Summary
- Ariana Greenblatt's performance as the young Ahsoka Tano in Ahsoka: Part Five was praised by fans and brought a nostalgic moment to life.
- Greenblatt's portrayal of the Clone Wars-era, live-action version of the character was well-received, and she was commended for her acting skills.
- Fans expressed their desire for a movie or mini-series with Greenblatt starring as young Ahsoka, showcasing the demand for more of her portrayal of the character.
Warning! Contains SPOILERS for Ahsoka: Part Five — Shadow Warrior.
There’s a great - emphasis on the word “great” - disturbance in the Force. 16-year-old Ariana Greenblatt is already an up-and-coming acting phenom in Hollywood having made memorable contributions in several high-profile projects. But when Greenblatt showed up as the younger, Clone Wars’ version of Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) apprentice on Disney+’s Ahsoka, the Star Wars fan base lost their minds. Greenblatt got the conversation started online with a very casual post the day after she made her first appearance on the streaming series. Greenblatt wrote on X, formerly Twitter:
How's everyone feeling, what'd I miss?
During the fifth episode, titled "Shadow Warrior", Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson) is reunited with her old Jedi master, Anakin, in the World Between Worlds. It’s there that he teaches his one-time pupil a final lesson: “live or die.” Ahsoka eventually finds herself reliving the past in one of her very first missions as a young apprentice (Greenblatt), as she wields a green lightsaber alongside Anakin in his classic Clone Wars’ armor. It was a powerfully nostalgic sequence for Star Wars fans, and Greenblatt’s performance helped bring the magical moment to life. Fans on X, formerly Twitter sounded off with their approval in the aforementioned post:
@Memes4Meatballs wrote:
Great job, Snips!
Snips is, of course, the nickname Anakin gave his young apprentice. The character of Ahsoka first appeared 15 years ago in the animated feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008), and she was voiced by actress Ashley Eckstein. But Greenblatt has the honor of being the very first actress to portray the Clone Wars-era, live-action version of the character.
Ariana Greenblatt is Young Ahsoka Tano
The revelation of young Ahsoka Tano (Ariana Greenblatt) came at a very emotional moment in the Disney+ series, as Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) emerges from a hazy fog. He is clad in his classic Clone Wars’ attire, and fans get their first glimpse of a live-action scene right out of Star Wars: The Clone Wars' animated world. And Greenblatt absolutely nails the role. @TheDenofNerds congratulated the actress in the same X, formerly Twitter post:
You crushed it!
Greenblatt also had the opportunity to share the screen with another fan-favorite Star Wars’ character right out of the Clone Wars' era, Captain Rex (Temuera Morrison). Young Ahsoka wields a pair of blue lightsabers during the Siege of Mandalore sequence, which eventually leads the Jedi into a heartbreaking, face-to-face confrontation with Anakin — who has suddenly transformed into pre-Mustafar Darth Vader!
It’s an exciting duel that ends with Ahsoka being literally kicked back into the World Between Worlds’ reality of her older body. Once there, Dawson’s version of Ahsoka must try and best Lord Vader to learn Anakin’s final lesson. @LacyWhite4Ever wrote about Greenblatt’s performance:
I was crying. You were unbelievable! Please I hope Disney gives us a movie or mini-series with you starring as young Ahsoka.
Back in 2017 — way before Greenblatt transformed into Ahsoka Tano — the actress appeared in A Bad Moms Christmas the year before she played the small but pivotal role of young Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War. Greenblatt starred alongside another Star Wars alum, Adam Driver, in the sci-fi flick 65. And most recently the actress appeared in Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar blockbuster Barbie. The sky’s the limit for Greenblatt, but it’s clear the fans want to see her portray young Tano again. Stream new episodes of Ahsoka every Tuesday at 9 p.m. EDT.