Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey Skywalker in theStar Warssequel trilogy, and Ashley Eckstein, who voices Ahsoka Tano in animation, once worked together in an unexpected place: a Studio Ghibli movie. Both Ashley Eckstein and Daisy Ridley have had massive impacts onStar Warsas a whole. Eckstein was the first person to voice Ahsoka Tano inStar Wars: The Clone Wars, and Ridley portrayed Rey Skywalker throughout the sequel trilogy ofStar Warsmovies. As important as they were, however, their paths only crossed once.
Interestingly, Ridley and Eckstein have actually appeared in the sameStar Warsmovie together. InStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rey heard the voices of several past Jedi speak to her as she had her final confrontation with Emperor Palpatine. One ofThe Rise of Skywalker’s voice cameoswas Ahsoka Tano, voiced by Ashley Eckstein. While it was the first time Rey Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano had ever interacted on-screen, it wasn’t the first time Ridley and Eckstein had. Their first collaboration came in 2016, and it wasn’t even inStar Wars.
Ridley & Eckstein Teamed Up All The Way Back In 2016
Years beforeThe Rise of Skywalker, one movie had both Daisy Ridley and Ashley Eckstein’s voices in it: Studio Ghibli’sOnly Yesterday.Only Yesterdayfollows Saeko, a young woman who works too much, as she takes a vacation and revisits places and people from her childhood.Only Yesterdayis a bit odd among Studio Ghibli’s more well-known films likeHowl’s Moving CastleandSpirited Away, as it doesn’t have any supernatural elements. There’s also another reasonOnly Yesterdayis odd: it didn’t originally have an English dub.
Only Yesterdayis available to stream on Max.
Only Yesterdaywas originally released in 1991, when Ridley was just one year old and Eckstein was only 10, but it was one of the few Studio Ghibli productions that didn’t immediately have a dub in English.That wouldn’t come until 2016, which meant that Ridley was old enough to play Taeko, the main character ofOnly Yesterday, and Eckstein was old enough to play Yaeko, Taeko’s older sister. It also means that Studio Ghibli brought Ridley and Eckstein together for the first time, beatingStar Warsby three full years.
Will Ridley & Eckstein Ever Work Together In Star Wars?
There’s A Chance Rey & Ahsoka’s Paths Could Cross In The Future Of Star Wars
ThoughStar Warshasn’t taken the chance to put Ridley and Eckstein in the same scene together sinceThe Rise of Skywalker, that doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t.There are some gaps intheStar Warstimelinethat would allow Rey and Ahsoka to meet, particularly in the year Rey spent training betweenStar Wars: The Last JediandThe Rise of Skywalker. Ahsoka also doesn’t have a confirmed death date yet, so it’s entirely possible that she survived until 34 ABY.
Ahsoka Tano’s Viewing Order: Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, & Live-Action Debut Explained
Since her debut in The Clone Wars movie, Ahsoka Tano has become one of the franchise’s most important characters. Here’s her journey (so far).
There are, however, a few reasons Ridley and Eckstein collaborating inStar Warsdoesn’t seem likely. Ahsoka’s voice being heard inThe Rise of Skywalkerdoesn’t outright confirm she’s dead in the sequel trilogy, but it seems like a major hint.Additionally, even if Rey and Ahsoka met at some point, Ridley would only be able to work with Eckstein in animation, as the character is portrayed by Rosario Dawson in live-action.Only Yesterdaymay have to sate fans who want Daisy Ridley and Ashley Eckstein to collaborate, asStar Warsdoesn’t seem keen on the idea.
Rey Skywalker
Daughter of a “failed” Palpatine clone, Rey became part of a mysterious phenomenon known as the Force Dyad - a vergence in the Force that bound her to Kylo Ren. Trained by both Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, Rey fought against the First Order as an ally of the Resistance. She ultimately triumphed against Palpatine himself, channelling the full power of all Jedi.
Ahsoka Tano
The apprentice of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano was an accomplished Padawan who served during the Clone Wars. Ahsoka left the Jedi after she became disillusioned with the Jedi Council, but returned to serve in the Siege of Mandalore at the end of the Clone Wars. She survived Order 66, becoming a Rebel agent during the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign, and her adventures continue in the New Republic era. Ahsoka was last seen stranded in a distant galaxy, having failed to prevent Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return.
