2026’s The Mandalorian Movie Will Replace the Show’s Main Villain (Confirmed)

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Giancarlo Esposito has confirmed he won’t be the main villain in the upcoming 2026 sequel to The Mandalorian. This movie, titled The Mandalorian & Grogu, will essentially serve as a fourth season of the Disney+ series, continuing the story of Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu. While it will feature familiar characters and stay true to the established Star Wars timeline, the film will also introduce some new faces to their journey.

Giancarlo Esposito played Moff Gideon, a villain dedicated to restoring the Imperial forces, in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. Though Gideon was the show’s primary antagonist for three seasons, his storyline ended without resolution. Esposito recently revealed he won’t be in the upcoming movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu, but expressed his desire to return to the Star Wars universe in the future.

Giancarlo Esposito hinted at a future movie centered around The Mandalorian and Grogu, though he wasn’t confirming his involvement. He expressed his desire to reprise his role as Moff Gideon, believing there are still stories to tell with the character.

Throughout the three seasons of The Mandalorian, Moff Gideon relentlessly pursued Grogu (known as the Child), hoping to use his Force abilities to create an army of clones. Gideon also possessed the Darksaber, a famous weapon representing rightful rule over Mandalore, which he had taken unfairly during the destruction of Mandalore.

In the Season 3 finale of The Mandalorian, Moff Gideon seemingly perished in a fiery explosion. However, because his body wasn’t recovered and he was wearing strong Beskar Dark Trooper armor, it’s possible he survived, leaving the door open for him to return in future seasons.

Now that Giancarlo Esposito likely won’t be in The Mandalorian & Grogu, the movie will need a new main villain to replace his character, Gideon. While several new characters, including the Hutt Clan and Rotta the Hutt, have been announced, it’s still unknown who will be the film’s primary antagonist.

Following the events of Return of the Jedi, The Mandalorian & Grogu picks up the story of Din Djarin and Grogu in a galaxy undergoing major shifts. With the Galactic Empire defeated and the New Republic just beginning, Mando and Grogu continue their adventures. Jon Favreau, who co-created the original The Mandalorian series, returns as director. The film is scheduled for release in theaters on May 22, 2026.

Who Will Be The Mandalorian & Grogu’s New Villain?

Disney isn’t revealing much about the story of The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, but several characters are potential villains.

Early this year, a rumor (first reported by Bespin Bulletin) claimed that the bounty hunter Embo would be the main villain in the film. Embo, a Kyuto native of the Outer Rim planet Phatrong, gained popularity in Star Wars: The Clone Wars thanks to his distinctive pan-shaped hat, which he could use as both a shield and a weapon. He occasionally teamed up with another bounty hunter, Cad Bane, who later appeared in The Book of Boba Fett.

Having a bounty hunter as the main villain would cleverly connect the story of The Mandalorian & Grogu to Din Djarin’s past, and allow the Star Wars film to explore the darker, criminal side of the Star Wars universe.

As a critic, I see a lot of potential in The Mandalorian & Grogu to really connect all the Star Wars shows we’ve been getting. Ahsoka Season 1 did a great job reintroducing Grand Admiral Thrawn, and it looks like he’s going to be a major bad guy for this whole era of Star Wars. So, having him show up in the next Mandalorian movie isn’t just fan service—it feels like a smart move to build a bigger, more connected story that pulls in characters and plotlines from Rebels, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett. It’s exciting to think about how all these pieces could come together!

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2025-12-24 01:35