The Mandalorian: Top Ten Possible Cameos
The Galaxy Far Far Away just got a little closer...
- (Major Spoilers for Mandalorian Season 1-Season 2 and for Star Wars The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels ahead!!) -
This is the Way
Season One of The Mandalorian (Created by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni) treated fans to a fresh new take on a very well-trodden galaxy. Taking us to fresh and familiar planets, reintroducing old aliens and droids with a brand new coat of well-weathered paint. Showing us just how different the galaxy was after the supposed fall of the Empire and how some things never change. While some of these friends and foes seemed familiar at first glance, most proved to be subversions of the characters they resembled. Yes we meet a clan of Jawas but these aren't the lovable yet seemingly harmless scoundrels from A New Hope. Gone are the charming yellow eyes, these red-eyed little burlap sacks of death will tear your ship apart and feast on the eggs of the nearby fauna.
Sure that's an IG unit (much like the fan-favorite blink and you miss it character: IG-88) but after a failed stint as an Assassin Droid, he is promptly reprogrammed into a docile nanny droid that will serve up a cup of tea just as efficiently as he will dispatch a squad of Storm Troopers.
Where the Sequel Trilogy seemed to rely on a philosophy of "Different but the Same", The Mandalorian takes every chance to flip it: "The Same but Different". Everything feels right at home within the Star Wars fans know and love, but just twisted slightly, chopped and screwed into something new and exciting.
With this direction guiding the show, The Mandalorian managed to carve out its own corner of the galaxy, yet as the first season came to a close, the show finally began to firmly hint that it wasn't as isolated as fans may have thought.
Just as it had carved its own space, so did Moff Gideon (GIancarlo Esposito) slicing through the hull of his downed Outland Tie-Fighter with a blade that would be instantly recognizable to any fans of Star Wars The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels: The Dark Saber.
And with the signature crackling of it's black blade, it was as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in excitement and more importantly: elaborate fan theories.
(Pictured above is Pre Vizsla the former leader of Death Watch and once the wielder of the Dark Saber, spoiler alert: he will not be featured on this list as he was very much decaptitated.)
It's like Poetry, it Rhymes
With Season Two now airing we have already been given an insight into just how quickly some of these new mysteries will unfold. With Chapter 9 confirming a long running fan theory that the much-beloved (yet admittedly seldom-showcased) Boba Fett had survived his encounter with the Sarlacc pit in Return of the Jedi.
Chapter 11 however, gave us much more than a brief end of the episode cameo. As Din Djarin (the titular Mandalorian) struggles to free himself from a feasting Mamacore (think: the ocean-life equivalent to a Sarlacc..."the same but different"), he is rescued by a group of blue-Beskar-clad Mandalorians. To any newcomers these characters fit right at home with The Mandalorian's Adventure of the Week structure, but to any diehards, the signature white owl on their leaders helmet was instantly recognizable. Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) had made her way from the world of animation to the realm of live action. With her triumphant return came the very blunt answers to many of fans questions:
Din was a part of a cult, an off shoot of Death Watch even more obsessed with the Mandalorian Ancient creeds.
The Empire retook Mandalore after the events of Star Wars: Rebels and Bo plans to take it back
Moff Gideon took the Dark Saber from a very alive Bo-Katan and she is not happy about it and...
Arguably the most important to fans of the three Dave Filoni run shows: Ahsoka Tano is on the forest planet of Corvus and Din is on his way to meet her.
Chapter 11 may seem as if it is more of The Mandalorian's usual fare: disparate Vignettes that string together into a loosely linear quest to return Baby Yoda (or "The Child" if you ask a Lucasfilm employee), but with the information dropped on us like a ton of Bantha Fodder, we now know the open threads of The Clone Wars and Rebels are coming home to roost and it begs the question, just who else can we expect to see return if Din continues down this path?
Well lucky for you, I've got a list!
Embo
Occupation:
Farmer, Former Bounty Hunter
Affiliation:
None Last Known Whereabouts:
Farming on Felucia
Why They're Cool:
Embo is a skilled bounty hunter and was at one point, the highest ranked in the entire Galaxy. He was created for the 17th episode of the 2nd season of Star Wars The Clone Wars. The episode: "Bounty Hunters" heavily took influence from director Akira Kurosawa's seminal film: Seven Samurai. His species name is even a nod to one of the main characters: "Kyuzo".
Reason They're on This List:
Embo was originally meant to die in his first appearance but was kept alive when the crew
decided he was "too cool" to kill. He would later go on to aid Boba Fett in an unaired duel with legendary bounty hunter: Cad Bane. While he is currently a retired farmer with a full
pardon from The New Republic, we know how quickly farmers can be ushered into
action in the world of Star Wars. It also helps that he was voiced by none-other than
the executive producer of The Mandalorian: Dave Filoni.
