatively short time. A real-time process is generally one that happens in defined ...
strategy
Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "art of troop leader; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the " ...
mobile game
A mobile game, or smartphone game, is a video game that is typically played on a mobile phone. The term also refers to all games that are played on any portable device, including from mobile phone (feature phone or smartphone), tablet, PDA to ...
''
Star Wars: Force Arena'', and was later introduced to ''
Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes'', a
turn-based
In video and other games, the passage of time must be handled in a way that players find fair and easy to understand. This is usually done in one of the two ways: real-time and turn-based.
Real-time
Real-time games have game time progress cont ...
role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
, that summer, as both a special event
boss
Boss may refer to:
Occupations
* Supervisor, often referred to as boss
* Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier
* Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization
* Fire boss, a ...
and playable character. He is a bonus playable character in ''
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga'', available in the ''Star Wars Rebels'' character pack sold as
downloadable content
Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can either be added for no extra cost or it can be a form of video game monetization, enablin ...
Reception
In 2016,
Anthony Breznican
Anthony Breznican (born 1976) is an American journalist and novelist who currently writes for '' Vanity Fair''. He is the author of the 2014 novel ''Brutal Youth'', about first-year students dealing with bullying at their Catholic high school. Br ...
of ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' called Thrawn a "fan favorite" and "one of the most significant characters to ever emerge from the Expanded Universe",
and Brian Truitt of ''
USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
'' named the character "one of ''Star Wars'' fandom's favorite villains".
Comicbook.com called Thrawn "arguably the most popular character in the ''Star Wars Legends'' universe" in 2017,
and Linda Hansen-Raj wrote that the character "carries a lasting legacy as one of ''Star Wars'' greatest and most complex antagonists."
In 2014,
GamesRadar
''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
's Sam Ashurst called Thrawn "hugely popular amongst fans, partly because of his tactical genius, partly because of his progressive attitude to his employees but mainly due to the fact he's got a blue face" and "easily the coolest villain in the ''Expanded Universe''", noting Thrawn's loss as one of the major consequences of Lucasfilm's abandonment of the old expanded universe for ''
Star Wars: The Force Awakens''.
Emmet Asher-Perrin of ''
Tor.com
''Tor.com'' is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine published by Tor Books, a division of Macmillan Publishers. The magazine publishes articles, reviews, original short fiction, re-reads and commentary on speculative fiction.
From 20 ...
'' noted in 2016 that as "one of the most popular Expanded Universe villains" and "one of the most threatening antagonists that the ''Star Wars'' universe had on hand", the character's removal from canon continuity "had many fans crying foul".
In 2008, Jesse Schedeen of IGN credited Thrawn and the ''Thrawn'' trilogy with "kickstarting" the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe",
and in 2015 ''
Empire
An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
'' suggested that Thrawn's character helped "revitalize and legitimise" the expanded universe when it was failing.
Eric Goldman wrote for IGN in 2008, "Diabolical, brilliant and ruthless, Thrawn was an excellent ''Star Wars'' villain, following in the footsteps of the likes of
Grand Moff Tarkin
Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, introduced as the main antagonist of the original 1977 ''Star Wars'' film (played by Peter Cushing). In the film, Tarkin is depicted as a high-ranking officer of ...
," adding that "his status as the highest ranking non-human in the Empire was a very interesting aspect".
In 2006, Zahn called Thrawn and Mara Jade his favorite of the characters he created.
Zahn said in July 2016, "A writer never knows which characters are going to click with the readers, and it was highly gratifying to me that Thrawn captured the imaginations of so many people over the past quarter century."
The character has been on many "top" lists of ''Star Wars'' characters, praising his villainy and character. In a list of fifteen ''Star Wars'' villains, Schedeen placed Thrawn as second best, beaten by
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
, focusing on his greatness as a commander and tactician.
In 2008, IGN ranked him as the tenth best overall ''Star Wars'' character, noting his influence in the expanded universe,
and
UGO
Ugo is the Italian form of Hugh, a widely used name of Germanic origin. Its diminutive form is Ugolino.
