OK here's my Thrawn review: it's awesome. Zahn once again nails the Chiss admiral, and introduces another really interesting human character in Eli Vanto
Now that's out of the way, here's my Thrawn theory/wishlist. I'm going to go ahead and black out a couple key plot points from the book just in case nobody wants it spoiled. But the book takes place before Rebels, so of course Thrawn survives.
The book starts with a slight reimagination of Zahn's old short story Mist Encounter, in which Thrawn is discovered by Imperials after being exiled by the Chiss Ascendancy due to the events of the book Outbound Flight (an excellent book in and of itself). Things are slightly different in the new canon (most notably the introduction of Vanto), but Thrawn is taken by the Imperials back to Coruscant where his rise through the Navy begins, although he hopes to one day return from exile.
Now, later in the book, it is revealed
Thrawn's exile was faked and he was sent by the Chiss to contact and observe the Empire. And at the end of the book, he sends Eli to go work with the Ascendancy in the Unknown Regions fighting whatever the threats are out there. So there's always the possibility Thrawn could return to the Ascendancy.Which brings us to Rebels/Rogue One/A New Hope. Thrawn is a pretty big threat to the fledgling Rebel Alliance in Rebels, and A New Hope's opening crawl makes it clear that Scarif is the first major victory for the Alliance. Now, if the Rebels defeat Thrawn before Scarif that's a bit of a contradiction. So, I think we have the following options.
- They defeat Thrawn pre-Scarif and pretend like it doesn't contradict the "first major victory" thing
- Thrawn is killed but not by the Rebels (hey, they are introducing Rukh)
- Rebels ends at Scarif and the Chimaera is one of the Star Destroyers destroyed at the battle (plausible, and I think it's likely Scarif is in the final season of Rebels)
- Scarif happens before the end of the season and then Thrawn is defeated after Scarif (unlikely given the Kanan/Ezra last Jedi bit....although would we actually contradict anything as long as they are out of the picture before the events of ROTJ?)
- Thrawn survives the series, in which case we are left with a "well where was he during the original trilogy?" question. You either retcon something like the Chimaera being destroyed at Endor, or you are left with the possibility of more Thrawn story to tell
So my sure-to-be-wrong-wishlist: Thrawn survives, and maybe he is able to return to the Chiss Ascendancy, where he stays out there for maybe 30 years? Del Toro could still be Thrawn, but I doubt they go that route. What it would do, however, is allow more time for Thrawn stories via either book or TV show. I'd go for the next animated show being called Star Wars: The Unknown Regions