Star Wars: 10 Things You Never Knew About The Clone Wars

Aug. 7, 2024, 2 a.m.

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Star Wars: 10 Things You Never Knew About The Clone Wars

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Summary The First Battle Memorial in The Clone Wars was made from Geonosis stone.

Asajj Ventress was originally meant to be in Attack of the Clones but was replaced by Dooku.

Ahsoka's original name was Ashla, inspired by the light side of the Force.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is still one of the most beloved and popular Star Wars projects of all time, and there are plenty of exciting things fans might not know about the seven-season series. Set between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, the animated series details the biggest battles and campaigns during the three-year war between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As such, there are several dynamic arcs and very exciting tidbits about the show's production, its characters, and how it would go on to inspire other projects in the galaxy far, far away.

Beginning with a full-feature movie in 2008 that was released in theaters, The Clone Wars ran for seven seasons (despite an initial series cancelation after season 5) and was officially concluded in 2020. As such, the animated series contains 133 episodes that excel at fleshing out the prequel era of the Star Wars galaxy, while also heavily influencing future projects in the Disney era such as Star Wars Rebels, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and more. To that end, here are just 10 facts and exciting pieces of trivia you might not know about Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Related Star Wars Movies In Order: How To Watch Release Order, Chronologically & With The TV Shows What's the best way to watch Star Wars? Here's everything you need to know to watch in release or timeline order, and how to include the TV shows.

10 The Clone Wars' First Battle Memorial

(Made From Geonosis Stone)

In the Star Wars canon, The Clone Wars officially began with the First Battle of Geonosis as seen at the end of Attack of the Clones. In The Clone Wars, it was revealed that the names of all the clones who gave their lives in that first conflict were recorded and carved on the "First Battle Memorial", located near the Republic's primary clone barracks on the core world of Coruscant. While the memorial was briefly seen in The Clone Wars' fifth season, it was also featured to a much greater degree in the second season of the spin-off series The Bad Batch.

However, a fascinating piece of trivia about the memorial comes from initial renderings and behind-the-scenes designs for the memorial. According to the designs and concept art, the polished stone all the names were carved onto came from Geonosis itself. While largely insignificant to the canon overall, it's certainly quite a dynamic addition, one that certainly carries great meaning for the surviving clones who sought to remember their brothers who were the first to die for the Republic.

9 Ventress Was Almost In Attack of the Clones

Replaced By Dooku

Count Dooku's assassin Asajj Ventress was originally meant to be Palpatine's apprentice in Attack of the Clones. However, she was ultimately replaced when Christopher Lee signed to play Count Dooku. This then led to Ventress's initial debut as Dooku's assassin in the 2D Clone Wars micro-series that's now considered Legends, and then in the canon Clone Wars series where she's since become one of the most popular Star Wars characters ever. Ventress recently made an appearance in The Bad Batch season 3 which confirmed her survival post-Clone Wars and elements of her dynamic history.

8 Ahsoka's Original Name Was Ashla

After The Light Side of the Force

Originally, George Lucas and Dave Filoni wanted Anakin's apprentice to be named Ashla, another name for the light side of the Force. Ashla is also one of the moons of the ancient Jedi world of Tython alongside Bogan, and the relationship between the two moons is what helped inspire the First Jedi's beliefs on the dark and light sides of the Force. While Ahsoka Tano eventually became the name, "Ashla" still had its place in the Jedi's story, having been used as an alias during the Dark Times in the Clone Wars' aftermath.

It's also very exciting to see just how far Ahsoka has come in both animation and more recently in live-action. In 2023's Ahsoka, the titular Jedi reconnects with her Jedi path, all while setting up some renewed concepts that were first seen in The Clone Wars such as when Ahsoka was saved by The Daughter, the living celestial embodiment of the light side. To that end, Ahsoka may end up symbolically earning her original name with theories that she might eventually become a new embodiment of the light in future seasons.

7 Jon Favreau's Star Wars Career Began With Clone Wars (Not Mandalorian)

Voicing Pre Vizsla

While Jon Favreau is best known for his work with Dave Filoni on The Mandalorian, his original work in the Star Wars galaxy began with The Clone Wars. Beginning in the show's second season, Favreau voiced Pre Vizsla, leader of the Mandalorian group Death Watch and the first wielder of the legendary Darksaber in the era of the Skywalker saga. Favreau would then go on to voice Paz Vizsla in The Mandalorian, one of Pre's descendants from the same clan.