Kalani
Occupation:
Tactical Droid
Affiliation:
None, Formerly The
Confederacy of Independent Systems Last Known Whereabouts:
Fleeing the Empire
Why They're Cool:
Kalani was a tactical advisor to the King of Onderon during the Clone Wars. After the planet was deemed inhospitable to the Separatists due to the efforts of the local rebellion, he was re-assigned. He later re-surfaced during the age of the Empire, having avoided the mass-shut-down that was issued to all other Battle Droids, believing it to be an enemy trick.
Reason They're on This List:
Kalani is one of the few remaining active remnants of the droid army, and being a Super Tactical Droid, he is actively learning and growing smarter and more self-aware. According to Henry Gilroy (Co-Executive Producer on Star Wars: Rebels), Kalani may have gone on to sell his services as a tactical export to third parties like the Hutts or other crime lords.
Kalani poses an interesting foil for Din, as he goes beyond the droid prejudice The Mandalorian holds due to his traumatic childhood during the Clone Wars. Kalani is a battle droid, he could very possibly had been directly involved in the attack on Din's home world. Could Din's newfound appreciation for droids meet it's limits if he's confronted of a true relic of the war that took his family from him?
Fenn Rau
Occupation:
Pilot
Affiliation:
Leader of the Protectors Last Known Whereabouts:
Mandalore, Pledging his Allegiance to Bo-Katan
Why They're Cool:
Fenn was the leader of the Skull Squadron, and trained Clone Trooper pilots during the Clone Wars. He fought in the battle of Mygeeto, saving the lives of Jedi General Depa Billaba and her then Apprentice Caleb Dume. He would later go on to patrol Mandalorian space in the name of the Empire until he was eventually swayed to join the Rebellion, aiding in the campaign to re-take Mandalore, lead by Sabine Wren and Bo-Katan.
Reason They're on This List:
If it wasn't for his lack of fan-notoriety, Fenn would be much higher on this list. Not only is he a former Protector; the honor guard of Mandalore, but he also harbors a great disdain for the Empire and it's efforts to control his home world. He was last seen kneeling to Bo-Katan as she was christened the "Mand'alor" (supreme leader of the entire system), leaving fans to naturally assume, barring death, he'd still be very active in the fight to once again push the Empire off their planet.
CT-7567 "Rex"
Occupation:
Commander
Affiliation:
(Presumably) The New Republic Last Known Whereabouts:
The Battle of Endor
Why They're Cool:
Once an ARC trooper and captain (and briefly a general) of the Grand Army of the Republic, Rex served alongside Jedi-General Anakin Skywalker was leader of the 501st Legion of Clones. He was later de-commissioned when the Empire opted to replace the rapidly aging Clone Troopers with the new recruitment based Storm Troopers, but he would go on to join the Rebellion and eventually fight on the forest floor during the climactic Battle of Endor.
Reason They're on This List:
Rex is a long-time fan favorite character featured in both Star Wars The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. He has survived through many of the Galaxy's most important turning points and seems to continue to be a survivor, despite his accelerated aging due to the cloning process.
Rex is genetically a clone of Jango Fett, a Mandalorian exile from Concord Dawn and eternal ally and friend to former-Jedi; Ahsoka Tano, who we now know will be making some sort of appearance in this weeks chapter of The Mandalorian. Earlier this year when the rumors of Temuera Morrison being cast in Season 2 began to circulate most assumed (now rightfully so) that he'd be portraying the long-rumored Boba Fett, however few considered the alternative, could Temuera have two roles? An appropriately aged Boba and possibly, an elderly Commander Rex?
Bonus Fact:
During a panel at Star Wars Celebration 2017, Dave Filoni hinted that Rex may have been one of the Rebel Soldiers seen during the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi, fans have speculated that his design was updated to help him resemble the character Nik Sant (the character name given to one of the extras on set).
Ketsu Onyo
Occupation:
Bounty Hunter
Affiliation:
Black Sun Last Known Whereabouts:
The Liberation of Lothal
Why They're Cool:
Ketsu was a Mandalorian warrior who attended the Imperial Academy with her friend; Sabine Wren. The two of them would eventually defect from the Empire and become bounty hunters, a schism between them leading to Ketsu joining the ruthless Black Sun, leaving her former partner for dead.
