I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical when I first saw this news, because I thought it was too good to be true. After waiting all weekend, it looks like Ahsoka Tano is indeed making a live action debut in The Mandalorian. /Film was the first to report the news, and the casting of Rosario Dawson.
The original story was also quick to remind us all that fans have been campaigning for Dawson to play this role since 2017. That was long before we ever know that Star Wars: The Clone Wars would be returning for one final season, and Ahsoka with it. Some fans are also understandably attached to Ashley Eckstein, who provides the voice for the character in animation. I hate to break it to you, but it's highly unlikely that Eckstein will provide the voice for this live action iteration. Not only that, it would be weird and a bit unnecessary. That's no knock on Eckstein by any means, it's just that Rosario Dawson can handle this on her own.
I also want to address anyone saying that they were under the impression that filming had already concluded on Season 2 of The Mandalorian. I'm pretty sure that it is, but that doesn't mean that this casting is coming after the fact. Being that the series is filmed almost entirely indoors on a sound stage, it's entirely possible that Dawson filmed her scenes without being seen. That's right, no blurry set photos from some far away rooftop to provide spoilers. Plus, it's Disney, you know that they keep their Star Wars spoilers close to them. They were able to keep pretty much ever secret in their recent film trilogy, why is it so hard to believe that they could keep this one too?
It's too soon to speculate on what Ahsoka's role will be in this upcoming season. It's also worth noting that, as of me writing this, no one has actually come out to confirm this (or deny it for that matter.) Now what we have wait for is that initial "first look" photo to break the internet. More on this as it develops.
Photo Credit: Disney+