6 Mark Hamill Voiced Darth Bane

A Major Sith Lord Voiced By One Of Star Wars' Greatest Jedi

In The Clone Wars season 6, Yoda embarks on a major spiritual journey, one that opens him up to new aspects regarding the Living and Cosmic Force with guidance from Qui-Gon Jinn's Force ghost. However, this also includes a visit to the ancient Sith world of Moraband where Yoda faces none other than the haunted spirit of Darth Bane, the Sith Lord who created the Rule of Two. To that end, some Star Wars fans might not know that Bane was voiced by none other than Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill.

While Hamill is best known for his role as the original trilogy's Luke Skywalker, he's also an accomplished voice actor who has lent his voice to several major roles in animation (most notably the Joker from Batman: The Animated Series). However, there's nothing more poetic than Luke Skywalker voicing one of the most powerful and impactful Sith Lords in the Star Wars timeline's early history.

5 Anakin and General Grievous Never Meet In The Entire Clone Wars Show

And It's Revenge of the Sith's Fault

Remarkably, Anakin Skywalker and General Grievous never meet in The Clone Wars, despite his master Obi-Wan Kenobi being one of the General's chief rivals. This is specifically due to Anakin and General Grievous' meeting in the first act of Revenge of the Sith where they both act as though it's their first meeting. As such, great care was taken in The Clone Wars to make sure that they never crossed paths, even when they were mere feet away during a prisoner exchange in the show's fourth season (Grievous was restrained and Anakin was unconscious).

4 Saw Gerrera Debuted In Clone Wars (But Was Created By Lucas For A Different Show)

Star Wars: Underworld

Before he was played in live-action by Forest Whitaker, Saw Gerrera first debuted as a young freedom fighter in The Clone Wars. However, Saw was originally created by George Lucas for his canceled live-action series Star Wars: Underworld which had been in development long before Disney purchased Lucasfilm, a show that would have explored the seedier parts of the galaxy while also showing the origins of the Rebel Alliance. This makes sense given that Gerrera and his Partisans end up fighting the Empire using tactics that even the Rebellion found to be too extreme.

3 Solo's Main Villain Appears In Clone Wars Season 7

Crimson Dawn's Dryden Vos

In the final episodes of The Clone Wars season 7, Maul is shown speaking with the various criminal leaders of his Shadow Collective. This includes none other than a brief cameo from Dryden Vos, the future face of Maul's crime syndicate Crimson Dawn which he led from the shadows during the Dark Times. Vos' first appearance in Star Wars was in live-action with Solo: A Star War Story, having been played by Paul Bettany as a central antagonist before his life and role were taken by Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke) at the movie's end.

2 Captain Rex's Clone Helmet Is Custom Built

A Unique Phase I and Phase II Combo

The majority of the clone troopers who served the Republic received new "Phase II" armor halfway through the Clone Wars. Likewise, the new helmet designs more closely resembled the future Imperial stormtroopers as some key visual foreshadowing. However, Clone Captain Rex of the 501st did something far more unique with his own "bucket". Cutting off the top of his original Phase I helmet with its personalized tallies and jaig eye designs, the original piece was fused with the new Phase II elements, resulting in a wholly unique helmet compared to his fellow troopers (rather than being something that was standard-issue).

1 The Clone Wars' Mortis Was Supposed To Return In Episode IX

In Trevorrow's Deul of the Fate

One of the most dynamic arcs in The Clone Wars was on the planet Mortis in the show's third season. In it, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka meet The Daughter, Son, and Father, celestial embodiments and anchories of the Force itself. Representing the balance between his children who represented the dark and light, the Father wanted Anakin to replace him as the Chosen One, something Skywalker refused which led to a far more uncertain future for the galaxy (such as the events of Revenge of the Sith and Anakin's corruption as Darth Vader).

However, some fans might not know that Star Wars nearly returned to the Force world of Mortis in the initial scripts for Episode IX. Back when Colin Trevorrow was still signed on as a director and the film was titled Duel of the Fates, Rey and Kylo Ren would have had their final battle on Mortis with the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance. Now, it seems as though the Force beings and Mortis are being set up for their return in future seasons of Ahsoka, given that Baylan Skoll found statues of the Father, Son, and Daughter on Peridea.