
The Force will awaken once more on the big screen in just over a year, with Star Wars returning to cinemas for the first time since December 2019. While much about The Mandalorian and Grogu remains under wraps, new details about the film’s cast and characters continue to surface, building anticipation for this next chapter in the galaxy far, far away.
The latest update, following the January 2024 announcement of the film, sheds light on Sigourney Weaver’s role. Speculation about her involvement has been mounting, and now, fans may finally have some answers about her character.
With every passing update, excitement grows for this next cinematic journey into the Star Wars universe. Pedro Pascal is confirmed to reprise his role as the voice of Din Djarin, though his physical involvement remains a mystery after his voice-centric role in The Mandalorian Season 3. Fans are eager to see if Pascal will once again don the Beskar armor and fight alongside Grogu in this upcoming adventure.
But it’s the addition of Sigourney Weaver that’s truly captured the attention of Star Wars enthusiasts. The legendary actress, who is currently starring in The Tempest on London’s West End, officially joins the Star Wars saga with a role shrouded in secrecy. In August 2024, Weaver opened up to Deadline about her experience working on Jon Favreau’s film:
“I’m playing a role in The Mandalorian [and] Grogu [which will be directed by Jon Favreau],” she shared. “I got to meet Grogu for the first time the other day. I’m filming that before I go to London for The Tempest at the end of the year.”
Weaver added, “I’m looking forward to it. I can’t say much about it right now, but it’s fun to bounce between all these different universes.”
Now, a new report has shed light on Weaver’s character. According to Jeff Sneider, AKA The Insneider, via Comic Book Movie, Weaver will play Colonel Bishop. While official confirmation from Disney or Lucasfilm is still pending, the report suggests that Colonel Bishop may serve as a villain in the film. Previous rumors also indicated that Weaver’s character would pose a threat to Din and Grogu.
Weaver isn’t the only major star joining this Star Wars adventure. Jeremy Allen White (Shameless, The Bear) is reportedly set to portray Rotta the Hutt, Jabba’s estranged son. Known as “Stinky” by fans, Rotta made his debut in The Clone Wars (2008) and hasn’t been seen since.
Meanwhile, Dave Filoni’s beloved bounty hunter Embo is rumored to make the jump to live-action as one of the film’s primary antagonists. Reports suggest that “Embo will be a ‘pretty significant part of the plot,’ as the story focuses on Din and Grogu being hired to rescue the kidnapped Rotta from Embo.”
This news is sure to delight fans of The Clone Wars, with Embo’s inclusion offering an interesting bridge between the animated series and the live-action universe.
Looking ahead, the Star Wars cinematic slate continues to evolve. Projects from James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Shawn Levy, Patty Jenkins, and Simon Kinberg remain in development, though no firm release dates have been confirmed. Disney’s recent decision to replace its December 2026 Star Wars release with Ice Age 6 leaves the franchise’s timeline uncertain.
What do you think about the cast of The Mandalorian and Grogu? Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments!