Words: Pete Vilmur
Photos: Jocelyn Knight
Note: Stay tuned to the Official Star Wars Blog today as we update with news straight from Lucasfilm’s Big Rock Ranch where the Clone Wars Season Two press junket is currently underway…
This morning, members of the press were given a sneak peek at a three-episode story arc from season two that returns the Republic heroes to the planet of Geonosis introduced in Attack of the Clones. Without revealing any plot points, we can report what supervising director Dave Filoni said upon introducing the episodes:
Filoni: “Across this series of episodes we’ll see Anakin’s relationship with his Padawan, which is something I’m very keenly interested in developing as the series moves forward. Ahsoka’s one of the big question marks, especially if you’ve been a fan of Star Wars for a long time. Originally people said ‘I didn’t know Anakin had a Padawan’, and so we dealt with that question last year. Now the impression is, ‘Dave, where are you going with this and what’s going to happen to this girl?’ The kids that I run into all the time are very concerned for Ahsoka, because she’s not in the third movie — ‘and why is that Dave?’ We’ll find out. I’m very well aware of what the answer to that is.”
Following the screening, Filoni joined voice actors Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka), Dee Bradley Baker (Rex and clones), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan), and series producer Cary Silver for a press conference to discuss the new episodes and the season as a whole. We’ll update this entry with quotes from the Q&A session as we transcribe the responses from the panel:
Producer Cary Silver: “We’re really excited about season two. The quality is even better. It’s faster, slicker, bigger and better. There’s been a number of production techniques that we’ve incorporated and refined that have allowed us to produce the show with even greater depth and detail than before. Everyone keeps saying how great season one is, and how great it looks, and I keep saying, you aint seen nothing yet.”
Filoni on continuity and Expanded Universe: “When we’re developing story ideas and George comes to me with ideas — he has tons of them — if there’s something I know crosses over with material that’s been explored with the Expanded Universe of Star Wars then I will bring that up and kind of refresh him on what it was. At that point we’ll make a decision on our storytelling on whether that material is going to be included or if it will just be touched upon or if we’ll just kind of go around it or alongside it. So it’s always kind of a balance of needing to tell the best story possible and trying to pay a lot of respect to the creative people that work in the Expanded Universe. Ultimately, though, this is George Lucas’ Star Wars. It’s his films and Star Wars exists best in the medium of visual storytelling, so we try to make that experience the best that we can in everything we do.
Ashley Eckstein on Ahsoka’s fate: “I ask [Dave] this as often as I can [laughs]. But I like not knowing at this point because I get asked that question all the time and I can honestly look the fans in the face and say ‘I don’t know’.”
Dee Bradley Baker on differentiating the voice of clones: “I think about identical twins, really, and a lot of them seem very similar when you look at them, but as they mature in life, live on different planets and work under different Jedi, you end up with a different-sounding person. Plus, as I understand it, they’re all incubated separately and there are also deviations in that that are possible. So the accent may change a bit, or the logic or style in which that clone solves problems can be very different. One thing we really strive for is the differentiation of the clones.”
James Arnold Taylor on recording dialog: “We’re always together, generally speaking. Unless it’s pick-up lines, we are all called into the studio together. Sometimes there can be as many as 12 people in the studio at once. We do get to play off each other and I think it definitely makes a difference.”
Filoni on characters old and new: “I always go back to a quote I heard George say when he was making Revenge of the Sith. He had all these great characters and not enough screen time for all of them. I find that we run into a similar situation on Clone Wars. We’ve created what I think are some great new characters like Cad Bane, and I’d love to do Plo Koon or Kit Fisto stories and the other Jedi Council members. But how do you find the time in all the episodes to get them in there? We’re going to see a lot of characters we saw in season one come back but we’ve also added a whole bunch of new ones. I mean, just when you see the bounty hunters — they’ve added such a color and a flavor to everything. It gets you out of battledroids and clones, and they have been a hugely welcome addition for us creatively.”
