Beloved Novel That Can Boost Disney+

Back in the early ‘90s, Timothy Zahn’s Star Wars novel Heir to the Empire set off a whole new chapter in the Star Wars universe. It marked the beginning of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, a collection of books, comics, and games that added to the official storyline before Disney decided to start fresh. Now, there’s a buzz going around that Heir to the Empire might be making its way to Disney+, and this could be the key to giving the streaming platform a boost.

So, what’s the deal with the Heir to the Empire novel? In a nutshell, while Luke Skywalker and his crew are rebuilding the Rebellion into the New Republic, Grand Admiral Thrawn seizes control of the Empire and enlists the help of a Dark Jedi to bring back Imperial power. To prevent everything they’ve worked for from falling apart, Luke must form an alliance with a mysterious woman who has plans to take him out.

Although the Heir to the Empire novel is no longer considered part of the official Star Wars canon, Grand Admiral Thrawn has already made a comeback in Rebels and now in Ahsoka. By getting a little creative, Ahsoka’s upcoming season could easily incorporate this well-received novel. It would just mean swapping out some characters and tweaking the storyline a bit.

For instance, while Luke Skywalker played a significant role in Heir to the Empire, it’s unlikely that a Disney+ adaptation would focus on him, especially with the cost of de-aging Mark Hamill. Instead, the main Jedi character could be portrayed by Ezra Bridger, especially if the adaptation is integrated into Ahsoka’s storyline.

Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return in Ahsoka has set the stage for him to pursue his goal of rallying the Empire against the New Republic, similar to his actions in the book. And while fan-favorite character Mara Jade might not make an appearance, Sabine could take her place, with Ezra taking on the role of her mentor.

One character that may be challenging to adapt is Talon Karrde, a suave smuggler boss reminiscent of Jabba the Hutt. His role could be altered or expanded upon in the Disney+ adaptation to fill the gap left by the absence of Han Solo. Ahsoka, with her abilities and connections, could step in to lead the smugglers against Thrawn.

The speculation surrounding a Disney+ adaptation of Heir to the Empire has evolved over time, from talk of a standalone movie to the possibility of a show, possibly a continuation of Ahsoka’s journey. Regardless of how it’s done, bringing this beloved novel to life could be a game-changer for Disney, attracting back long-time fans and giving subscribers something to get excited about.