‘Star Wars’ Scraps Multiple ‘Mandalorian’ Actors as Mando-Verse Reportedly Dies
For years, The Mandalorian stood as Lucasfilm’s course correction—an intimate, character-driven Star Wars story that stabilized the franchise after a rocky theatrical stretch. Now, as Disney prepares to bring Din Djarin and Grogu back to theaters, the larger future of the so-called Mando-Verse appears far less certain.
The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) marks Star Wars’ first theatrical feature built directly from Disney+ continuity. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film continues the story that began in 2019 and unfolds after the divisive third season of The Mandalorian. Rather than functioning as an ensemble payoff, the movie appears designed as a streamlined next step focused almost entirely on its central duo.
Set roughly five years after Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi (1983), the story once again explores a galaxy struggling to stabilize under the New Republic. Favreau has described Din Djarin’s evolution as central to that era: once a solitary bounty hunter guided by survival instincts, Din has gradually aligned himself with rebuilding efforts across the galaxy, signaling a clear shift in purpose.
Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin, alongside Grogu, whose presence remains a draw even as early indications suggest the character may take a slightly reduced role. The film introduces new players, including Sigourney Weaver as Admiral Ward, a New Republic leader with ties to the Rebel Alliance, and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt. Rotta is rumored to travel with Din for part of the film, while Weaver’s role, though limited in screen time, reportedly carries significant narrative importance.
Jonny Coyne also joins the cast as an Imperial Warlord commanding remnants of the fallen Empire, reinforcing the film’s focus on new threats rather than revisiting familiar villains.
That approach extends to the movie’s notable absences. Moff Gideon’s story appears complete following his apparent death in Season 3, while Bo-Katan Kryze’s reclamation of Mandalore brought her arc to a natural conclusion. The Armorer, Boba Fett, and Fennec Shand likewise seem unlikely to appear, with their respective stories already resolved elsewhere.
Cara Dune remains the most complicated omission. Gina Carano’s firing in 2021 led to the character’s removal from the franchise. In 2024, Carano filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm, financially backed by Elon Musk. The case was settled last year, with Lucasfilm stating it was looking forward to “identifying opportunities to work together.” Even so, Cara Dune’s return appears improbable.
Beyond the film itself, questions loom about the wider Mando-Verse. Once envisioned as a long-term backbone for Star Wars, recent reporting suggests Lucasfilm may be stepping back. “According to insider Daniel Richtman, Lucasfilm is considering potentially moving away from the MandoVerse for future Star Wars projects,” The Direct explains.
“The known scooper shared the news in a new post on Patreon, writing that, as it stands, nothing within that particular section of the Star Wars timeline is planned beyond the upcoming Ahsoka Season 2, and Lucasfilm is waiting to see how the Rosario Dawson-led streaming series performs before committing to anything else,” the outlet added.
Leadership changes further complicate matters. Kathleen Kennedy is set to be replaced by Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, a transition that mirrors recent dual-leadership models at other studios. While Filoni remains a beloved figure for his animated work, his elevation casts doubt on his previously announced Mandalorian-era feature, which may now be reworked as a limited series instead.
For now, Disney has confirmed only two upcoming theatrical Star Wars releases: The Mandalorian and Grogu and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), starring Ryan Gosling. With fewer projects on the slate and major shifts behind the scenes, the Mandalorian era may be nearing its final chapter.
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