As was the case for the weekend, Mando+, a panel about The Mandalorian Season 3 and ended up including Ahsoka details and first footage, wasn’t screened to the public. In fact, there was a longer version of The Mandalorian S3 teaser from the opening day panel that invitees got to see, alongside the Ahsoka footage, but unfortunately we couldn’t even see the cast and crew together talking about their experiences. So thanks to some live tweets and reporting from those who were there, and some grainy Ahsoka footage I was able to see before it was taken down, let’s explore some of the reveals and details below. The Mandalorian returns February ’23 and Ahsoka sometime later that year.
I love the idea both Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder, Pedro Pascal’s stunt doubles who are integral to the performance of Din Djarin and letting Pascal pursue other projects while working on this one, were brought on stage and were able to talk about their work on the series. We often don’t see them or get to hear them talk about the show and they deserve as much spotlight, so I was glad the fans there were able to bring them the love, and I wish we could’ve got to hear them from home as well. UPDATE: Here’s the panel, without the footage, to enjoy!
In case you didn’t get a chance to see the grainy footage from the opening panel, most of the sources have been taken down, but I’ll describe it a bit here before sharing i09’s recounting of the additional footage at the Mando+ panel. The original teaser including Greef Karga’s new look, on a shiny, bright and fuller looking planet (with Kowakian monkey lizards in trees, weirdly enough), Peli Motto and a Rodian, Dr. Pershing’s return, Mando and Grogu in the Naboo starfighter in a space battle, Bo-Katan telling Grogu his dad’s not the only Mandalorian, the Armorer scolding him for returning his helmet, Bo-Katan sitting on a throne once again mad about Din’s sect of Mandalorian’s doing nothing in the shadows, and Din saying he’s going to Mandalore. In the additional footage:
“It began with a Mandalorian character that looked exactly like Paz Vizsla, large gun and all, though it couldn’t be because he’s dead. Then the Armorer holding a new Mandalorian helmet in similar light blue Paz Vizsla colors (fans speculated maybe this is for Grogu?). A shot of an upside down Grogu flying, as well as bunch of Mandalorians on a ship dropping down into a battle. In fact, there are a few shots of multiple Mandalorians teamed up for battles. We see the Armorer walking into a very light room and smashing some bad guys with her hammer. Grogu watching fireworks from inside a ship. At least three Babu Frik-looking creatures fixing something. (Yes, Babus Frik exist). A ship flies through some clouds and ends up on what looks like a demolished Star Destroyer. There’s a bone white colored protocol droid. Mando sleeping as he’s in hyperspace with Grogu in his lap. Tons and tons of dogfighting, including a shot of Mando and Grogu with (maybe) R5-D4 sitting in the back. Then finally, a very dark, dank, grey world that, at first, almost looks like someone cut a Death Star in half at its center. However, it’s not a Death Star. In tease, we think, these are the remnants of Mandalore.”
It seems like The Mandalorian S3 is going to be its grandest, largest season yet!
Regarding Ahsoka, the rumors regarding the casting for live-action Sabine Wren were confirmed: Natasha Liu Bordizzo. I’m excited to see what she can bring to the role and I’m sure she’s going to be great, but when Tiya Sircar was RIGHT THERE, it’ll always baffle me. Both Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau spoke a little on why they didn’t use the animation’s voice actors to bring these characters to life in live-action, and upon listening to their reasoning, it sounds like a non-answer to me, sort of claiming they just wanted to see who could be the best collaborators, which seems to suggest the voice actors weren’t up to snuff according to them, somehow? While I’m sure Natasha Liu Bordizzo will do great in the role, and whomever will be playing Hera Syndulla will as well, it’ll never not rankle most fans due to the continued allegations against Rosario Dawson that have yet to be formally resolved. As much as an animated Star Wars Rebels sequel would’ve been preferred, it’s clear from the Ahsoka footage it’s happening in live-action as we all suspected, as the video included a shot of Hera from behind, walking alongside Ahsoka, even a shot of Huyang, the droid responsible for teaching Jedi to construct lightsabers (and I’m sure David Tennant will return to voice him here), and even the famous mural of the Ghost crew seen in the Rebels finale (with Sabine standing by it in the footage). Ezra (Mena Massoud teasing once again) and Thrawn are not too far behind, I’m sure.
2023 is going to be quite the year for Star Wars on TV!
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.