Spoilers for the latest episode of The Mandalorian – “Chapter 11: The Heiress” – lie ahead.
Disney+'s The Mandalorian is moving right along and giving Star Wars fans plenty of the cosmic goodness they’ve come to expect from the galaxy far, far away. The show has done an excellent job of charting its own path by introducing new characters and concepts into the canon. Of course, the show also isn’t shying away from creating links to other Star Wars shows and movies. One of the ways it's doing this is by bringing in fan-favorite characters. And if you’re a fan like myself, you’d probably love to see characters from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels make appearances.
Clone Wars and Rebels alum Bo-Katan just appeared in The Mandalorian Season 2, and it looks like we're on the cusp of seeing fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano as well. Still, there are plenty of others who could be utilized within the series. Like The Mandalorian, the two animated series managed to make their own space in Star Wars canon and introduce some cool characters in the process. And there a select few that could fit into the live-action series quite nicely. So let’s take a look at some Clone Wars and Rebels characters who should show up on the Disney+ series at some point:
Zeb Orrelios (Star Wars Rebels)
Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios entered Star Wars canon as part of The Ghost’s crew. A member of the Lasat species, Zeb became one of the last of his kind after the Empire devastated his homeworld, Lasan. Fueled by his disdain for the Empire, Zeb became a member of the Spectre-informed Rebel cell and joined his allies in numerous battles against Imperial forces. By the end of the series (set after the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi), Zeb took Imperial official-turned-Rebel Alexsandr Kallus to the planet Lira San, to show him that the Empire hadn’t wiped out all of the Lasat.
With the sprawling nature of The Mandalorian, it wouldn’t be crazy to think that Din Djarin and The Child could find themselves on Lira San in their search for other Mandalorians. Mando and Zeb would certainly bump heads, given that Zeb has a short fuse and Mando has a quick trigger finger. It would also just be interesting to see a member of the Lasat species portrayed in live-action. Bringing Zeb in would be a nice way to create continuity between the two shows and further expand Mando’s world.
Hera Syndulla (Star Wars Rebels)
Like Zeb, Hera Syndulla was a driving force in the Rebellion's battle against the Galactic Empire. She was actually the one who established the crew of The Ghost, which began with her and Jedi Kanan Jarrus. The captain of The Ghost, Hera was a skilled pilot and valiant freedom fighter. Her efforts, particularly on the planet Lothal, gained her notoriety from Imperial leaders and honor from the Rebel Alliance. In the Rebels series finale, it was revealed that she would serve as a Rebellion leader during the Battle of Endor and gave birth to her and the late Kanan’s son, Jacen Syndulla.
Hera would be working for the New Republic during the events of The Mandalorian. At this point, Mando has only had a handful of run-ins with New Republic officers, but with Din Djarin’s growing notoriety, it would be possible for him to somehow get on Hera’s radar. Bringing in such a big New Republic figure would further develop Djarin’s relation to the organization and incorporate a fan-favorite character at the same time. Given that they’re both skilled pilots, it would also be nice to the two face off in the skies. And on top of all this, an appearance from Hera could give fans an indication as to what’s being planned for her son, who could play a significant role in the Star Wars franchise at some point in the future.
Sabine Wren (Star Wars Rebels)
If there’s any main character from Star Wars Rebels who would be a perfect fit for The Mandalorian, it's Sabine Wren. Unlike Din Djarin, Sabine actually hails from Mandalore and is an exiled member of Clan Wren. After flunking out of the Imperial Academy on Mandalore, she became a bounty hunter, and by the time she was 16, she joined Hera’s rebel group on Lothal. Sabine was known for her clever nature, and her artistic talent helped to serve as an inspiration to the Rebellion. During the series, she also found and mastered the Darksaber, using it to help free her homeworld from the Empire’s clutches. She would eventually leave the team for this reason, but would return to help liberate Lothal in the finale. Rebels ended with Sabine joining Ahsoka Tano in an important search (more on that later).
The Mandalorian Season 2 is focusing on Din Djarin’s quest to find other Mandalorians to assist him in locating the Jedi. Sabine’s deep connection to Mandalore, and her friendship with Ahsoka would make her a perfect fit for the show. Bo-Katan may have been the Mandalorian to point Djarin in Ahsoka's direction but, once he meets the Jedi, she could introduce him to Sabine. Once this happens, she could also further educate Mando on Mandalore and its way, as the most recent episode showed that the ways Mando learned are somewhat different from that of other Mandalorians. What's even more exciting is that Sabine and Ahsoka’s presence could tie up a plot thread revolving around this next character.
