Timothy Zahn, the author behind Star Wars and the creator of Thrawn - Exclusive Interview

      As Fan Expo Canada carries on through the weekend, we had the opportunity to speak with guest Timothy Zahn, renowned in the Star Wars community as the creator of the infamous Grand Admiral Thrawn.

      Zahn began his journey with Star Wars novels in 1991 with the release of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire, which continues the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo a few years after their triumph over the Empire in Return of the Jedi. In this book, they confront a revitalized Empire under the command of Grand Admiral Thrawn, a remarkably intelligent and formidable foe recognized as one of the galaxy's finest military strategists.

      Heir to the Empire became a bestseller, reinvigorating Star Wars' popularity in the early 1990s, followed by sequels Dark Force Rising and The Last Command. It also contributed to the success of the Expanded Universe, featuring stories set years after the Original Trilogy, with Thrawn emerging as its standout character and a fan favorite for over three decades.

      When Disney acquired Lucasfilm and reclassified the Expanded Universe as Legends, Thrawn entered the official canon starting with the third season of Star Wars Rebels, where he was voiced by Lars Mikkelsen. Subsequently, Zahn began crafting a new series of Thrawn novels that delve into his origins within the Empire and his rise through its ranks in Thrawn, Thrawn: Alliances, and Thrawn: Treason. He later explored Thrawn's early story in the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, which focuses on his military training on his home planet Csilla. During this period, Thrawn transitioned from animation to live-action, with Mikkelsen reprising his role in the first season of Ahsoka and set to return for its second season.

      In our discussion, Zahn shared insights on Thrawn's widespread appeal, his approach to developing the character's backstory without conflicting with the original Thrawn Trilogy, the introduction of new characters like Eli Vanto, and his trust in Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni's vision for bringing Thrawn to life. You can watch our interview below.

      Ricky Church – Follow me on Bluesky for additional movie news and nerd discussions.