I’ve met a gazillion Star Wars celebrities and personalities through the years at conventions and events — panels, photo ops, autograph tables, all of it. And let’s face it, meeting your favorite Star Wars person can cost a pretty penny these days. But a photo, a selfie, an autograph from someone you love? Priceless. (eBay resellers? Different article.)
Most of us who’ve been around conventions long enough have also had those celebrity encounters that are, well, pretty flat-out transactional.
Hello. Photo. Autograph. Thank you. Next.
Nothing necessarily wrong with that. There’s a line. There’s a schedule. There are hundreds of people waiting.
Then there are those who take an extra beat. They notice things. They ask questions. They actually engage. Which, yes, usually means the line takes longer, but almost always, it’s worth the wait and the investment.
Eman Esfandi is one of those guys.
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SWINGING SABERS AND TENNIS RACQUETS
At the recent GalaxyCon San Jose in the San Francisco Bay Area, Eman greeted me with, “Wait, we’ve met before, correct?” It was a question that actually sounded authentic. Still riding what has been a pretty remarkable welcome into the Star Wars universe as the live-action Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka, he seemed just as engaged as I remembered him.
I first met Eman at FAN EXPO San Francisco in November 2023, one of his very first major convention appearances following his debut as Ezra. Back then, there was already a twinkle in his eyes as he got his first real taste of Star Wars fandom coming right back at him. Nearly three years later, that level of engagement has only ramped up. He told me his knowledge of Star Wars lore has grown exponentially since his first foray with the Force. He did his homework, and you can genuinely tell.
Eman has now also had a little taste of Marvel fandom, thanks to his very brief appearance as MJ’s “Boyfriend” in the latest Spider-Man movie.
Very brief. But hey, Spider-Man.
But get Eman talking about tennis and that’s when things really get animated.
Tennis, mind you, isn’t just a hobby for Eman. He spent years teaching the sport, even landed an early film role in King Richard, and these days says he’s training to play professionally.
With the US Open upon us, we naturally got into a little tennis talk. And as a proud Filipino immigrant, there was one player I had to bring up: Alexandra Eala, the young Filipina who has suddenly given an entire country, and those of us scattered all over the world, someone to rally behind on the biggest stages in tennis.
I barely had to get her name out. Eman immediately commandeered the conversation, telling me about his friend, Filipina tennis player Angel Santiago (their recent collab post is so funny, check it out), and some history she shares with Alex.
This wasn’t celebrity small talk anymore. He was into it.
And there it was again: that twinkle in his eyes, not unlike the young Ezra Bridger whenever something new had completely captured his attention.
WHEN THE CELEBRITY BECOMES THE FAN
Walking with Eman from the autograph tables toward the fan club section of the convention, it’s hard not to notice the honest, almost childlike enthusiasm he exudes. Between the occasional handshakes and high fives, any cool item he’d spot along the convention floor would make him stop and investigate.
Not childish. Childlike. It’s such a privilege to witness that kind of excitement happening right in front of you.
And yes, maybe it’s because I’ve watched too much Star Wars Rebels, but there are moments when I can absolutely see a little of early Ezra Bridger in him.
Animated. Curious. Excitable.
As we approached that part of the convention where you’ll find the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion, Mando Mercs, droid builders and other fan organizations surrounded by armor, costumes, props and displays, this was where Eman really seemed to have fun.
He wasn’t just doing the celebrity walk-through, waving hello and moving along. He was shaking hands like a Coruscant politician. He was engaged. He played along. He looked genuinely interested in what people had built, what they were wearing and what they were doing.
Everyone there was obviously excited to meet the man who now represents Ezra Bridger.
But Eman looked pretty excited to meet them too.
FINDING HIS PLACE
With the second season of Ahsoka now set to hit Disney+ on January 20, 2027, I’m personally stoked to see how Ezra’s character has evolved and where he goes next with what’s left of the Ghost crew. The previous season ended with Ezra finally reunited with Hera and Chopper, removing his helmet and uttering the words, “Hi, Hera. I’m home.”
Eman also shared something a fan once told him about Ezra — that “Bridger” has become particularly fitting for a character who connects different stories, eras and generations of Star Wars. He remembered the observation remarkably well, another sign of just how much of the character, and the lore around him, he has taken in.
Maybe there’s something fitting about that for Eman, too.
Dev Morgan. Jabba the Hutt. Ezra Bridger.
Ezra may be the one who bridges the stories. Eman Esfandi is becoming a bridge between those stories and the people who love them.