'The Mandalorian And Grogu' Speculation: Who Will Appear?
Image Source: StarWars.com
WARNING: This article contains spoilers and potential spoilers from the media coverage of The Mandalorian and Grogu.
After a tease from Jon Favreau that the name of the main Imperial Warlord set to appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu would interest franchise fans, the ultimate reveal deflated a brief burst of intense speculation. Previously shown in the Shadow Council of The Mandalorian Season 3, this Warlord is simply named Coin, after the actor portraying him, Jonny Coyne.
While a nice nod to the actor, it isn’t a wider integration with existing Star Wars lore, Legends or canon, beyond The Mandalorian Season 3. While hints toward various characters from the wider canon are sure to take place throughout the film, we thought it would be good to run down seven possible options for characters who will appear and serve as connections to the wider Mandoverse and beyond, be it in holograms, brief cameos, or perhaps even playing key roles in the story.
RELATED:
7. The Armorer
Image Source: StarWars.com
Now definitively proven to not be Rook Kast, fans are probably back to square one about truly understanding who the Armorer from The Mandalorian is. While we don’t think her appearance in the major motion picture will be significant, even a brief holocall of Din Djarin asking her for spiritual guidance would be a plausible and reasonable explanation about her appearance.
Our gleaming Mandalorian appears to be grappling with the fact that, as he trains Grogu, he knows the alien will long outlive him. Discussions about the film have hinted at the importance of family, legacy, and the bond these two unlikely people share with one another. The Armorer could also help to briefly touch on how well the recovery of Mandalore is going, say, with a brief line before she pushes and asks why Din Djarin is calling her. The Armorer is a big part of why the clan of two are together in the first place, and so acknowledging that role, even briefly, as the storyline looks forward, makes sense.
6. Cobb Vanth
Image Source: StarWars.com
A bit of a wilder pick, but one which could happen, Cobb Vanth wasn’t seen in The Mandalorian Season 3 following The Book of Boba Fett, and with a lack of external media for the Mandoverse, he has remained on the same life support he was last seen in, about to be operated on. His appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu could be as a badass hero who comes to help Grogu after Din Djarin appears to have been captured by the Hutts (if the trailers are to be believed), or as a holocall providing help or information relevant to the plot.
Favreau has apparently confirmed during the press junkets that Cobb Vanth is still alive and well, and considering there isn’t any solid news on what is coming for the Mandoverse post-Ahsoka Season 2, it may be that Favreau has a hidden lawman up his sleeve ready to make an appearance.
5. Boba Fett
Image Source: StarWars.com
On equal ground to Cobb Vanth is Boba Fett, also last seen in The Book of Boba Fett. The character has the benefit of having appeared in previous Star Wars movies, and for having a strong Hutt connection due to his service to the Cartel for years during the era of the Original Trilogy, and for having previously met the Twins who are at the center of the plot for The Mandalorian and Grogu. However, both him and Cobb Vanth have the difficulty of being in a show that had significant critiques from portions of the fanbase, and their lack of a mention in The Mandalorian Season 3 might be indicative of a broader avoidance of characters and events seen in that show.
There is also the fact that, while Fett has those ties to the Hutts mentioned earlier, he has no ties to the Imperial Warlord bounty missions Din Djarin is being sent on, with concerns solely locked to maintaining order on Tatooine. He might get a mention if Din Djarin and the Twins get to talking, but there could be a whole lot more if Djarin or Grogu needs to ask for help from forces other than the New Republic.
4. Hera Syndulla
Image Source: StarWars.com
One of the critical characters of Ahsoka, and also a Filoni favorite, Hera Syndulla has an expansive history covering books, comics, video games, animation, and live-action. She is a pillar of Star Wars canon, given this diverse set of appearances, and it would make sense for her to appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu because of that. Still serving with the New Republic and militant in her pursuit of threats to the new democracy lurking in the shadows, herself and Colonel Ward are likely on friendly terms, or at least should be, and an appearance by her in the flesh or hologram makes a good deal of sense.
However, her presence with all of that history behind her means that it is less likely she is going to appear in this film. While some familiar faces are showing up, like Rotta the Hutt of all people and Embo, Hera’s vast and expansive history means her appearance would have to be handled carefully and might also knock her out in favor of new characters original to the Mandoverse creative team who can be constructed exactly how Favreau and Filoni want.
3. Ezra Bridger
Image Source: StarWars.com
We’re fond of pairs on this list, and just like Cobb Vanth and Boba Fett, Hera Syndulla and Ezra Bridger form a pair of characters who could have significant impacts on the plot if the story chooses to let them. Ezra has likely returned from Peridea by the time of The Mandalorian and Grogu, meaning he’ll be more ready than ever to confront the returning Grand Admiral Thrawn. Helping mop up some Imperial Remnant forces, especially if they are part of a group who will likely support Thrawn, is definitely his MO as is probably following up on rumors of other Force users in the galaxy.
Ezra playing a role in an end-credits scene, especially via a holocall from someone like Zeb who is playing a big role in the big screen film, is thus perfect and plausible, and could help set the stage for Ahsoka Season 2 very well.
2. Gardulla The Hutt
Image Source: StarWars.com
With the Twins making a major appearance, and Gardulla’s death at the hands of Kylo Ren recently revealed to comic book fans, suggesting this Hutt character for a role in The Mandalorian and Grogu might seem odd. However, of all the existing Hutts we know, she is the most likely candidate to have been Rotta the Hutt’s mother. We know we are getting a baby Rotta at some point in the film, likely in the form of a flashback, and an explanation of where Rotta has been, and who has been raising him since the death of Jabba, would be a good narrative point to address given Rotta’s disappearance from all canon storytelling.
Gardulla was at Jabba’s side in The Phantom Menace, and despite older Legends lore, canon lore has set out that the Hutts do have genders, and almost certainly do pair up for the creation of children. Churo the Hutt, for example, has two parents and an older sister,. So, even a brief image of Gardulla holding Rotta, or speaking with the Twins about the fate of her son, could do a lot to further fill in gaps we’ve long had about Rotta.
1. Grand Admiral Thrawn
Image Source: StarWars.com
We’ve previously gone back and forth on whether Grand Admiral Thrawn would appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu, and this is why he’s our number one on this list. As crazy and out there as it might be, as a character the general audience would not understand on par with reactions to those out of the know reacting to the reveal of Maul at the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story, it might still be necessary for the sake of the narrative. Coin as a central villain to this film doesn’t seem particularly interesting, no offense meant to the actor playing him, and we are still hesitant to believe that this film is hiding no fun or major twists with its storytelling.
If it truly is a straight-up action film, and Coin really is the villain, then Thrawn’s appearance in an end-credits scene makes a lot of sense, as a tease for the future. But, if there are layers of deception at work, and the film works to make clear that these Imperial Remnants are indeed working together, having Coin contact a displeased Thrawn could really help to set up his menace and build his threat level even more than an end credits appearance. It remains a toss-up in our minds, and is a big swing we think is both worth the effort as well as essential to future storytelling with Din Djarin and Grogu should Thrawn be the ultimate big bad in this part of the timeline.
CultureSlate: Made by humans, for humans.
Please consider supporting our AI-free content via our Patreon page.
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
