Nothing lasts forever, and you can rest assured that this is extra imperative in a world as high stakes as the one that Star Wars exists in. Heck, look no further than all of the eras that the franchise has taken us through - from the Republic Era to the Imperial Era, that galaxy so far, far away has seen a lot over the years.
Death is one of those inevitable things that the Star Wars universe is full of. We've witnessed plenty of untimely demises throughout the classic franchise, particularly in the original Skywalker Saga that took us through many eras and times - all of which featured epic battles that often ended in the death of at least one character. That trend has continued on into the Disney Plus shows too, which again isn't unexpected considering the life-and-death stakes that the Jedis and Mandalorians of this world face on a daily basis.
However, Star Wars itself has seemingly confirmed the death of a beloved character, also confirming one of fans' longest-standing fears about that character.
Star Wars comic unveils Ahsoka's Force Ghost
Ahsoka's Force Ghost has been revealed, and it could have confirmed her fate somewhat prematurely. As reported by The Direct, the comic book adaptation of The Rise of Skywalker (which is published by Marvel Comics) has approached the story of the iconic 2019 movie with its own unique perspective in places and one of the more original takes on the events involves the moment in which Rey (portrayed by Daisy Ridley) is surrounded by the voices of all the Jedi during her showdown with Emperor Palpatine. In the comic, you actually get to see the Force ghosts of all these characters, including that of Ahsoka Tano.
Now, fans had speculated that hearing Ahsoka's voice in the film (in which she was voiced by original Ahsoka actress Ashley Eckstein, who originated the role in The Clone Wars animated series) meant that the beloved Jedi would be dead at this point in time, and the use of her Force ghost to bring that moment to life in the comic book panel suggests that this might indeed be the case.
The comic doesn't specify as to whether the Force Ghost is definitely Ahsoka, you can clearly see her among her fellow Jedis' Force Ghosts, sporting her signature white and blue lekku (She is in the back left of the image, but you can see that it's her). And this apparent confirmation of her apparent death has left fans uncertain of how to feel. Does that mean the character's death is imminent on screen.
The live-action version of the character is set to return to screens next year for Ahsoka season 2 when Rosario Dawson reprises the role. But with the future of the Star Wars Disney Plus shows in jeopardy (as the franchise looks to pivot back to the big screen, where Lucasfilm has seen most success over the years), could the end be nigh for Ahsoka. As the show is set 25 years before the events of the Skywalker Saga's sequel trilogy, there was still a chance that the character would have been alive at that point. But the use of the Force Ghost in the Rise of Skywalker comic adaptation suggests otherwise.
Dave Filoni has spoken about Ahsoka's mysterious fate before and even suggested that nothing is inevitable in the Star Wars universe, telling Gizmodo that "there' no absoluteness that these people are dead". Maybe Force Ghosts aren't the end.
Ahsoka Tano has become one of the Star Wars franchise's most popular characters. Originally debuting in animated series The Clone Wars and its sequels / spinoffs, she made her live-action debut in The Mandalorian. She would go on to appear in an episode of The Book of Boba Fett before headlining her own Disney Plus show too. Ahsoka season 2 is set for release in 2026.
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