Eman Esfandi, one ofStar Wars’most recent live-action additions, has debunked rumors that his character is set to appear inThe Mandalorian and Grogu. As the most immediateupcomingStar Warsmovie,The Mandalorian and Grogulies at the center of much speculation.Lucasfilm has yet to outlineThe Mandalorian and Grogu’s cast and story. However, production began in August 2024, meaning more updates about the continuation of Din Djarin’s story areexpected in the coming months. How this impactsupcomingStar WarsTV showsis unclear, but rumors about ties to past small-screen installments have been aplenty.
A recent report that has surfaced online has claimed thatAhsokastarEman Esfandiwill appear inThe Mandalorian and Grogu, a claim the actor has since debunked on social media. Esfandi portrayed the live-action version of Ezra Bridger inAhsokaseason 1, with the character being left open for future appearances inStar Wars.However, after reports claimed that Esfandi himself had stated he was part ofThe Mandalorian and Grogu, Esfandi replied with a simple"I did not say this,“shutting down the rumor mill before it could properly begin.
What This Means For The Mandalorian & Grogu
Would Ezra Bridger’s Appearance Affect The Mandalorian & Grogu?
Naturally, Esfandi’s comments will only lead to more speculation about the future ofStar Wars’New Republic timeline. It is worth noting that Esfandi did not outright deny he was in the movie, with his comments simply confirming he did not say what was initially reported. It could be the case that Ezra Bridger is lined up for an appearance inThe Mandalorian and Grogu, something that would track with another surprise appearance confirmed in the film’s early D23 2024 footage.
The Mandalorian & Grogu D23 Footage Reveals A Star Wars Rebels Hero’s Return
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This footage confirmed the return of Garazeb “Zeb” Orelios, a Lasat warrior first introduced inStar Wars Rebelsalongside Bridger. Zeb made his live-action debut inThe Mandalorianseason 3as a pilot of the Adelphi Rangers, a group Din Djarin and Grogu are expected to have close ties with in the upcoming story. Where Zeb is, Ezra may not be far behind, potentially hinting that the latter could appear after all. Regardless,Esfandi’s comments make this slightly more unlikely, impacting the probability of a cameo inThe Mandalorian and Grogu.
The Mandalorian & Grogu Is Better Being As Accessible As Possible
The Upcoming Star Wars Movie Cannot Alienate Casual Viewers
The rumors of Eman Esfandi’s appearance as Ezra Bridger inThe Mandalorian and Groguadmittedly make me wary about a potential problem I think the movie could run into. The problem in question is relying too heavily on pastStar Warsstories to makeThe Mandalorian and Groguwork. Although I am awareStar Warshas always been a transmedia franchise, the storytelling of differing mediums has always been crafted so that one story is not required viewing for another. I noticed that this seemed to change withThe Mandalorianseason 3.
Star Wars' New Movie Risks Repeating The Mistakes Of The Mandalorian Season 3
The Mandalorian season 3 made some mistakes regarding the scope and focus of its story and characters, which Star Wars’ next movie may repeat.
InThe Mandalorianseason 3, I found that plot points and characters were being included in the story that first began in animation. As a fan of all thingsStar Warsanimation who feels those projects are overlooked, I was delighted. That said, I am not blind to the fact thatincluding characters like Zeb or Bo-Katan and elements like the Darksaber and Death Watch would mean almost nothing to casualStar Warsviewerswho only keep up with live-action properties. The inclusion of Ezra Bridger inThe Mandalorian and Grogumay worsen this, despite how exciting it could be.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Cast
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a Star Wars movie directed by Jon Favreau that continues Disney+’s immensely popular TV Show, The Mandalorian.
