The daughter of former NFL quarterback Glenn Carano, Carano played Cara Dune, an ex-mercenary turned New Republic Marshal who lived and worked on the planet Nevarro. She was often seen alongside Greef Karga (Carl Weathers), such as in the Emmy Award-winning The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 3 (“Chapter 12: The Siege”).
Throughout The Mandalorian Season 2, Carano became known for her divisive Twitter posts, which often showcased her political and social opinions. Twitter users on both sides of the aisle have been passionate regarding their feelings toward the actress.
The straw that broke the camel’s back about Gina Carano was a Tweet that many deemed anti-Semitic. The Hollywood Reporter shared Lucasfilm’s official statement about firing the Star Wars actress:
“Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future,” a Lucasfilm spokesperson said in a statement. “Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”
Almost immediately after news about Carano’s firing broke, social media users began noting that Pascal had previously shared a post that compared modern-day American culture to Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.
…[some fans] found the decision hypocritical, as Pascal, 45, received no apparent consequences for his comparison of Donald Trump supporters to Nazis in a November post that he subsequently deleted.
“Pedro Pascal, who plays the Mandalorian on Disney Plus, was not fired for this post on Instagram comparing Trump supporters to Nazis and Confederates,” tweeted one frustrated critic.
Lucasfilm has not commented on the Pedro Pascal controversy that has begun making the rounds online. Some fans are even wondering if the timing of the announcement about Pascal’s new HBO series was coincidental or intentional, pointing out that it could be a message, of sorts, to Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company.
The Mandalorian has done something no previous Disney Star Wars project has done — brought the fandom together instead of tearing them apart (hi, sequel trilogy). The adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu (AKA Baby Yoda) have given fans the authentic storytelling and character development that many have been missing from the Star Wars franchise for too long.
Given that Favreau reportedly crafted the role of Cara Dune specifically for Carano, it will certainly be interesting to see what happens moving forward. The actress was reportedly set to star in the upcoming Mandalorian spinoff series Rangers of the New Republic, announced by Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy at the 2020 Disney Investor Day event.
She [Gina Carano] made her debut as a mercenary in the fourth episode of the first season of the series, and by the end of season two, the former Rebel Alliance shock trooper had become one of Din Djarin’s fiercest allies and advanced in responsibility as a New Republic Marshal.
The producers seemed quite invested in her character; they recently revealed she hailed from Alderaan, the same planet (well, ex-planet) as Princess Leia, played by the late Carrie Fisher, establishing a link to the original Star Wars trilogy.
What other implications could Carano’s firing have?
Gina Carano being fired from Star Wars could have long-term, far-reaching implications for the Walt Disney Company. There is already a social media campaign encouraging people to cancel their Disney+ subscriptions unless the Cara Dune actress is brought back — and if this situation has taught us anything, it’s the power of social media.
Furthermore, this potential behind-the-scenes casting drama could delay The Mandalorian Season 3, Ahsoka, Rangers of the New Republic, and the final confirmed spinoff, The Book of Boba Fett.
What’s the bottom line?
All the Star Wars fan community can know is what Lucasfilm shared in their official statement regarding Carano’s future in the post-Skywalker Saga Star Wars galaxy.
However, the fan base is divided, with many pointing out that Disney and Marvel Studios re-hired Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn following his highly controversial past comments — yet, in the minds of these fans, Carano seems to have not received the same treatment.
Others are glad to see Carano gone and look forward to a Mandalorian franchise without the actress’s involvement.
No matter where you fall, it is clear that losing Gina Carano has potentially caused major friction for The Mandalorian as it moves into the upcoming season, especially where Favreau and leading man Pascal are concerned.
What do you think about the future of The Mandalorian? If you need your beskar armor fix now, remember both seasons of The Mandalorian and Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian is currently streaming on Disney+.
Editor’s Note: The opinions reflected in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Inside the Magic overall.
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Credit: Daniel Boczarski for Disney