Reason They're on This List:
Ketsu grew a lot during the time of the Empire, reconnecting with her long time friend Sabine and burying the hatchet. She went on to aid the Rebellion in their efforts, aiding in both finding a secure planet to house their base and eventually helping General Hera Syndulla's campaign to liberate Lothal. While she doesn't wear traditional Mandalorian armor, she is still very much a possible ally to our hero Din, who being a bounty hunter himself, whose to say they haven't already met.
Hera Syndulla
Occupation:
General
Affiliation:
The New Republic Last Known Whereabouts:
The Nadin Dockyards
Why They're Cool:
Arguably the best pilot in the galaxy, Hera was born into the Rebellion. Daughter to Cham Syndulla, leader of the Twi'lek Rebellion on Ryloth, she was raised to fight for freedom and accept no less. Hera was integral in helping form the Rebel Alliance, as her Phoenix Squadron consistently aided the budding Rebellion in missions and battles. Hera not only was fought during the first official battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire above Scariff but also aided in the destruction of the second Death Star during the Battle of Endor.
Reason They're on This List:
Thanks to the newly released video game: Star Wars Squadrons, we now know Hera's whereabouts closer to the events of The Mandalorian. Now a general for the New Republic, Hera continues to command squadrons and fly missions, helping to rid the galaxy of the remnants of the empire. We have begun to see how the New Republic has failed to deliver its promise of peace to the Outer Rim in The Mandalorian and with the focus on a re-occurring squadron of X-Wing Pilots, I would wager it's only a matter of time until someone a bit higher up the food chain gets involved and with Hera's connection to Mandalore through her long-time friendship with Sabine Wren, it would make sense that she may take interest in Moff Gideons plans.
C1-10P "Chopper"
Occupation:
Astromech
Affiliation:
The New Republic Last Known Whereabouts:
(Presumably) Wherever Hera is.
Why They're Cool:
Chopper was an Astromech assigned to a Y-Wing during the Clone Wars, his pilot died in a crash during the battle of Ryloth, leaving Chopper in the burning wreckage, serendipitously outside of the homestead of a young Hera Syndulla who would retrieve him and repair him, beginning their life long friendship. Chopper is a near merciless bringer of death to all who oppose him and often goes out of his way to end the lives of those he does not deem his friends.
Reason They're on This List:
Chopper is the second character on this list voiced by Dave Filoni, a fact that wasn't revealed to the public until the series finale of Star Wars Rebels. Chopper has already made his live action debut in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, where he can be seen puttering around Yavin 4 before presumably joining Hera aboard The Ghost during the Battle of Scariff. With the live action model built and Filoni holding the character near and dear, i'd argue Chopper may belong even higher on this list. While I do believe if Hera arrives, Chopper will be guaranteed to follow, I think that he stands (or rolls) enough on his own that he may very well earn a cameo completely on his own merit. Could he possibly be on loan from Hera to aid the X-Wing Pilot; Trapper Wolf (also played by Dave Filoni).
Trapper and Chopper...hm...
Hondo Ohnaka
Occupation:
Pirate
Affiliation:
Hondo Ohnaka Last Known Whereabouts:
Black Spire Outpost on Baatu
Why They're Cool:
Star Wars is filled with colorful characters, and while we've seen a wretched hive of scum and villainy, we tend to see that take the form of bounty hunters, smugglers and assassins. Hondo is a different breed, a true pirate, more than any we'd seen prior and possibly have seen since, with the bravado and flair for the dramatic of Jack Sparrow but the skill and survival instincts of Han Solo.
Reason They're on This List:
I'd be willing to personally bet that Hondo is all but a guarantee to appear on The Mandalorian. I went so far as to contemplate leaving him off this list entirely as the way I see it, the question for Hondo is not "will he appear" but "when". Hondo is the rare character that so masterfully skirts the line between antagonist and ally, he can be a true friend or dangerous foe all depending on how profitable his mood is.
It's this ability to keep viewers on their toes that has drawn so many to him and has motivated his continued reappearance in the Star Wars universe, making the leap beyond the live action films to real-life, as a top-of-line (scarily realistic) animatronic of Hondo greets guests in the pre-show to the Galaxy's Edge ride; Smugglers Run. Not only is Hondo an essential part of the park-going experience but it confirms his survival to the time of the sequel trilogy, leaving plenty of room for everyone's favorite intergalactic pirate to show his hatted head in an upcoming chapter of The Mandalorian.
As Hondo would put it: "This effort is VERY profitable!"
Ursa Wren
Occupation:
Countess
Affiliation:
Clan Wren, The Nite Owls Last Known Whereabouts:
Mandalore
Why They're Cool:
Ursa is the leader of Clan Wren, one of the major families of Mandalore, she fought along side Bo-Katan during the Clone Wars as a member of The Nite Owls an elite all-woman group of Mandalorian Warriors. Ursa is a battle-hardened soldier and a powerful ruler who
will no longer tolerate the Empire's boot on
Mandalore's throat.
