Even as the third installment of titular Disney+ series The Mandalorian is already under creation, here is all there is to know about the second one set for release later this year.
- 1. Season 2 Release Date
- 2. Production Updates
- 3. The Mandalorian
- 4. Season 2 Expectations
- 5. Season 2 Expected Storyline/Plot
- Search for Baby Yoda’s Home
- Potential Spin-off
- A New Enemy – Jedi
- Mystery of Darksaber
- Return of Boba Fett
- Return of the spurs
- Who’s the real Mandalorian?
- Gideon’s ally
- Some good ol’ buddy-cop action
- Will Rosario Dawson star as Ahsoka Tano?
- Michael Biehn’s latest bounty hunter
- 6. Jon Favreau – Director?
1. Season 2 Release Date
The Mandalorian’s official season 2 release date is expected in October 2020. Season 2 was already in the works when season 1 was released.
2. Production Updates
This is only expected, considering The Mandalorian is Disney’s most successful original at the moment.
Since it has worked wonders for the subscription of Disney+, it won’t be a surprise if the creators were asked to prep 3 seasons even before it had begun production.
Meanwhile, filming for season 2 appears to have wrapped in March 2020, based on this Instagram post from star Gina Carano. We are now waiting for the magic of special effects.
3. The Mandalorian
This Star Wars live-action series is based in the aftermath of the Empire’s fall. It follows the titular bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) as he trots the galaxy in all his swagger.
The real focal point of the series is the delightful Baby Yoda (or The Child). And the Mandalorian’s real mission is to keep The Child safe.
4. Season 2 Expectations
In its second season, The Mandalorian is most likely to follow Baby Yoda’s search for home even as the vengeful, Darksaber-wielding Gideon threatens to stand in the Way.
In fact, if rumors are to be believed, there may also be a Skywalker cameo in store for fans!
What is more, there are quite a few new faces and stories to be introduced to the second phase of Baby Yoda’s and Mandalorian’s journey.
5. Season 2 Expected Storyline/Plot
Going forward, there is no official synopsis of the second season of The Mandalorian. However, there are some obvious and some speculated plot points. Let’s take a look.
Search for Baby Yoda’s Home
Ever since the cold-hearted Mandalorian took up the responsibility of protecting the infantile Baby Yoda, it was clear that his duty was to ensure the child is either returned to its species or is trained to be a Mandalorian.
In the season 1 finale, the Mandalorian is told that because Baby Yoda is a foundling, “By creed, it is in your care. You have no choice, you must reunite it with its own kind.”
Potential Spin-off
Now the meaning of uniting Baby Yoda with its kind could have many many implications in the Star Wars world. Maybe the Mandalorian is simply looking for the homeworld of Yoda’s species.
It is widely known that Jedi Master Yoda’s origins and home planet were doggedly kept secret by creator George Lucas.
But considering the reigns are now with Disney, this tradition will likely change. The Mandalorian season 1 already has a major portion dedicated to the need to search for “the Child” -– aka Baby Yoda’s -– homeland.
But if this were not the case, the Mandalorian may simply find a Jedi who had survived the Emperor’s purge in Revenge of the Sith.
A New Enemy – Jedi
In this case the Mandalore’s battles would now be with the Jedi, rather than directly with Yoda’s species, implying that Mando’s new bounty could become the Jedi.
Mystery of Darksaber
When Moff Gideon cuts himself out of the TIE Fighter at the end of The Mandalorian season 1 finale, he uses a blade that sounds like a lightsaber but looks different.
Sword-shaped, with a black blade surrounded by a bright glow, the weapon was undoubtedly the legendary Darksaber.
This weapon is a crucial part of the Mandalorian lore. After Star Wars Rebels, it ends up in the hands of the heir to the Mandalorian leadership.
How did such a valuable weapon end up in Gideon’s hands?
We do know that Gideon was an Imperial Security Bureau officer during the Empire’s “Great Purge” that wiped out the Mandalorians. So he could have obtained the Darksaber from the heir at that time.
Alternatively, the Darksaber could have been with the “Tribe” living underground on Nevarro throughout The Mandalorian season 1.
