Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a 2008 animated film, marked the first appearance of Ahsoka Tano, voiced by Ashley Eckstein, as Anakin Skywalker's new padawan. Although they were only together for a few years, their relationship became one of the most enduring in the show, if not the entire franchise. She would go on to become a main character of The Clone Wars series, which originally concluded with her departure from the Jedi Order over false accusations of terrorism. Her personality is remarkably similar to her master's: rambunctious and impatient, but ultimately a kind person.
Updated July 21, 2023: In honor of Comic-Con weekend, this article has been updated with additional information about the upcoming Ahsoka series on Disney+ and the future plans for the Star Wars franchise.
Over the course of the series, she would prove herself to be a fast learner, taking on opponents such as Asajj Ventress and General Grievous. Her chemistry with Anakin proved to be one of the best parts of The Clone Wars, and one marked with tragedy, as most of the audience knows of Anakin's ultimate fate (as well as the fact that Ahsoka is not mentioned in Revenge of the Sith, leaving her fate uncertain).
Famed actress Rosario Dawson would take up the mantle of playing Ahsoka in live-action. Disney+ announced that she would be getting her own show, much in the same vein as Obi-Wan Kenobi or The Book of Boba Fett. Although the Ahsoka series hasn't been released yet, fans still had a chance to see Dawson in action in an episode of The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian. With the news about a new Star Wars movie set after The Rise of Skywalker that will see Rey try to rebuild the Jedi Order, many are hoping to see Ahsoka Tano return and meet the sequel trilogy characters. With that in mind, what would Ahsoka's role in the post-sequel trilogy be?
A Cautious Skeptic of the New Jedi Order
The Clone Wars wasn't shy when it came to demonstrating corruption and the effects of war on civilians. The series was entirely necessary because the prequel trilogy only shows the beginning and end of the War. What actually happened and how it primed the Republic's transformation into the Empire was a blank period prior to The Clone Wars. Perhaps most notably, though, it shows the arrogance and incompetence of the Jedi order in the last days of the Clone Wars.
When fellow Padawan Barriss Offee bombs the Jedi temple in protest of the Clone Wars, she frames Ahsoka as the true culprit. Ahsoka is expelled from the Jedi order and is tried as a criminal. Although the Jedi and the Republic learn of Offee's deception before Ahsoka is officially condemned, it is too late. Rightfully upset with the Jedi, she declines their offer to return and, instead, goes off on her own.
From the animated series Star Wars Rebels, we know that Ahsoka no longer considers herself a Jedi, telling Darth Vader that much during their battle. Combined with her prior tragic fallout with the Jedi, this should inform the viewer that she would be skeptical of the new Jedi order. Furthermore, she keeps to herself while Luke trains Grogu. She is not ready to abandon the way of the Force, as she watches over them closely, as she did with Kanan and Ezra before. However, Ahsoka has accepted that she is no longer a part of that world.
With Rey confirmed to be starting a new Jedi Order, Ahsoka wouldn't want to get her hopes too high. After all, it was the Jedi who bent to the will of the corrupt Republic to continue serving as generals in a controversial war. Not to suggest that the Jedi didn't try their best during the Clone Wars or had bad intentions, but their expulsion of Ahsoka speaks to what they had become just before the Jedi purge. They were paranoid and blinded by fear, and as Master Yoda informs, fear is the path to the dark side. So as far as interacting with the new Jedi order, Ahsoka would definitely be an advocate for them not being as intertwined with the Republic.
A Colleague of Rey
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The sequel trilogy's protagonist, Rey Skywalker, is the last remaining Jedi left after the events of the sequels. She grew up hearing stories of the Jedi and had a chance to interact with some of the most memorable and legendary figures in Star Wars. This means that she likely is aware of just how crooked the Jedi had become towards the end of the Clone Wars. There's nothing to suggest that she isn't aware; in fact, Luke hints at this in The Last Jedi.
So once Rey starts up the process of trying to permanently re-establish the Jedi, Ahsoka (as mentioned in the section above) would want to have a say in just how the Jedi are being trained and what they are being taught. To this end, she would link up with Rey to offer her assistance. Not only that, but it's not far off to assume that Ahsoka would find a lifelong friend in Rey. Rey was hardly given any training by Luke and, instead, was left to learn from the ancient Jedi texts. Perhaps Ahsoka can give Rey some much-needed guidance.
Ahsoka would be a prime example of a Jedi who learned formally, and thus someone who can offer to teach Rey the intricacies of what she doesn't already know. And the reverse can be true as well. Rey is very much an instinctual fighter, and while that might be more difficult to teach, Ahsoka's bound to pick up something from spending time with Rey. She is a character who is known for her growth and ability to learn.
Bounty Hunter
Bounty hunters are a huge part of the Star Wars universe. They are the people to go to when something needs to get done but no one else is willing to. Quite commonly, in The Clone Wars, the bounty hunters were hired to complete missions the Jedi were not allowed to because of their code or affiliation with the Republic. Ahsoka had to work with the pirate bounty hunter Hondo on multiple occasions and also escape from him once or twice, too. It was a complicated relationship. Either way, Ahsoka became familiar with the way the scoundrels work.
While it seems unlikely that the former Jedi would turn to bounty hunting in a traditional sense, it is possible that she would opt to be an independent Jedi, so to speak. After the death of every leader in the First Order and the surprise appearance and subsequent death of Palpatine, the military force is likely to still be around to some degree. Thanks to the strong similarities between the original and sequel trilogy, audiences can guess that the fall of the First Order looks similar to the fall of the Empire. Ahsoka is busy behind the scenes after the Empire fell, trying to find her own ways to set things right. Perhaps this is all she intends to do.
A Part of the Republic Once More
By not being a Jedi or a formal part of the New Republic, Ahsoka gets to define her own moral code. She will most likely choose to keep pursuing her enemies in the shadows. The only question there is if she will choose to eventually join the New Republic or continue to work on her own. While she is more than capable of acting as a single agent, and there are plenty of advantages to not working with a government, Ahsoka grew up as part of a team. As a teenager, she was a general in the army of the Republic, earning the respect of her troops, even after leaving the Jedi order.
Ahsoka has seen quite a bit in the galaxy. She saw the Republic fall and become the Empire. She served in the Rebellion and saw how the New Republic might have failed while the First Order rose. With years of experience, she might be well suited in a government position to help usher in a new era for the galaxy. She is famous for saying she is "no Jedi," and that could take on a new meaning. Maybe she wasn't born to be a Jedi but born to be a leader. While Rey takes on the responsibility of rebuilding the Jedi Order, Ahsoka Tano could become the new leader of the Galactic Republic.