Star Wars is no stranger to adapting animated characters into live-action — the titular character in Ahsoka is proof of that. But Rosario Dawson’s character isn’t the only pre-established character that will get a new portrayal: there’s also Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Hera Syndulla, who originated in Star Wars Rebels.
In an interview with EW‘s Dagobah Dispatch podcast, Winstead expressed gratitude for the existence of a rich backstory to draw on for her portrayal. “Having a character who’s already existed and has such a rich history on something like Rebels, as an actor, it’s incredible,” Winstead said. “Because sometimes we’re tasked with creating our own backstories or trying to flesh out a character that doesn’t really have that much on the page. And so to play a character that has season after season of storylines and complex histories with everyone in their life and relationships and experiences was really something I’ve never experienced quite like that.”
“To have Rebels to refer to, and to have [Rebels and Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni] to speak to about it every day on set, was a real luxury for sure,” she concluded.
The character of Hera Syndulla was previously portrayed by Vanessa Marshall on Star Wars Rebels. In the animated series, Syndulla is the captain of the Ghost crew, one of the many rebel groups that would coalesce into the Rebellion. She engages in a will-they-won’t-they romantic relationship with Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.), which ultimately ends with Kanan’s death. Before he passes away, however, the two conceive a child together. It seems that Winstead is entirely aware of this extensive history the character has — and that it will inform her performance.