It is also a Nigerian Igbo first name.
It may refer to:
People
* Vgo (stonemason), medieval stonemason
* Ugo Bassi, a Roman Catholic prie ...
listed him as the third greatest expanded universe character the same year.
''Empire'' listed Thrawn fifth in their list of the 25 best of the more obscure ''Star Wars'' characters in 2015.
In November 2016,
Lars Mikkelsen was nominated for a
2017 Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production for his portrayal of Thrawn on ''
Star Wars Rebels''.
Merchandising
An Admiral Thrawn 3 inch action figure was produced by
Kenner
Kenner Products, known simply as Kenner, was an American toy company founded in 1946. Throughout its history, the Kenner brand produced several highly recognizable toys and merchandise lines including action figures like the original series of ' ...
/
Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (; a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational conglomerate holding company incorporated and headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hasbro owns the trademarks and products of ...
as part of their 1998 ''Power of the Force 2'' Expanded Universe line.
Another figure was released for the 2008 ''Legacy Collection'', bundled in a "Comic 2-Pack" with a Talon Karrde figure and a Dark Horse ''Heir of the Empire'' issue #1 comic.
Two versions of Thrawn were produced for the ''
Star Wars Miniatures
''Star Wars Miniatures'' is a 34mm scale collectible miniatures tabletop game based on the '' Star Wars'' fictional universe that was produced by Wizards of the Coast. The game was originally released in September 2004 and continued production ...
''
collectible miniatures game
Collectible miniatures games (CMGs) are a form of miniatures game that is also similar to collectible card games (CCGs) — the primary difference being that while CCGs are card-based games, CMGs feature miniature figures.
A popular theme for CMG ...
: one for the 2005 ''Universe'' expansion,
and a second for the 2009 ''Imperial Entanglements'' expansion.
In 2010,
Sideshow Collectibles
Sideshow Collectibles is an American specialty manufacturer of movie, film, television and collectible action figures, statues, and high end pieces. Sideshow's licenses include ''Star Wars'', DC Comics, Marvel Comics, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Dis ...
released a sixth scale Thrawn figure, with a command chair as part of the deluxe version.
A 6.75" Thrawn mini bust was produced by Gentle Giant in 2014.
All representations of the character have included a pet
ysalamir, except the 2009 miniature.
Hasbro released a Thrawn action figure as part of its ''Rebels'' series of figures in 2016. In 2017, Hasbro released a 6" Thrawn figure as a part of its Black Series line, as well as a
San Diego Comic Con version featuring enhanced packaging and accessories. In the same year,
Funko
Funko Inc. is an American company that manufactures licensed and limited pop culture collectibles, best known for its licensed vinyl figurines and bobbleheads. In addition, the company produces licensed plush, action figures, apparel, accessories ...
released the ''Star Wars Rebels'' Grand Admiral Thrawn #170 POP! figurine as a "2017 Galactic Convention Exclusive" related to the 2017 ''Star Wars'' Celebration. Additionally,
Lego
Lego ( , ; stylized as LEGO) is a line of plastic construction toys that are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of variously colored interlocking ...
released a Grand Admiral Thrawn
minifigure
A Lego minifigure, commonly referred to as a minifig, is a small plastic articulated figurine produced by Danish toy manufacturer The Lego Group. They were first produced in 1978 and have been a success, with over 4 billion produced worldwide a ...
, included in the 2017 set ''The Phantom''.
References
Footnotes
Citations
Further reading
*
*
*
External links
*
*
Grand Admiral Thrawn at SWbooks.co.uk
Grand Admiral Thrawnon
IMDb
IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thrawn, Grand Admiral
Thrawn
Fictional admirals
Fictional characters with eidetic memory
Fictional humanoids
Fictional military strategists
Fictional murdered people
Fictional warlords
Fictional war veterans
Literary characters introduced in 1991
Male characters in comics
Male characters in television
Male literary villains
Star Wars comics characters
Star Wars animated characters
Star Wars literary characters
Star Wars Rebels characters