Disney Could Be Forced To Bring Gina Carano Back To ‘Star Wars’ Following Recent Settlement

Gina Carano’s legal battle with Disney and Lucasfilm has finally come to an end. But her return to Star Wars might be just about to begin.

What Happened to Gina Carano?

The former MMA fighter, best known for playing Cara Dune in The Mandalorian seasons one and two, recently settled her lawsuit against the studio after claiming she was wrongfully terminated. Carano was fired in early 2021 following a series of social media posts that Disney deemed offensive and described as “abhorrent and unacceptable.”

While details of the settlement remain confidential, the timing has raised questions about what this might mean for Carano’s potential future in the Star Wars franchise — specifically The Mandalorian & Grogu, the first feature-length continuation of the Disney+ series.

How Was Cara Dune Written Out of Star Wars?

There’s been no word of Carano returning as Cara Dune, and it’s still highly unlikely. Bridges were burned, and Lucasfilm moved on quickly back when she was fired, writing her character out between seasons two and three.

Dune was completely written out of the show, with Greef Karga (the late Carl Weathers) telling Din Djarin in Season 3 that she had been “recruited by special forces” following Moff Gideon’s arrest. Initially, Dune, with Carano back in the role, was supposed to headline her own spinoff series, Rangers of the New Republic, but that project was thrown on the scrapheap by Lucasfilm following the actress’ dismissal.

Since Carano’s firing, Dune hasn’t appeared anywhere in the franchise. Not in animation, video games, or novels. But with The Mandalorian & Grogu now struggling to spark interest among fans, the situation could prove more complicated than it looks.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Fails To Spark Excitement

The first trailer for the film dropped recently, and the overall response has been muted. In previous times, a new Star Wars trailer would stop the internet cold. This one didn’t.

Instead of boasting a big-screen upgrade as often seen in TV-to-theater adaptations, The Mandalorian & Grogu looks just like an episode of the TV series — familiar visuals and beats, and a lack of scope that makes it hard to distinguish from the small-screen version.

Watch the trailer below:

Related: ‘Star Wars’ Reportedly Reverses Decision About Upcoming Standalone Movie | Disney Dining

Disney’s Inability To “Read the Room” Continues

It’s clear that fans don’t care about these characters that much anymore. The Mandalorian Season 3 received negative reviews when it debuted in 2023. Now, after more than two years away, the enthusiasm for The Mandalorian and Grogu has waned even further.

But the trailer’s reception reflects a broader fatigue among fans who’ve weathered years of poor content, from The Rise of Skywalker (2019) to The Book of Boba Fett (2021) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) to The Acolyte (2024).

The decision to adapt The Mandalorian, a show that’s now mostly irrelevant, for the big screen is baffling. But it appears to be an ongoing theme with Disney, especially when you look at other projects like the untitled Rey movie, which is still reportedly in development. Despite the fact that the sequel trilogy remains widely hated by audiences, Disney seems to be stubbornly pushing forward with that era.

Could Nostalgia Save Star Wars Once Again?

This current Star Wars fatigue could spell trouble for Disney. For a film positioned as a theatrical tentpole, lukewarm fan response is the last thing the company needs. The question now is whether Lucasfilm will respond positively to the feedback.

Filming wrapped sometime ago, but reshoots are common for major blockbusters (although this film hardly screams “major blockbuster”). But in this case, they might be used less for quality control and more for damage control.

When interest dips, there’s always one easy fix: a cameo. And one name that’s impossible to ignore right now is Gina Carano.

Will Cara Dune Return?

Reintroducing Cara Dune — even briefly — would be controversial, but controversy almost always drives conversation. Carano’s return, however unlikely, would instantly dominate headlines and draw attention back to a project that desperately needs it.

For Disney, it’s a dangerous but potentially effective marketing tool, especially as the studio tries to win back disillusioned fans.

But there’s no evidence that Lucasfilm is considering that option. So far, no major supporting characters from The Mandalorian have been confirmed for the film.

Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff), Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), The Armorer (Emily Swallow), Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris), IG-11 (Taika Waititi), Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), and Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) are all strangely absent, which feels odd given how heavily they defined the show’s world on Disney+.

The Mandalorian & Grogu appears to be focusing entirely on the titular duo, a risky creative decision that could leave the story feeling thin on nostalgia — a currency Star Wars has always traded on. After all, many fans of the franchise are known to be fickle when it comes to nostalgia — remember how people loved Luke Skywalker’s surprise CG cameo at the end of The Mandalorian Season 2 despite how really bad the effects were?

We’ll just have to wait and see if the upcoming film brings back any familiar faces.

For now, The Mandalorian & Grogu remains on track for May, 2026. But between dwindling interest and uneven fan sentiment, Lucasfilm could find itself facing a question few expected: does the faraway galaxy need Cara Dune to save it one more time?

The film stars Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), and Jonny Coyne (The Nun), and, of course, Pedro Pascal.

Do you think it’s time for Gina Carano to return to Star Wars? Share your thoughts!