Ezra Bridger (Star Wars Rebels)
Ezra Bridger managed to leave quite a mark on Star Wars lore through his role on Rebels. The young man was left alone on Lothal when his parents were imprisoned for openly speaking out against the Empire. He would eventually join the crew of The Ghost and, with the help of Jedi Kanan Jarrus, he would learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi. Ezra struggled with staying away from the dark side (even using a Sith holocron to gain power). But in the end, he rejected the dark side and became both a Rebel hero and worthy Jedi. Ezra’s ultimate fate was left ambiguous though, as he allowed himself to be taken into hyperspace by a purrgil (space whale) in order to remove Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn from Lothal during the planet’s liberation.
It’s revealed in the series’ closing moments that his allies, Sabine Wren and Ahsoka Tano, were setting off to look for him. Ahsoka’s presence on The Mandalorian alone opens the door to resolving what happened to Ezra. There’s no telling what might happen when Ahsoka and Mando cross paths, but she could somehow draw him into her search – that is, if she and Sabine haven’t already found him. Bringing in Ezra wouldn’t be impossible, and Lucasfilm may even have a casting option for him. Haunting of Bly Manor star Rahul Kohli recently trolled fans about his taking the role, yet he eventually shot down the rumors that followed. Still, the option to cast him is there if the producers ever want to revive Bridger.
Hondo Ohnaka (Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels)
The slippery and hilarious Hondo could definitely find his way into The Mandalorian somehow. He was first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as the leader of a pirate crew and, in his debut, he managed to capture Count Dooku, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The situation would get a bit crazy, but he and the two Jedi would actually part ways on solid terms. This would lead to a number of run-ins between him and the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars. By the events of Rebels, Hondo’s crew had been dissolved, and he was working alone as a smuggler. During this time, he became a key ally to the growing Rebellion, especially to The Ghost crew, and he ultimately fought alongside them during the Liberation of Lothal.
Hondo would still be around decades later during the war between the Resistance and the First Order, but his whereabouts in the years after the Battle of Endor are unclear. The Mandalorian could easily fill in the blanks when it comes to this chapter of his story. Given his job as a smuggler, he could honestly show up at any time, making it easy for Mando to cross paths with him. Hondo would be a strong addition to the show and could help bring some levity. His reaction to The Child and his strong Force abilities would be priceless.
Captain Rex (Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels)
Next to Ahsoka Tano, Captain Rex is the most famous Star Wars character to come out of The Clone Wars. Rex was a skilled clone leader, participating in numerous battles during the war. Because of their many battles, he became close with the Jedi, especially the young Ahsoka Tano. Rex would eventually discover the inhibitor chip in his head that would made him vulnerable to Order 66. Luckily, Ahsoka, who also learned of the chip, was able to remove it. After the fall of the Republic, Rex went into hiding, but would be sought out by The Ghost’s crew 14 years later. He became their ally, joining them in many battles, including the Liberation of Lothal. Shortly after, Rex also participated in the Battle of Endor.
Incorporating Rex into The Mandalorian could honestly be a bit tricky. At this point in the Star Wars timeline, he’s even older than he was in Rebels and may not be seeing quite as much action. Still, if Rex were to now be working with the New Republic, that would be a great way to bring him back. Plus, with Boba Fett’s role on the show, having Rex would help to further the notion that there are plenty of clones still inhabiting different parts of the galaxy.
Cad Bane (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
As mentioned, Star Wars: The Clone Wars introduced some incredible characters into the franchise, and Cad Bane is certainly one of them. Bane became one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy following the death of Jango Fett. A no-nonsense hunter, Bane was notorious for his willingness to battle Jedi, and he came into conflict with them on numerous occasions. In his time, he’s gone as far as to stage a holocron heist at the Jedi Temple and even kidnap Force-sensitive kids. He also more than proved his skills during Count Dooku’s bounty hunter tournament in Season 4.
With Cad Bane’s status as one of the most dangerous bounty hunters in Star Wars canon, it would only seem right for him to cross paths with Din Djarin. In an unfinished Clone Wars arc, he was originally set to mentor a young Boba Fett and would ultimately lose his life to the boy in a duel. But because that never came to pass, he could still be alive. Bane would be much older by the events of The Mandalorian, but chances are he’d still be just as deadly. He’s a complex character and could easily serve as either a threat or mentor-type figure to Djarin. All in all, bringing in Cad Bane just seems like a no-brainer.
But what other Clone Wars or Rebels characters would you like to see pop up in The Mandalorian at some point? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to keep it here at CinemaBlend for updates on the show and for more news from the world of TV and movies.
New episodes of The Mandalorian Season 2 air Fridays on Disney+, and both Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels are also available to stream on the service.