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I wonder if Ahsoka will die? My little sis is really concerned. I called her in and told her that she might but I’m not sure.
awesome and i think i know what happens to sdoka she wil either A be killed by Bounty hunters Killed by MAndalorians( the new looking bounty hunters that say were sending your renforcement) or fall to the dark side
I really hope that this season will be as good as lasts. And taking place on Geonosis- Cool
“…trying to pay a lot of respect to the creative people that work in the Expanded Universe.”
This is very true, and it has made for a much better show than I anticipated. One of, if not my top, favorite scenes from the season is Aayla talking about Quinlan Vos. I almost cried out of happiness. Now, about this season’s subtitle, and Durge…
It’s still a shame that the episodes aren’t offered on “Hyperspace” for the members.
It’s still a shame that the episodes aren’t offered on “Hyperspace” for the members.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
I love this show. i think it is amazing. However I would like to see the jedi’s garb start to return to the way we see it in episode 3. I love the armor, but I highly doubt obi-wan likes wearing it all the time. Also I think it would be cool to see some flashback episodes. For example, Anakin can reflect on a battle early in the war to teach Ashoka an important lesson. I just think the series should have started after episode 2, and progress to where we are now. So that would be pretty cool to see.
I love starwars and i hope this will be a great seson
hope this season doesnt have stupid episodes like bombad jedi thousand moons and blue shadow virus………if ahsoka dies that would be very logical because it would makes since why shes not in episode III. i hope she does becuz her character is weird and it hinders that serious feeling in some episodes, shes also weird
hope this season doesnt have stupid episodes like bombad jedi thousand moons and blue shadow virus………if ahsoka dies that would be very logical because it would makes since why shes not in episode III. i hope she does becuz her character is weird and it hinders that serious feeling in some episodes
The wait wears off some of the suspense, but I really want to see the Mandalorians. I hope they’re played correctly
I doubt they would kill her off this season. It seems like it may be a low point for the show. She is a main character in all of this and killing her off might take away interest in the show.
I love what they have done with the Clone Wars and look forward to what is coming. Ahsoka will probably die, because it will be just another nail in the coffin of Anakin turning to the Dark Side, it will be another thing he can’t control.
I have no doubt that Dooku kills Ahsoka.
It would definitely explain why Anakin would be tempted to kill him in Ep 3. Palpatine: “He cut off your arm, and you wanted revenge. It is not the first time, Anakin.” Killing over just a lost limb would be STUPID! There has to be something deeper.
I can imagine Anakin having a chance to kill Dooku, but is beckoned by other Jedi to let him live, only to see him escape and kill Ahsoka in the process. That could leave Anakin to blame himself and somewhat doubt the Jedi way, couldn’t it?
makes sense to me
not really i mean really? i think she just becomes a true jedi and get seperated from aniKan
yeah but it would support Yoda saying it would be a harder challenge to let go of his padawan then to keep her, or something like that
yeah but it would support Yoda saying it would be a harder challenge to let go of his padawan then to keep her, or something like that(he said that in the movie
You guys are awseome. I cant wait for more Cad bane and more Clones.I really hope season 2 comes fast.I was just wondering if their will be more General Greviuos, Count Dooku, Plo Koon, Asohka, Anikan,Obi-Wan Kenobi,Mace Windu, and famous Master YODA. Its going to be a rollercoaster, big time. Dave Filloni your the best and say hi to Geroge Lucas for me, would you,thanks, thank you for this wonderful series, and the best voices for the voices. See ya later.
Whether Ahsoka becomes a Jedi or not, I still think Dooku kills her.
It would be repurcussive if Anakin had never fully let her go by then and it would be the perfect emotional set-up for when Anakin fears for Padme.
Yoda has told Anakin to learn to let go in Ep. 3, so apparently he never did, or had afterwards and we know what happened. What if it was because he tried that (with Ahsoka) but was never pleased with it?
I hope Ahsoka doesn’t die.
I’m sorry, but to have Ahsoka live would be a cop-out.
Having Dooku, Grievous or someone else kill her makes perfect sense and would provide yet another cog in Anakin’s downfall.
i think Ahsoka will die….or maybe later in season 3 if it will exist?
WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT ASHOKA TO DIE?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
(crazy people)
listen… Ashoka is my favorite character on the clone wars and I will sue if she dies.
I really hope season 2 has a lot more Expanded Universe references in it.
I vote on the side of Ahsoka dying in the series at some time. I don’t actually think we’ll see it for a while because Lucas keeps saying that there WILL be at least 5 seasons of this show. If it continues to have the ratings success it has had I wouldn’t bet against more than 5 seasons. I think it’s plain to see that the main reason that Yoda put Ahsoka and Anakin together was to get Anakin to see that his reckless ways were dangerous. He hoped that with a Padawan to worry about it would “tame” Anakin down a little bit. Probably would have worked too except for the fact that Ahsoka shares the same kind of aggressive & reckless attitude. I don’t think anything when according to plan in this respect for Yoda … lol … now he’s got two loose cannons flying around. The reckless style of Anakin & Ahsoka feed off each other when they are together but when they are apart … that is when Ahsoka will fall. Don’t know if it will be with her still as Anakin’s padawan or after she’s been elevated to the level of Jedi Knight. The simple fact is that Anakin can run head long into a fight and pull off some kind of miracle victory because of his absolute brute power in the Force … that is what always saves him and it will be what brings Ahsoka down. She doesn’t have the same kind of vast connection to the Force, she is powerful no doubt but nobody is as powerful as Anakin. She will rush into some battle with that reckless, knock them all down attitude and she will fall because she wasn’t strong enough to prevail the impossible odds she had against her.
This will be another of the “triggers” that send Anakin to the dark side … the death of another person that he cared deeply about and one that he feels he should have been able to stop. It will add to the rage inside him for his preceived failures and it will give one more way for him to go to the dark side to gain more power … the power that Sidious is dangling in front of him … of course he forgets to tell Anakin that he doesn’t know the secret yet. By that time of course Anakin is so blinded by his fear that he only hears what he wants to hear.
MTFBWY
I’m guessing Ahsoka leaves the jedi to return to her family. Anakin has been listed as never training a padawan to full jedi and I don’t think they will retcon that. If Ahsoka leaves the jedi order (to go back to her family, let’s say) that could easily play into the Anakin not being able to let go storyline.
I wonder if Rex will die?He’s my favorite character.
Has anybody watched the deleted scene from episode 3 where Anakin and Obi Wan find Shaak Ti on the Invisible Hand and Grievous kills her? My brother and I think they’ll remake that scene and make it Ahsoka instead of Shaak Ti, since Shaak Ti lived on to be in The Force Unleashed. Well, if not, I still think it gives that scene an awesome twist.
I’m hoping Asohka dies, she is very annoying and seems useless in th3 series. And the dialog is bad in the first series, I’m hoping that gets better. Other than those two complaints I think/hope this season will be good.
Honestly, i really dont care if kids dont wanna see Asohka die because i want to see Star wars be Star wars. WHich i mean, Star wars had a powerful storyline. Having her die lets Anakin fall to the darkside…WHICH IS IN THE STORY LINE. Also, having her “just go home” gives no where near enough reason for him to fall and become Darth.
I hope rex and ashoka doesn’t die their my favourite characters but if ashoka die it will make sense cause that will make anakin become more mad turing him more to the dark side and also ashoka isn’t in the movies other then star wars the clone wars.
I hope Rex dies, I don’t want to see him near order 66, and may he die an honorable death in kote kyrbej!!!
And I am betting that Ashoka will die, which I wouldn’t really mind, since she is annoying and a stumbling block! :p Sorry kiddies, but younglings should not be in a commanding position…
One last hope, I dream of the day to see Jar Jar die or in purgatory at least (since those who have seen Star Wars Robot Chicken remember what happens when you release Jar Jar out the airlock).
I am a big fan of the dark side. Ashoka shows anger and fear which lead to the dark side. I feel that she will soon turn to the dark side. In the new previews her anger seems to grow and anakin and ashoka talk about feeling the dark side of the force near them. I know aurra sing is a dark jedi. In one clip someome who kinda looks like her creeps up behind ashoka. Maybe her new master??? I hope so.