Grand Admiral Thrawn
Grand Admiral Thrawn (full name: Mitth'raw'nuruodo; born: Kivu'raw'nuru[1]) is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He first appeared in what came to be known as the Thrawn trilogy of novels (1991–1993) by Timothy Zahn. An Imperial military leader and a member of the Chiss race, Thrawn leads remnants of the scattered Galactic Empire in the aftermath of its fall.
For book titles related to this character, see Thrawn.
- Mitth'raw'nuruodo
- Grand Admiral Thrawn
- Mitth'raw'nuruodo
- Grand Admiral Thrawn
Heir to the Empire (1991)
- Tris King (TIE Fighter)
- Tim Russell (Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire, audio drama)
- Robin Atkin Downes (Empire at War: Forces of Corruption)
- Lars Mikkelsen (Rebels, Tales of the Empire)
- Mitth'raw'nuruodo
- Kivu'raw'nuru (birth name)[1]
- Thrawn
- Vurawn[1]
Male
- Grand Admiral of the Imperial Navy
- Agent of the Chiss Ascendancy
- Senior Captain[2]
- Grand Admiral
- Admiral
- Commodore
- Commander of the Seventh Fleet
- Chiss Ascendancy
- Galactic Empire
- Shadow Council
- Empire of the Hand (Legends)
Mitth'ras'safis "Thrass" (brother)
Cohbo'rik'ardok (sister)[2]
In the Thrawn trilogy, Thrawn returns from the unknown and leads Imperial remnants in a campaign against the New Republic, facing off against classic Star Wars characters Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian, before seemingly being resurrected in the Hand of Thrawn duology (1997–1998), with his backstory explored in various other novels, short stories, comics, and video games in the Star Wars expanded universe. In 2014, these stories were rebranded as Star Wars Legends by Lucasfilm and rendered non-canon.
Thrawn reentered official canon in the 3D animated TV series Star Wars Rebels from 2016 to 2018, voiced by Lars Mikkelsen. Zahn published a new Thrawn trilogy (2017–2019) and then the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy (2020–2021), reinventing Thrawn as an anti-villain and double agent who infiltrates the Empire's ranks on behalf of his own people and the galactic government of the Unknown Regions, the Chiss Ascendancy. He intends to use Imperial resources to engage in open warfare with the extragalactic fanatics, the Grysk, before they can invade the galaxy, in the meantime opposing the Rebel Alliance on Palpatine's behalf before being forcibly sent to another galaxy by and alongside Ezra Bridger. Thrawn made his live-action debut in the Disney+ series Ahsoka (2023), with Mikkelsen reprising his role. Mikkelsen later reprised the voice role in the animated anthology series Tales of the Empire (2024).
Thrawn has been called one of the most significant and popular characters in the Legends continuity. Several Star Wars action figures and other merchandise have been produced of the character.
Reception[edit]
In 2016, Anthony Breznican of Entertainment Weekly called Thrawn a "fan favorite" and "one of the most significant characters to ever emerge from the Expanded Universe",[5] and Brian Truitt of USA Today named the character "one of Star Wars fandom's favorite villains".[6] Comicbook.com called Thrawn "arguably the most popular character in the Star Wars Legends universe" in 2017,[66] and Linda Hansen-Raj wrote that the character "carries a lasting legacy as one of Star Wars' greatest and most complex antagonists."[10] In 2014, GamesRadar's Sam Ashurst called Thrawn "hugely popular amongst fans, partly because of his tactical genius, partly because of his progressive attitude to his employees but mainly due to the fact he's got a blue face" and "easily the coolest villain in the Expanded Universe", noting Thrawn's loss as one of the major consequences of Lucasfilm's abandonment of the old expanded universe for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.[86] Emmet Asher-Perrin of Tor.com noted in 2016 that as "one of the most popular Expanded Universe villains" and "one of the most threatening antagonists that the Star Wars universe had on hand", the character's removal from canon continuity "had many fans crying foul".[9]
In 2008, Jesse Schedeen of IGN credited Thrawn and the Thrawn trilogy with "kickstarting" the Star Wars expanded universe",[87][88] and in 2015 Empire suggested that Thrawn's character helped "revitalize and legitimise" the expanded universe when it was failing.[89] Eric Goldman wrote for IGN in 2008, "Diabolical, brilliant and ruthless, Thrawn was an excellent Star Wars villain, following in the footsteps of the likes of Grand Moff Tarkin," adding that "his status as the highest ranking non-human in the Empire was a very interesting aspect".[12] In 2006, Zahn called Thrawn and Mara Jade his favorite of the characters he created.[16] Zahn said in July 2016, "A writer never knows which characters are going to click with the readers, and it was highly gratifying to me that Thrawn captured the imaginations of so many people over the past quarter century."[58]
The character has been on many "top" lists of Star Wars characters, praising his villainy and character. In a list of fifteen Star Wars villains, Schedeen placed Thrawn as second best, beaten by Darth Vader, focusing on his greatness as a commander and tactician.[87] In 2008, IGN ranked him as the tenth best overall Star Wars character, noting his influence in the expanded universe,[90] and UGO listed him as the third greatest expanded universe character the same year.[91] Empire listed Thrawn fifth in their list of the 25 best of the more obscure Star Wars characters in 2015.[89]
In November 2016, Lars Mikkelsen was nominated for a 2017 Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production for his portrayal of Thrawn on Star Wars Rebels.[92] For his live-action debut in Ahsoka, Mikkelsen was nominated for a Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Villain in a Series in 2024.[93]
Merchandising[edit]
An Admiral Thrawn 3 3⁄4 inch action figure was produced by Kenner/Hasbro as part of their 1998 Power of the Force 2 Expanded Universe line.[11][94] Another figure was released for the 2008 Legacy Collection, bundled in a "Comic 2-Pack" with a Talon Karrde figure and a Dark Horse Heir of the Empire issue #1 comic.[95] Two versions of Thrawn were produced for the Star Wars Miniatures collectible miniatures game: one for the 2005 Universe expansion,[96] and a second for the 2009 Imperial Entanglements expansion.[97] In 2010, Sideshow Collectibles released a sixth scale Thrawn figure, with a command chair as part of the deluxe version.[98][99] A 6.75" Thrawn mini bust was produced by Gentle Giant in 2014.[100] All representations of the character have included a pet ysalamir, except the 2009 miniature.[94][95][96][97][98][99][100] Hasbro released a Thrawn action figure as part of its Rebels series of figures in 2016.[101] In 2017, Hasbro released a 6" Thrawn figure as a part of its Black Series line, as well as a San Diego Comic Con version featuring enhanced packaging and accessories.[102] In the same year, Funko released the Star Wars Rebels Grand Admiral Thrawn #170 POP! figurine as a "2017 Galactic Convention Exclusive" related to the 2017 Star Wars Celebration.[103] Additionally, Lego released a Grand Admiral Thrawn minifigure, included in the 2017 set The Phantom.[104]