Lucasfilm is celebrating May the 4th in style with the release ofStar Wars: Tales of the Underworld, a new six-part miniseries that throws audiences back into the side of the franchise that is less Jedi Order and more scum and villainy. The series features the return of fan-favorite villains and antiheroes, namely the Duros bounty hunter Cad Bane. The series was executive produced by none other than Dave Filoni, the showrunner ofStar Wars: The Clone Warswho has helped shape the entire franchise across animation and live-action for years.
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworldalso features the shockingresurrection of Asajj Ventress, who was canonically killed off in Christie Golden’s 2015 novelStar Wars: Dark Disciple–or so audiences believed. First introduced inStar Wars: The Clone Wars, Ventress has enjoyed one of the longest and most transformative arcs of any of the franchise’s many villains. InStar Wars: Tales of the Underworld,Count Dooku’s former acolyte is once again played by voice actor Nika Futterman.
ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier spoke with Nika Futterman about Asajj Ventress’ surprising return alongside other characters likeCad Bane inStar Wars: Tales of the Underworld.Futterman shared her feelings on how Ventress’ new chance at life has changed her, and how her experiences have shaped her general sense of morality. Plus, Futterman mused on what she’d expect Ventress to pursue going forward.
Tales Of The Underworld Introduces A New Asajj Ventress
“She’s Just A Little Softer”
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworldcenters its stories largely around Cad Bane and Asajj Ventress, but don’t expect the same old Ventress from past animation projects.“When I was recording it, [I] talked to Dave a lot about changing her voice a little bit so that she would be a little less regal and a little bit more of the street,”Nika Futterman said about Ventress’ new way of carrying herself. She continued, saying,“She’s always been tough … but I felt in the beginning when I did her that she had this kind of regal mentality.”
“Now she’s just kind of like, ‘I’m a bounty hunter. I’m tired,”Futterman shared,“I know now what love feels like.’ She’s just a little softer.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s not going to take her lightsaber and stick it in your heart, but she’s a little softer.”
Nika Futterman Explains Ventress’ Relationship With The Force
“She Wants To Use Her Force And Her Capabilities For Good”
The trailer forStar Wars: Tales of the Underworldreveals Ventress as something of a protector–an uncharacteristic development for one of the galaxy’s best assassins.“If you look at her whole story,”Futterman said,“She’s trained as a Jedi. She’s a witch … she’s part of the dark side. She’s all of those things. But I think at this juncture in her life–although … she’s a lone wolf–I would say that maybe she’s connecting a bit more with the Jedi mentality. She wants to use her Force and her capabilities for good, even though she may not admit it.”
As for why Ventress seems to have taken on that role, Futterman shared that“She is a very complex character, but I think now, at this age, there’s some part of her that can’t help but be a mother … she’s always been a lone wolf, but now it’s like, ‘Ah, I know what this feeling is, to care, even though I’ve been pushing it down for so long.’”
How Tales Of The Underworld Enriches The Star Wars Franchise
“The Underworld … Is Way More Interesting”
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworldis the third“Tales of”series that Lucasfilm has released, followingTales of the JediandTales of the Empire.When asked how this latest endeavor would enrich theStar Warsuniverse as a whole, Futterman replied,“I just think that the underworld, in my opinion, is always way more interesting than what’s lurking above. And in any story–that’s why we’re all so obsessed with The Sopranos.”
“Usually, those characters are the ones who are super, super multilayered,”Futterman continued.“You’re not just a hero who’s out saving the world. You became who you are because of your backstory, which is usually very complicated. Nobody starts off bad. So, how genius of them to say, ‘Let’s explore these characters who seemingly [are] simply just bad, but who are ultimately onions that must be peeled back.’”
Futterman Reflects On Ventress’ New Driving Purpose In Tales Of The Underworld
“There Is Now A Searching For Love”
Whatever the future brings for Asajj Ventress–”I don’t know ultimately what they have planned for her,”Futterman admitted–the actor who has been bringing her to life for years thinks she has a new driving purpose:“There is now a searching for love.”Although Futterman shared that she fears sharing too much and suggested that“part of the fun”was the discovery itself, she continued that there is also the aspect of“When you have found love, what would you do for it? Anything? Who would you kill for it? Anyone? Where will that take you?”
“I think that is a lot of what we could possibly see down the line.”
