He has risen in power thanks to his 'tactical brilliance and cunning', and has been described as 'one of the most threatening antagonists' in the Star Wars universe. A member of the alien Chiss species, native language Cheunh, Thrawn is described as a tall, solidly built humanoid with blue skin and glowing red eyes who wears the white uniform befitting his rank. He is a Grand Admiral in the Imperial Navy, and categorically 'the most brilliant of the Emperor's minions'. Thrawn first appeared in the 1991 Timothy Zahn novel Heir to the Empire, the first installment of what became known as the first Thrawn trilogy. Several Star Wars action figures and other merchandise have been produced of the character. Thrawn has been called one of the most significant and popular characters in the Legends continuity. He is set to make his live-action debut in the upcoming Disney+ series Ahsoka (2023), with Mikkelsen reprising his role.

Thrawn reentered official canon in the 3D animated TV series Star Wars Rebels from 2016 to 2018, voiced by Lars Mikkelsen, and Zahn published a new Thrawn trilogy (2017–2019) and then the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy (2020–2021), reinventing Thrawn as an anti-villain and double agent who infiltrated the Empire's ranks on behalf of his own people and the galactic government of the Unknown Regions, the Chiss Ascendancy, intending to use Imperial resources to engage in open warfare with the extragalactic fanatics, the Grysk, before they can invade the galaxy, in the meantime opposing the Rebel Alliance on Palpatine's behalf before being forcibly sent to the Unknown Regions by and alongside Ezra Bridger. In the 1991–1993 Thrawn trilogy, Thrawn returns from the unknown and leads Imperial remnants in a campaign against the New Republic, facing off against classic Star Wars characters Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian, before seemingly being resurrected in the Hand of Thrawn duology (1997–1998), with his backstory explored in various other novels, short stories, comics, and video games in the Star Wars expanded universe in 2014, these stories were rebranded as Star Wars Legends by Lucasfilm and rendered non- canon. An Imperial military leader and a member of the Chiss race, Thrawn leads remnants of the scattered Galactic Empire in the aftermath of its fall. He is notable for appearing as the eponymous character in the Thrawn trilogies of novels (1991–1993 2017–2019 2020–2021) by Timothy Zahn. Grand Admiral Thrawn (full name: Mitth'raw'nuruodo born: Kivu'raw'nuru ) is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise.

Thrawn trilogy the last command