Star Wars Rebels season 3 is going to feature the appearance of Grand Admiral Thrawn, a major villain in the Star Wars expanded universe.
Thrawn appeared during a trailer shown at Star Wars Celebration 2016, prompting a massive cheer from attendees. The character was beloved among fans of the Star Wars expanded universe, which became non-canonical prior to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. His inclusion in Star Wars Rebels season 3 therefore means that Disney is willing to allow creators to dip into the expanded universe, opening the doors for other hugely popular characters to make their way back into the sci-fi saga’s canon.
It was also revealed that Timothy Zahn, the author best known for creating the Thrawn trilogy, will be developing a brand new novel based upon the character, due out in 2016.
Very little has been revealed regarding the villain, though it was announced that Lars Mikkelsen will be providing the voiceover work for the character.
Watch the trailer below:
