Since Disney took over the Star Wars franchise there have been huge hits (The Force Awakens), box-office flops (Solo: A Star Wars Story), mediocre series (The Book of Boba Fett), and those projects which are likely to be wiped even from the databanks of the Jedi library on Coruscant – we’re looking at you, The Rise of Skywalker.
But one undeniable hit has been The Mandalorian, the Star Wars spin-off series that helped kick off Disney+ in the first place.
Set after events of the original trilogy, the first two seasons of The Mandalorian has weaved in Star Wars lore from all three movie trilogies, while still creating new and exciting characters to take the saga to brand-new places.
Here’s everything you need to know about the third season of The Mandalorian.
When will The Mandalorian season 3 be released on Disney+?
The Mandalorian Season 3 will arrive on Disney+ in February 2023.
Filming for the third season began in October 2021 and wrapped at the end of March 2022.
The first two seasons of The Mandalorian both had eight episodes, so while nothing has been confirmed, it’s probably reasonable to expect eight this time too.
A fourth season for The Mandalorian is in development, but won’t be released until 2024.
Is there a trailer for The Mandalorian season 3?
Yes! Disney unveiled the first trailer for The Mandalorian season three at its recent D23 fan event. And there’s like to be another trailer before the series arrives next year.
Check out the trailer below for a teaser of what’s in store. And keep your eyes peeled for tiny space mechanic Babu Frik!
Which characters will be in The Mandalorian season 3?
Pedro Pascal will once again be back as Din Djarin, a bounty hunter who was adopted into the Mandalorian culture as a youngling after his parents were murdered in the Clone Wars.
Grogu will also be back, which no doubt will mean even more merchandise of the cute Jedi Padawan to be flogged at your nearest Disney Store.
Giancarlo Esposito will also be back – for a time, at least – as the show’s main villain, the sinister Moff Gideon. ‘I have a feeling you’ll see more of me next season. More than likely you’re going to see a lot of Moff Gideon,’ the actor told Entertainment Weekly.
Bounty hunter guild leader Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) and scrappy mechanic Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris) will also be returning for the third season. And as the trailer reveals, weapons master and expert on ‘The Mandalorian way’, the Armorer (Emily Swallow) is back to give Mando some sage advice and even better weapons.
Excitingly, Back to the Future star Christopher Lloyd has also joined the cast in a mystery role. Great Scott!
The Mandalorian has become famous for featuring fan-favourite characters from across Star Wars lore. The show previously brought back the likes of Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka, Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze, Temuera Morrison’s Boba Fett, and of course, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).
While 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker was divisive, it did at least give us Babu Frik, and the loveable droidsmith will be making an appearance in The Mandalorian’s third run.
It is yet to be confirmed if we will see the return of former slave-turned-sheriff Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant) and skilled mercenary Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen).
What’s the story so far in The Mandalorian?
A lot has happened since The Mandalorian first introduced to bounty hunter Din Djarin back in 2019.
Throughout the first season, viewers were given glimpses of Djarin’s backstory through flashbacks. We learned that his family were murdered by separatist droids during the Clone Wars, but Djarin was then adopted into the Mandalorian culture and trained in the ways of their cult.
Originally hired to capture Grogu – an infant of the same species as Jedi Master Yoda – the Mandalorian instead protects him and becomes a father figure to him.
The pair then get embroiled in a series of mostly standalone adventures while remnants of the fallen Galactic Empire attempt to capture Grogu to use his Force abilities.
At the end of The Mandalorian season two Din Djarin rescued Grogu from Moff Gideon’s cruiser, joined by allies Bo-Katan and her Mandalorian warriors. The rescue looked doomed until Jedi Master Luke Skywalker arrives to save the day.
Appearing in several episodes of spin-off series The Book of Boba Fett, Djarin and Grogu were seen departing Tatooine in their new N-1 Starfighter after battling the Pyke syndicate and helping Boba Fett to liberate Mos Espa.
What happens in The Mandalorian season three?
Apart from what we’ve seen in the trailer, much of the plot for The Mandalorian season three remains unknown.
After Moff Gideon was captured at the end of season two, it remains to be seen if he will be executed or imprisoned for his crimes. Perhaps he will escape and continue to hunt down Grogu, or perhaps he could turn to the light side of the force.
Grogu has already rejected training in the arts of the Jedi with Luke Skywalker, instead choosing to reunite with Din Djarin, but that won’t stop his force abilities from growing – will he be able to control his powers without the help of a Jedi teacher?
Din Djarin now is the owner of the Darksaber after defeating Moff Gideon, its previous owner, in battle. But this doesn’t please Bo-Katan who believes the weapon should belong to her as the ruler of the Mandalore people. It’s almost certain that the fight for the Darksaber – and the ruler of Mandalore – is far from over.
What other Star Wars shows are coming to Disney+?
When it comes to TV, Star Wars fans are being fed better than Jabba the Hutt on Christmas Day.
Recent shows like The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi blended fan service with storylines that pushed the franchise into the future.
Before The Mandalorian returns, wannabe Jedi Knight’s can look forward to Rogue One spin-off Andor, a space espionage saga that arrives on Disney+ on September 21.
In 2023, spin-off series Ahsoka will follow the former Jedi (Rosario Dawson) as she hunts down big blue baddie Grand Admiral Thrawn and teen hero Ezra Bridger, so basically a live-action reunion from the animated Star Wars: Rebels series.
Jude Law will star in Skeleton Crew, a series set after events of Return of the Jedi, that has been described as a coming-of-age story about a group of young adventurers.
The Acolyte is one of the most exciting prospects for the Star Wars universe, with the series taking place roughly 100 years before The Phantom Menace and will show the rise of the Sith and how they infiltrated the Senate behind the shadows of the omnipresent Jedi Council.