6 Animated Star Wars Characters We'd Like To See In Live Action

Season Two of The Mandalorian was a real treat for fans of the wider Star Wars universe, particularly the animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels. After playing major roles in the animated shows, popular characters like Ahsoka Tano and Bo-Katan Kryze have made their live-action debut in The Mandalorian. Now, Ahsoka is also set to receive a series of her own, with her The Mandalorian actress Rosario Dawson reprising the role.

Bo-Katan and Ahsoka making a successful transition into live-action opens the door for other previously animation exclusive characters to appear in the future, and with the number of new Star Wars shows that have recently been announced, there will be plenty of opportunity for them to do so.

Here are six animated Star Wars characters we'd like to see in live-action.

1. Hondo Ohnaka

Hondo Ohnaka, a Space Pirate belonging to the Weequay race, has become one of the most beloved recurring characters in the Star Wars universe. First introduced in The Clone Wars series, Hondo initially has no allegiance beyond his own quest for riches, and while personal wealth remains his ultimate goal, he eventually begins to show a preference for working with the Republic over the separatists. In Star Wars: Rebels, Hondo forms a strong friendship with the Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger, and eventually becomes a regular ally of the Rebel Alliance. Though he doesn't believe the rebels can win the battle of Lothal, he agrees to fight alongside them due to his friendship with Ezra.

An animatronic Hondo appears in the pre-show for the Smuggler's Run Ride at Disney's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park, as the ride's back story has him borrowing the Millenium Falcon for a job. Hondo is the second-most advanced animatronic figure ever built for Disney Parks.

Fans would likely be excited, but not surprised to see Hondo show up in a live-action Star Wars production. The character has the potential to fit in just about anywhere.

2. Ezra Bridger

Ezra Bridger, a force-sensitive teenager, served as the main protagonist in Star Wars: Rebels. After the rebel crew of the Ghost discover Ezra on the planet Lothal, he is taken under the wing of Kanan Jarrus, a former Padawan survivor of Order 66, to be trained in the ways of the Jedi. He faces numerous temptations to join the Dark Side over the course of the series, but manages to resist them all, including the efforts of Emperor Palpatine him.

In the series finale, Ezra uses the power of the Purrgil, creatures with the ability to naturally travel through hyperspace, to transport himself and the evil Admiral Thrawn to the unknown regions of space. In doing so, he allows his fellow rebels the opening they need to free Lothal from Imperial control. However, both Thrawn and Ezra have remained missing ever since. In Rebels epilogue, Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren embark on a quest to find him.

Fans are now speculating that the search for Ezra could form part of the plot of the upcoming series Ahsoka. While Ahsoka claims to be searching for Thrawn in The Mandalorian, some think she is hoping Thrawn will hold the key to Ezra's location.

3. Captain Rex

Clone Commander CT-7567, eventually named Rex, was first introduced in the Clone Wars series as a Commander of the 501st Legion, often working under the command of Anakin Skywalker. While a loyal soldier and competent leader, Rex often showed concern about what role he and his bred-for-war clone brothers would have in the world when the war was over. Anakin eventually sends Rex and half of the 501st to fight in the Siege Of Manalore with Ahsoka Tano. Thanks to the earlier sacrifice of his legion mate Fives, Rex is one of the few clones able to discover the behavioural modification chip in his head, and is able to warn Ahsoka about Order 66 before it happens. Ahsoka is able to subdue Rex and remove the chip.

Rex reappears in Star Wars: Rebels, living on an old AT-TE with fellow clones Gregor and Wolffe. He soon joined the rebellion, playing an important role in many battles. The series epilogue reveals that Rex fought alongside Han Solo in the Battle Of Endor.

Some fans believe that Rex could make an appearance in Ahsoka, although that would mean a higher workload for Temuera Morrison, who played all the clones, and now, Boba Fett.

4. Grand Admiral Thrawn

Grand Admiral Thrawn, a high ranking leader within the Empire, first appeared in a series of popular Star Wars expanded universe novels known as the The Thrawn Trilogy. The novels were among those wiped from continuity and rebranded as 'Legends' when Disney purchased Lucasfilm, so long term fans of the franchise were excited when Thrawn was returned to official canon status, appearing as the main antagonist in seasons 3 and 4 of Rebels.

As mentioned in the entry on Ezra Bridger, Thrawn was transported to the unknown regions by Ezra and the Purrgil during the liberation of Lothal. However, he seems to have resurfaced by the time of The Mandalorian, as Ahsoka is searching for him. It's possible that Thrawn may return as a major Antagonist in Ahsoka.

5. Sabine Wren

Sabine Wren was first introduced in Star Wars: Rebels, as the weapons expert of the Spectre rebel cell. Sabine, a member of the Mandalorian Clan Wren, was once an Imperial Cadet, until she discovered that the Empire planed to use a weapon she had created against the people of Mandalore. Sabine fled the Empire, eventually joining the Rebellion.

In season 3, Sabine obtains a powerful Mandalorian weapon known as the Darksaber. She uses the symbolic power of the saber to convince her family to join the rebellion, and eventually passes it on to Bo-Katan, who takes leadership of the remaining Mandalorian clans.

Fans of Rebels are eager to see Sabine appear in The Mandalorian. Her painted armour is instantly recognisable, and as a weapons expert, she'd slot right in to a potential 'reclaiming Mandalore' plotline. Sabine's presence would also throw a third potential Darksaber wielder into the mix, alongside Bo-Katan and Din Djarin. That could make things very interesting. Alternatively, Sabine could appear in Ahsoka, still on the search for Ezra.

6. Jacen Syndulla

While Kanan Jarrus is killed in a heroic sacrifice during the last season of Rebels, the series epilogue reveals that he had left Hera pregnant with a son, Jacen Syndulla. Sabine briefly describes Jacen in her final voice over:

"Born to fly, just like his Mother. And well.. we all know what his Father was like."

This implies that Jacen is Force sensitive, and ever since his brief introduction, fans have been eager to see what becomes of Jacen. While some hope that Ezra could train Jacen upon his potential return, others have marked him as a possible student in Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy. There may be room for these possibilities to be explored in the upcoming shows. Jacen would still be relatively young at this point in time, so an appearance from him could also open the door for us to see his Mother, Hera, her droid, Chopper, and the rebels' beloved ship, The Ghost.

The current Star Wars era has great potential, and we can't wait to see what it brings us next.