With the new Star Wars film The Mandalorian & Grogu having wrapped production in December, we’ve heard very little regarding the film with the exception of a few casting choices, but an old enemy of Din Djarin and Grogu’s has teased a possible return to trouble them even further in their next adventure.
In an interview with Empire, Giancarlo Esposito teased audiences may see him as Moff Gideon again in either the upcoming film or a future Star Wars project. Throughout The Mandalorian‘s three seasons, Gideon was the primary antagonist as he hunted Grogu to use him for experimentation and his special Force-sensitive blood.
The finale of Mandalorian‘s third season revealed Gideon was cloning himself with the intent of combining his DNA with Grogu’s creating an army of Gideon-clones who could use the Force. With the help of Djarin and Bo-Katan, the clones were destroyed and Gideon died as the Mandalorians liberated their home planet from Gideon’s Imperial forces. Despite his apparent death, though, Esposito hopes we haven’t seen the last of Gideon.
“There is a big movie coming out that’s focusing on Mando and The Child,” Esposito said. “I can’t say it’ll be that. But I hope to be able to join that franchise again, because I think there’s more road for Moff Gideon.” With Gideon cloning himself, there’s no way to tell those were all the clones he had produced when Djarin destroyed them. And after all, it wouldn’t be the first time Star Wars brought back a previously-deceased character after The Rise of Skywalker made Emperor Palpatine “somehow return.”
Esposito spoke more about Gideon as well with his insight into the character and wish to further explore his past and personality, saying “Moff Gideon, to me, was ultimately that young boy who never had any power, who was always questioned about the color of his skin. Are you white? Are you Black? Your hair is kind of curly?’ And he then took on this place for me, where he was ultimately the power, not only because of his physicality but because of his brain…The way he spoke, and everything else which I was able to create in such a powerful way, empowered me to control the chaos around me.”
Star Wars: The Mandalorian will see Pedro Pascal reprise his role as Din Djarin with Sigourney Weaver joining the galaxy far, far away in an undisclosed role, Jonny Coyne reprise his role as the Shadow Council’s Imperial warlord and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, Jabba’s grown up son after his introduction in the animated The Clone Wars film.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu is set for release on May 22nd 2026.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Bluesky for more movie news and nerd talk.
