Suvudu Universe

In today’s Star Wars Books chat with Ashley Eckstein, Ashley answered fan questions about Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Her Universe clothing line, her involvement with Course of the Force, and much more.

Did you miss the chat with Ashley? Not to worry, here is transcript of fan questions and Ashley’s responses. Names have been left out.

Q: Hey, Ashley. My question is a two-parter, but, it’s important that you answer it. Firstly, since you stated in April that you got to see clips from the upcoming “Clone Wars” episodes, that are being referred to as “bonus content”, at Big Rock Ranch, can you give us any more info on the upcoming episodes besides the fact that they’re great like does Yoda get a big story arc of his own, does Order 66 get explained, and do the bounty hunters get any screentime? And, lastly, with “Star Wars Rebels” set to premiere in 2014 on Disney XD, can we expect an appearance by Ahsoka if Dave Filoni has contacted you about playing Ahsoka again in “Rebels”, or is that something we’ll have to wait for you to answer at Celebration Europe 2 when Filoni reveals details for “Rebels” at the show’s panel at Celebration Europe 2?

A: Sigh….I wish I could tell you more about the Clone Wars episodes but unfortunately I don’t have any more info than you do. I’ve seen bits and pieces of the remaining episodes and they are AMAZING and they will be more Yoda…but I don’t know when they will be released. As for Rebels…I’m so happy for Dave Filoni and his team that he’s assembled for this new show. I have no idea if Ahsoka will be involved, but I do know that Ahsoka Lives! So hopefully we’ll get more of her story in the future!

Q: Hey Ashley first off I just want to say thank you for getting me back to Star Wars again as I haven’t watched it in a long time and I love your voice and your character for Ahsoka in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and I hope you will continue to voicing her in future Star Sars projects and thanks for the memories in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and hopefully I will actually get to meet you at a convention in the future. My question is if you were asked to voice Ahsoka in the new Star Wars Battlefront game would you do it and do you think it would be good to have her as a playable leader seeing she was known as Commander Tano to the clones in Star Wars: The Clone Wars?

A: Thank you so much for your kind words. Of course I would love the opportunity to voice Ahsoka if she were in the new Battlefront Game. That being said, I have no idea if she is in the new game but I think your hypothesis is very cool!

Q: Ashley, the shirts look awesome. What inspired you about this artwork in particular for Mara and Jaina?

A: Great question! First off A big thanks to Joe Scalora, Greg Kubie, Scott Biel and Erich Schoeneweiss. These designs wouldn’t be possible without them! Also a big thanks to John Van Fleet for his amazing Jaina Solo art and Daryl Mandryk for the beautiful Mara Jade design. I picked the Mara Jade design because of Dunc from Club Jade. She used this art as her profile pic for so long and I really respect and value her opinions and I know she is a big fan. I figured if she liked this piece of art, others would too ) As for the Jaina Solo art, I thought it was beautiful and it would really translate well to a t-shirt design. Some pieces of art are great as prints but don’t translate well to a shirt design.

Q: So excited about the Jaina shirt. Are there any plans for a shirt with Padme, Leia, and Jaina together? That would be awesome!! A Luke and Mara shirt would be cool as well.

A: That’s a great idea and I will keep it in mind!

Q: Hi Ashley, your performance has been great, especially in Season 5 where we saw that TCW is really Ahsoka’s series. The final scene of 5.20 was the best moment in the series by far. So, do you believe that there’s a future for Ahsoka through books, movies, and the like? Do you think she’ll be very important in major galactic events or rather slip into the shadows, Ventress-style?

A: Thank you so much! I really appreciate the sweet words. I sincerely hope that we will get more of Ahsoka’s story. The Season 5 finale was never meant to be the end all be all for her. There is so much new content coming out over the next several years and I hope that we’ll see her again! Thru what medium her story is told, I have no idea.

Q: Hey Ashley, do you have any other franchises you’re looking to get licenses for in the future, since you recently got AMC’s The Walking Dead?

A: We definitely have our eye on a few other licenses but what would you like to see us do?

Q: Ashley besides Star Wars, what is your favorite Star Trek series and Star Trek film and do you like the J.J. Abrams Star Trek movies?

A: I have not seen every Star Trek episode and movie ever made so I am enjoying watching everything right now. I recently saw Into Darkness and I really enjoyed it! I may have been given a spoiler about the movie and that’s why we designed the Khan shirt…

Q: Hello do you have a favorite episode? You were great in the finale by the way!

A: My favorite episodes are probably the Mortis Trilogy and the Season 5 Finale Arc. Thank you for the kind words. I really enjoyed the stories told in those episodes. As far as the movies go, I really like Episode 5 ESB!

Q: Can you confirm that Ahsoka is actually the chosen one?

