Spoilers:
The Mandalorian Season 3 wrapped its third season this week, in what felt a lot like a series finale. The season 3 started relatively strong, assuming you had already seen The Book of Bobba Fett, which wasted no time in setting up where Din and Grogu might go next. That was however, followed by a confusing mishmash of story lines, half-baked side-quests, and forced world building, until we got to a strong but by-the-numbers finale.
Why by-the-numbers? Well, Bo Katan (Katee Sackhoff) and the Mandalorians win their home world back in an epic fight? Check. Grogu is officially adopted, cementing Pedro Pascal as THE Internet Dad? Check. The Armorer is not a spy? Check. Moff ‘Budget Darth Vader’ Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) is vanquished? Check. There is a Palpatine clone bait-and-switch? Check. The DarkSaber is unceremoniously removed as a franchise McGuffin? Check. Is “Somehow, Moff Gideon returned…” likely to happen? Check and Double Check.
At the end of the season, we find Din Djarin and Din Grogu in a good place and set up for ‘one per week’ adventures – should Season 4 happen. However, we suspect that "It's a trap!” – and there will be no season 4. Instead, the father-son duo will now traverse through the volley of shows and movies recently announced at the Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London. Here’s some of our predictions on where Grogu and Djarin will appear next, knowing what we know:
This is obvious since Ahsoka is Dave Filoni’s pet project and a direct spin-off to The Mandalorian. Ahsoka has already appeared in The Mandalorian and The Book of Bobba Fett, and given the announcement of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return, it won’t be a stretch to assume that the New Republic may call upon the Dins’ services to aid Ashoka Tano.
12-parsec prediction: When somehow Palpatine returns, he will need to be a force sensitive clone – as teased in the finale. I predict Thrawn and the growing First Order may still need Grogu to perfect those Palpatine Clones. So… Can we have Din Djarin deliver the Liam Neeson Taken monologue please? For Grogu? Please?
This is another obvious one, since Dave “George Lucas Jr.” Filoni has confirmed that his Star Wars movie will tie-up the threads from the Disney+ live-action shows, and animated series like Star Wars: Bad Batch and Star Wars: Rebels (amongst others). Filoni and Jon Favreau are making a concerted effort to weave their sub-franchise into a cohesive ‘New Republic Era’ arc, that fills up the p(l)otholes from the sequels. Safe to assume then, that Grogu and Djarin will be major players.
12-parsec prediction(s): This is going to be the Avengers: Infinity War of the Star Wars franchise. Expect Luke Skywalker or Han Solo to make an appearance. Expect a last stand against the now consolidated First Order – and 50% of all Mandoverse characters to die. My money is on Bo, Djarin, and Ashoka not making it out of this movie alive.
With a Daisey Ridley-led post-sequel movie announced, we bet Grogu will be making an appearance. Rey as the ‘Last Skywalker’ will need to rebuild the Jedi Order...again. A more mature, teenage Grogu (hiding from the sequels) is a good place to start. Also, that would help sell more toys, right?
12-parsec prediction: Grogu will be joined by a force sensitive member of the Gungan species – take my plushies fund if that’s Jar Jar Bink’s grandson.
Skeleton Crew is meant to be a coming-of-age story of a bunch of youngsters in the Star Wars universe. They're supposed to be be chased by a powerful enemy, which makes it the perfect set-up for Grogu and Djin to come to their rescue. The Mandalorian veteran director Bryce Dallas Howard is slated to direct episodes, and our money is on the Dins’ making it to those.
12-parsec prediction: None yet.