Disney Plus' Star Wars: Ahsoka is the franchise's first live-action series to be drawn entirely from the animated universe helmed by Dave Filoni. After introducing the titular character, Ahsoka, in The Mandalorian, Rosario Dawson returns to play former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano.

In the series. Ahsoka is searching high and low for Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), who she fears has returned to fill a power vacuum in the Empire. Also searching for Thrawn is a former Jedi who has turned to the dark side, Baylan Skoll. Skoll is played by Ray Stevenson, who died in May at age 58.

Besides Dawson, Mikkelsen and Stevenson, the series also stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Mandalorian Sabine Wren; Mary Elizabeth Winstead as rebel pilot Hera Syndulla, Ivanna Sakhno as Skoll's padawan Shin Hati, and David Tennant, who voices droid master Huyang, an ancient builder of lightsabers. Also starring are Diana Lee Inosanto and Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger.

The season's eight episodes are directed by Dave Filoni, Steph Green, Peter Ramsey, Jennifer Getzinger, Geeta Vasant Patel and Rick Famuyiwa. Filoni is the head writer and executive produces along with Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson and Carrie Beck. Karen Gilchrist serves as co-executive producer.

Star Wars: Ahsoka launches August 23 on Disney Plus.

Key art for Disney Plus' ‘Star Wars: Ahsoka,' premiering August 23.