Eman Esfandi Talked to Thrawn Author Timothy Zahn About a Potential Ezra Bridger Novel [Exclusive]

Ezra Bridger has been a favorite among most Star Wars fans since the premiere of Star Wars Rebels. However, the character’s popularity has soared to new heights since Eman Esfandi debuted as Ezra in live-action in Ahsoka. He is perfectly cast in the role, as he continuously embodies Ezra’s excitement and charm on and off the screen.

Esfandi sat down with Carlos Freytes of Agents of Fandom at FAN EXPO Chicago to discuss the gap between the conclusion of Star Wars Rebels and the beginning of Ahsoka, as well as the potential for a novel centered around Ezra Bridger by legendary Star Wars writer Timothy Zahn.

Eman Esfandi Explains Ezra Bridger’s Time on Peridea in His FAN EXPO Chicago Interview

“A lot of that (Ezra’s years spent off-screen) is something that Dave Filoni let us come to on our own. He didn’t want to influence the backstories we’d created too much. All I know is that Ezra spent time with the Noti, but he was also alone. He’s essentially on a planet without any other humanoids that we know of.

My interpretation is that Ezra went full monk mode, full Jedi mode, in the sense of the more traditional Jedi Order: spending time in meditation, connecting to the Force and the world around him through the Force.”

—Eman Esfandi at FAN EXPO Chicago 2024

It’s even more impressive how well Esfandi portrays Bridger, considering Dave Filoni seems to have provided very little input on what he has gone through over the years. Given how well the young Jedi connects with animals, beasts, and other beings through the Force during Star Wars Rebels, Esfandi’s interpretation perfectly matches Ezra Bridger’s character.

However, even though Esfandi may not have a direct timeline of Ezra’s experiences over that time period, he is definitely interested in exploring that story further. He reveals his first choice to tell Ezra’s tale would be the author of the Thrawn trilogy, Timothy Zahn, who he’s already spoken to about the topic.

Eman Esfandi Brought His Ezra Bridger Novel Plea to Timothy Zahn

Whether or not they’re going to explore that, I have no idea. I did meet (Star Wars novelist) Timothy Zahn. I love his books. He really loves that there’s this gap where Ezra and Thrawn are on Peridea at the same time, and he wants to make a novel.

I was like ‘Timothy Zahn, I would be honored if there was a novel about this period of time for a character that I’m playing.’ That would be awesome. But other than that, Dave didn’t want to give too much info that might steer us in one direction or the other.

—Eman Esfandi at FAN EXPO Chicago 2024

Whether or not an Ezra Bridger novel from Timothy Zahn comes to light is still a mystery. However, the fact that both Eman Esfandi and Zahn have significant interest in telling the story of that time period bodes well for fans who want more of the charismatic Jedi in their lives.

Zahn has already created some of the most successful Star Wars literature that exists. If he were to write about Ezra Bridger’s time with Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) on Peridea, it would certainly be an immediate hit.

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