Reason They're on This List:
With her long-time ally, Bo-Katan appearing in Chapter 11 and playing what seems to be an essential role in the future of The Mandalorian, Ursa's appearance feels like an inevitability. We do not know her whereabouts after the re-taking of Mandalore, but we do know she pledged her allegiance to Bo-Katan, accepting her as the "Mand'alor" and pledging all of Clan Wren to stand by her side in the fights to come.
Now we know the fight came, assuming Ursa has survived thus far, I wouldn't be surprised to see her bad-ass golden armor in live action sooner than later. We actually saw Ursa return to the silver screen this year, albeit in Star Wars The Clone Wars, set far before the events of The Mandalorian, but with this appearance further solidifying her ties to Bo-Katan, could this bond strengthening be foreshadowing for what's to come?
Sabine Wren
Occupation:
Unknown
Affiliation:
Unknown Last Known Whereabouts:
Unknown
Why They're Cool:
Sabine Wren was "The Mandalorian" before The Mandalorian. Long before fans had Din and long after fans grasped at the straws of Boba Fett, young Star Wars fans of the modern era had Sabine Wren. Sabine made Mandalore accessible, what once was the misguided badge of honor for gatekeeping fandom, became an icon for every new fan to the franchise. Sabine was an artist, a warrior, a technician, a teenager, a bounty hunter, a rebel, a hero.
Reason They're on This List:
Few characters have been as highly requested to appear in The Mandalorian as Sabine Wren. Second only to Ahsoka Tano and Boba Fett, Sabine is the largest open question posed by the new Filoni-run show. Throughout the course of Rebels we saw Sabine become an integral part not only to the Star Wars mythos but the Star Wars culture en masse. From designing the symbol of the Rebel Alliance to learning to master the Dark Saber, making her the first Mandalorian to be trained by a Jedi Knight in centuries. Sabine would go on to fight side by side with Bo-Katan in the campaign to free Mandalore from the iron grip of the Empire who had put into use a weapon of her own design (designed during her time at the Imperial Academy), that turned Mandalorian's signature Beskar armor into a smoldering deathtrap. It's hard to imagine Moff Gideon will not be inspired by this design if Bo's Mandalorians continue to be a thorn in his side.
When we left Sabine at the end of Star Wars Rebels, she was preparing to embark on a journey, alongside an aged and disciplined Ahsoka Tano. To many this journey posed a premise for a new potential show unto itself, and while that story has yet to unfold, with Ahsoka set to appear (This Week!) in The Mandalorian it does beg us to ask the question..."where is Sabine?" Did they go on their journey already? Did they find their long-lost friend, or could this imply that the beginning of their journey started much later than we originally thought. While the finale's epilogue frames their adventure as post-Return of the Jedi, it is not specified just how long after the Battle of Endor the two embark on their quest.
It's hard to imagine we won't see this questions answered in a show that now features not only the Dark Saber, not only Bo-Katan but now may debut a live action Ahsoka Tano. i do not personally believe that The Mandalorian is the place to tell the story of her and Ahsoka's shared journey but I do believe Sabine has a place in the show that has yet to reveal itself.
Before I end this list, I'd like to posit a theory I've been kicking around since the beginning of Season 2, and was only strengthened by Bo's arrival in Chapter 12. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Executive Producer Jon Favreau said about season 2:
“As we introduce other characters, there are opportunities to follow different storylines. The world was really captivated by Game of Thrones and how that evolved as the characters followed different storylines — that's very appealing to me as an audience member.”
With the return of Boba Fett and the arrival of Bo-Katan, could we see the show shift it's focus to different protagonists in the chapters to come? Could the show find itself following a nomadic Boba Fett trekking through the Dune Sea, or a weathered Bo-Katan staging missions to cripple the remnant Empire?
The show is called The Mandalorian, but as some fan's have long known and as new viewers are starting to see, Mandalorians come in all shapes and sizes. It may seem out-there to imagine an episode from Sabine's perspective now, but if we start to see Boba and Bo take the center-stage in chapters to come, could it be that eponymous Mandalorian the title refers to is not in fact Din, or any singular character at all, but instead the creed and culture of the people itself.
After all, while Din's cult claims "This Is The Way", we now know there are many different "Ways" left to explore.
While I spent a lot of time putting this list together, of course there are going to be many characters I neglected to include or simply was unaware of, who do you think may join the cast of The Mandalorian next and why? Feel free to let me know!
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