The Mandalorian has already been entertaining enough for Star Wars fans, but the franchise’s presence on the small screen is only just beginning. Spinoff shows are also on the way like, Rangers of the New Republic. While not much is known about the show at the moment, reports recently suggested it was conceived as a starring vehicle for Gina Carano’s Cara Dune. Because the actress is no longer employed by Lucasfilm, plans will likely change and, according to a new rumor the studio may be looking to bring in a Star Wars Rebels character to take the lead.
If a recent report is to be believed, Lucasfilm is reportedly looking to bring in Star Wars Rebels alum Hera Syndulla as the lead of Rangers of the New Republic. Per LRM Online, the creatives are allegedly having a tough time linking the new show to The Mandalorian without Cara Dune. As we learned at last year’s Disney Investor Day, these new shows are set to lead to a massive event, so some kind of Mando connection is vital. For those unfamiliar with Hera Syndulla, you can check her out down below:
Gina Carano was recently let go from Lucasfilm after she posted a social media message that seemed to compare the current political climate to that of Nazi-era Germany. The actress has since spoken out about the firing, saying she was “bullied” by Disney and was being “head-hunted.”
Hera Syndulla was originally introduced back in 2014 in the first season of Star Wars Rebels as the ace pilot of the Ghost crew, a faction of the Rebel Alliance. Hera would strike a chord with fans, and she has since appeared in other Star Wars media, including comics and video games. She was also name-dropped during the live-action film Rogue One. By the end of Rebels, it was revealed that she remained with the alliance and eventually gave birth to son Jacen, her child with late Jedi Kanan Jarrus.
While this new rumor should be taken with a grain of salt at this point, bringing Hera into Rangers of the New Republic would make a lot of sense. Given her past affiliation with the Rebel Alliance, it stands to reason she would join up with the New Republic after the fall of the Galactic Empire. She would theoretically be a seasoned vet by the events of Rangers, so that would make her perfect as a mentor-type figure to any new supporting characters on the show. Plus, it would give fans the chance to learn what becomes of Syndulla’s potentially Force-sensitive son.
Producer Dave Filoni has also shown no hesitation when it comes to bringing animated Star Wars characters into the live-action realm. We’ve already seen Ahsoka Tano, played by Rosario Dawson, on The Mandalorian, and there are rumors that her spinoff could even bring in another major Rebels character.
We’ll have to wait and see how this development progresses, as production on Rangers of the New Republic is reportedly still a ways off. Until then, fans can speculate on what a Hera Syndulla-led Star Wars show might look like.
Star Wars Rebels is currently available to stream on Disney+.
