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Credit: Inside the MagicPedro Pascal is a name that seems to be on everyone’s lips these days, and it’s easy to understand why. As the actor prepares to leave the galaxy far, far away for The Last of Us season 2, can Star Wars do The Mandalorian without THE Mandalorian?
The Mandalorian is one of the most successful entries in the Star Wars franchise, as well as the Disney+ catalog. As the show enters its fourth season, rumors have circulated that its leading man will not be donning the armor once again. Scheduling conflicts and new projects might keep Pascal from donning the Beskar armor for the next adventure, but that’s not really as bad as it sounds.
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Fans have seen the adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu unfold since Disney+ first launched, and the Walt Disney Company has raked in the profits ever since. Although viewers have clung to the likes of Mando and Baby Yoda for years, they aren’t the only interesting parties involved in this chapter of the saga.
The Mandalorian Passes the Torch
When we last left our heroic man in metal in The Mandalorian season 3, he had just defeated Giancarlo Esposito’s Moff Gideon (or his clone), saved the Outer Rim, adopted Grogu as his own Foundling son, and was kicking back and resting on his laurels at his homestead at the outskirts of Navarro. Fade to black, and roll the credits.
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Any standard Star Wars fan would take that as a solid ending, yet another fine chapter in Filoni and Favreau’s Mando-verse. If Padro Pascal is truly stepping away from the character, apart from a possible voice-only appearance, the series can continue without him.
Let’s not forget that there are still other characters more than worthy of being THE Mandalorian and that Din Djarin is just one of many different facets that bring the universe to life. Pascal is undoubtedly the poster boy for the show, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t equally matched in terms of talent.
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Of course, the obvious choice would be to switch perspectives to Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan since she is once again Queen of Mandalore. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and there will undoubtedly be trouble brewing once the rest of the galaxy learns that she has reclaimed her throne on her people’s home planet.
Sackhoff’s portrayal of the Mandalorian Leader was one of many Clone Wars characters that jumped from animation to live-action, and fans loved it. This writer can think of no reason that Filoni fans would object to a change in leadership with season four and adding a subtitle like “Return to Mandalore” or something along those lines.
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On the other hand, Bo-Katan isn’t the only major Mandalorian anymore. The show’s third season saw a whole host of Mandalorian warriors uniting under one banner to battle the Moff and his insidious forces. What’s stopping Disney and Lucasfilm from exploring other Mando storylines focusing on characters like the Armorer or any of the other members of the tribe?
The studio could also find a way to tie in The Book of Boba Fett and bring Temuera Morrison back for another round as the original Mandalorian warrior. If they don’t renew that show for a second season, the least they could do is bring him into the fold, right?
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At the end of the day, The Mandalorian doesn’t necessarily need Din Djarin as its focus to keep the story going. The universe has expanded beyond a singular storyline, and bringing even more Mandos into the action would be a great way to extend the series further.
Do you think the show can survive without Pedro Pascal? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!