The faraway galaxy is a big place, but that doesn't stop Star Wars from feeling a bit like a soap opera at times, with most of the characters' lives intersecting at some point along the timeline. But we're not complaining - we're just wondering what other iconic characters might show up in The Mandalorian Season 3 now that we've already seen Luke Skywalker and R2-D2.
While the third season is likely to call upon well-known characters, will any of them be iconic? Doing so can be tricky to pull off, whether it's because the actors have aged, or that the likes of Carrie Fisher have passed away, but this didn't stop Disney and Lucasfilm from including Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian Season 2, or even resurrecting Boba Fett, for that matter.
But there are, of course, other actors available who have already stepped into the shoes of some of these characters. Not only that, but some aren't even human anyway, which makes it a whole lot easier. So which iconic Star Wars characters could appear in The Mandalorian Season 3?
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Chewbacca
There's no question whatsoever that Chewbacca could easily be introduced into The Mandalorian. After all, he's a Wookie, and doesn't need recasting or de-aging. It also helps that he's around 200 years old, as well as the fact that he's appeared in every Star Wars movie, with the exception of Rogue One, which means that he has already spanned the entire timeline, so having him show up in The Mandalorian Season 3 would be easy, as it's only set five years after Return of the Jedi.
But how could Chewie be brought into the fold from a narrative perspective? Well, let's not forget that he's still spending his days with Han Solo – and will for the next couple of decades until Solo is killed in The Force Awakens. Being a bounty hunter means that Chewie is more likely to cross paths with Din Jarin than other iconic characters. And it goes without saying that seeing Mando and Chewie side-by-side makes so much sense. In fact, we think they were made for each other. Grogu, who?
Han Solo
We can't mention Chewie without following him up with Han Solo, though this would be trickier territory to navigate, considering that Harrison Ford is now 79 years old. Of course, there's always Aldren Ehrenreich, but the only problem with this is that Aldren played the ‘younger' Solo in the film of the same name, 12 years before he ‘turns' into Harrison Ford. With that said, there are some impressive Deepfakes online in which Ford's face is placed over Ehrenreich's in the spin-off movie.
Ultimately, though, we don't think most fans would have a problem with seeing the young actor reprising his role, even if he should ‘look' like Harrison Ford at the point The Mandalorian is set. So, whether it's Ehrenreich or a ‘Deepfaked' Ford, a major role or just a cameo, does Han have a place alongside Mando? Sure – he's a bounty hunter, and it would make perfect sense to see him show up. Let's just hope they both get along, though we do wonder who would shoot first if they don't.
Yoda Force Ghost
You might be wondering why Yoda's Force Ghost would ever show up in The Mandalorian Season 3 when he's more likely to show up in a Jedi-focused show like the Ahsoka series, but we aren't convinced Din Jarin is quite done with his involvement with the Jedi just yet. He would also be very easy to introduce, whether it's the Yoda puppet we saw in The Last Jedi, or the much-preferred CGI version from the prequel trilogy. Either way, expect that ethereal blue light and some solid words of wisdom.
But still, why would Yoda's Force Ghost ever visit Mando? Well, perhaps Season 2 isn't the last we've seen of Grogu. While we do expect him to take a hiatus (otherwise, why bother having Luke rescue him?), it's more than likely he'll make a return. And if he does, he may be visited by one of the only two other known creatures like him (with the other being a female character called Yaddle from The Phantom Menace). Or perhaps Luke will reach out to Yoda through the Force to seek guidance for Grogu - after all, he can be a little rascal.
Princess Leia
Not unlike Grand Moff Tarkin and Princess Leia in Rogue One, Luke's cameo in the show's finale involved a combination of de-aging, Deepfake technology, a lookalike stand-in, and Mark Hamill himself, so it's only reasonable to assume this tool will be used again in future Star Wars films and TV shows. In the case of The Mandalorian, though, it's possible we'll see other iconic Star Wars characters brought back to life in the same way, perhaps even an encore from Princess Leia.
Leia's appearance in Rogue One might seem a little uncanny, but it's still possible to introduce her into The Mandalorian, whether it's using the same technology or through recasting. If it's a recasting, then Ingvild Deila, the Norwegian actress who played Leia in that scene, would be a wise choice. While Leia isn't the first character you think of when it comes to The Mandalorian, it's not such a stretch to imagine Din Jarin crossing paths with such a huge political figure, and also a newly trained Jedi Knight.
Related: Which Characters Will Appear in The Book of Boba Fett?
Rey Skywalker
Say what you will about Rey, but she is still considered an iconic character, as memorable and as synonymous with Star Wars as Kylo Ren and BB-8 – though we're not sure about any other character from the sequel trilogy, as they're all pretty forgettable. But how exactly could Rey make an appearance in The Mandalorian Season 3? Well, according to many rumors about The Mandalorian Season 3, the show is ‘heading' towards the sequel trilogy territory, while many also believe The Bad Batch is doing the same thing following its season finale.
While it wouldn't make any sense for Daisy Ridley to show up, seeing a younger version of Rey isn't out of the question. Jon Favreau has even said that The Mandalorian will eventually lead into the sequel trilogy. With that said, the show would have to make a significant time jump, as it's a good 25 years until The Force Awakens. In that film, Rey is 19, so any sort of leap forward for Mando would need to be at least 10 years if we're going to meet the powerful Jedi as a child.
The Mandalorian Season 3 is scheduled to be released on Disney+ on February 2023.