A: LOL, I don’t believe Ahsoka is the Chosen one, but she’s pretty kick butt if you ask me…

Q: Hey Ashley. Congrats on 5 fantastic seasons of The Clone Wars! And thanks for taking the time to do this chat. My only question is who is your all-time favorite Star Wars character? Thanks again.

A: Thank you for coming to the chat! My all-time favorite Star Wars character is R2-D2. I’ve like him ever since I saw SW for the first time. He’s my hero from the Saga. Think of how many times he’s actually save everyone!

Q: How’s everything going with the Course of the Force?

A: Course of the Force is going great! We are on our way to Malibu and Santa Monica for tomorrow’s run! All of the money raised for each leg of the race goes to the Make A Wish Foundation. Thank you to everyone who came out in SF!

Q: First of all I like what you do for the female geeks/fans of shows, by providing them clothes, etc. Can you please offer us guys some things, also? Second I Really enjoyed meeting and talking to you at CVI. I have that moment as my profile pic. How’d you like the Smugglers Gambit? Think you’ll do any voice work in Rebels? Wish I could.

A: Thanks for coming to the chat! It was so nice to meet you at Celebration. Unfortunately, I don’t have the license to make merchandise for guys, only women. We make a really cool Course of the Force t-shirt for guys though and $5.00 from every t-shirt sale goes to Make A Wish Foundation….Smugglers Gambit was so much fun! I would love to do another Radio Drama with Kyle Newman!

Q: Will the Course of the Force shirts be available online?

A: Yes! The Course of the Force shirts and hoodies will be up on our site any day now! I’ll make an announcement on Facebook and Twitter. We hope to raise a lot of money for Make A Wish! $5.00 from every tee sale and $10.00 from every hoodie sale goes to Make A Wish!

Q: I love that Mara Jade shirt so much, I’m tempted to buy one for me, and I’m a dude. Great choice of image there.

A: Lol! I think that’s the ultimate compliment when guys like our designs so much that they want to buy it OR do buy it for themselves! Thank you so much! It really is a beautiful shirt!

Q: My other question is unrelated to star wars but I don’t know if you have seen or heard or read about Assassins Creed which has a story kind of like star wars with the Jedi and Sith but the series takes place throughout human history, if so what’s your opinion on that series?

A: I’m so sorry but I have not seen or read Assassins Creed. I’ve heard about it though! However, I don’t know enough to have an opinion.

Q: Think you’ll do any more Smuggler’s Gambit or anything like that again? I’ve saw mock up figure(s) designs for the characters in SG. Maybe you can help persuade Hasbro to make them. Ever think about co-authoring a book mainly for females? Maybe a Star Wars novel, one about Ahsoka that guys can read, but it is mainly to help, direct and inspire females. That would be something good and cool to consider.

A: I would love to do another version of Smuggler’s Gambit! I also hope to write my own story one day! I am inspired by all of the strong characters in this genre and I hope to publish a book one day! I have all sorts of stories in my head. As for an Ahsoka story, I’ll leave that up to Dave Filoni, he’s the better story teller for her. I just hope to have the opportunity to continue to play her one day.

Q: Hello again, Ashley! Those are some spectacular new SWEU shirts. Any chance we might see a “females of EU all-stars” kinda shirt, featuring several characters, some day?

A: That’s a great idea! I would love to design a great piece of art with all of the female characters in the EU on it! I’ll consider that design! It would be really cool.

Q: Hello Ashley! I was wondering, did you ever read the Star wars EU?

A: I humbly chat on this page openly admitting that I am not very well versed in the Star Wars EU. I have so many amazing friends that have been teaching me though and I have my reading list! I am just thrilled to do these designs because girls have been begging me for more EU apparel and so I let the fans guide me. Her Universe is definitely a collaborative effort between me and the fans! We would not be around today if it weren’t for everyone’s support!

Q: Wait, Ashley, there’s one last question I need you to answer. Can you tell us if we will still get a Blu-Ray/DVD release of Season 5 of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” later this fall or later this year? Please reply.

A: The Season DVD usually come out in the fall. I am hoping to get the Season 5 DVD sometime this fall/winter 2013

And finally, Ashley’s question to the fans, “I would like to ask all of you a question…what SW EU characters would you like me to design for or are there any moments or pieces of art you want us to capture for merchandise?”

A: That’s a great question! I’d love to see Etain Tur-Mukan! She was a female Jedi in the Republic Commando series who fell in love with a clone. I have to admit I only just started the series, but I think she’d be a great character to highlight!

A: I’d love to see Lanoree Brock. (Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void)

A: I’d love to see an Anakin Solo or Ben Skywalker shirt

Ashley: Thank you so much for your time today and for coming to this chat! Please continue to let me know what you would like to see more of and I will try to make it happen. I appreciate your support more than you know and I am here to support you too! MTFBWY!