Gideon may simply have obtained it when his Imperials wiped out the Mandalorians in hiding. But this seems less likely, considering the surviving Armorer would have protected such an essential weapon with her life.
In the upcoming season, we are bound to see more of Moff Gideon, probably looking for revenge after the battle at the end of season 1.
“Major, major, epic, epic lightsaber action happening on this show,” Gioncarlo Espositio, who plays the Gideo, had recently said at Fan Expo Canada (as reported by Comic Book).
Return of Boba Fett
In a recent interview, Disney’s Bob Iger had hinted at possible spin-offs, in addition to more characters being introduced in The Mandalorian season 2.
He teased it as, “more coming from The Mandalorian after that, including the possibility of infusing it with more characters and the possibility of taking those characters in their own direction in terms of series.”
And one of the most likely reappearances could be that of the legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett. (Yes! The one assumed dead by many.)
However, Boba Fett’s inclusion in The Mandalorian fits almost perfectly with the show’s plot as well as the timeline.
However, once Disney purchased Lucasfilm, they declared the Expanded Universe non-canon, leaving the question of Boba Fett’s survival unanswered.
It is not until Chuck Wendig’s canonical novel Star Wars: Aftermath comes out that the mystery of Boba Fett’s death reopens. In the book, Cobb Vanth finds an armor on Tatooine that is described very similarly to Boba Fett’s.
Despite the circumstantial evidence of his survival in the novel, Boba Fett is yet to appear on screen since Return of the Jedi. This is definitely a plot that could be ported over into live-action with The Mandalorian and resolve the mystery once and for all.
Return of the spurs
In fact, the first season may have already introduced Boba Fett as one of season 2’s most notable villains in a discreet scene from Chapter 5.
In the final minutes of The Mandalorian Episode 5, “The Gunslinger,” an unknown character is seen approaching the unconscious Fennec Shand.
We can only make out the character’s boots, which make a clinking sound when walking like they have spurs. Now, spurs have been a staple sound of (that’s right!) Boba Fett.
Who’s the real Mandalorian?
Meanwhile, Boba Fett may have a history with the Mandalorians, but he is not a real Mandalorian. Boba is a clone of Jango Fett, who stole the armor from a Mandalorian and used it for bounty hunting.
A clash of cultures could thus ensue, with Boba Fett as a pretender and Mando as a strict adherent to Mandalorian culture. This would allow the series to take forward Boba Fett’s legacy as well as the Mandalorian mythos introduced in season 1.
Gideon’s ally
As a trained bounty hunter, Boba Fett would also make an ideal choice for Moff Gideon to do his bidding. That is if he were to return.
Some good ol’ buddy-cop action
Meanwhile, we know that Greef and Cara are sticking around together on Nevarro, and that should lead to some epic buddy-cop action, especially since Cara isn’t amused by the rugged bounty hunter.
Emily Swallow’s the Armorer – the Mandalorian clan leader that forges Din’s armor, seems to have survived the Imperial attack and is likely to return alongside Greef and Cara.
Will Rosario Dawson star as Ahsoka Tano?
The biggest casting news so far has been SlashFilm reporting that Rosario Dawson is joining The Mandalorian. That, too, as a live-action version of Ahsoka Tano, the Jedi apprentice of Anakin Skywalker.
We’ve only seen Ahsoka before as an animated character in The Clone Wars and Rebels. While Dawson has expressed happiness if she were to be offered the role, neither Lucasfilm nor Dawson has confirmed her involvement.
Michael Biehn’s latest bounty hunter
When it comes to confirmed casting news, Michael Biehn’s addition has been confirmed by Disney.
Biehn will be joining season two as a bounty hunter from Mando’s past. The concept art for The Mandalorian season 2 shows a sneak peek of Michael Biehn’s new character, as shown below.
The costume gels in well with the Star Wars theme while still managing to separate itself from Mando’s armor.
The addition of Biehn’s character as a bounty hunter who shares a past with the Mandalorian is a good starting point. Whether he’s a friend or foe is yet to be revealed, but his presence is bound to shed more light on the Mandalorian’s past.
6. Jon Favreau – Director?
As the creator and chief writer of The Mandalorian season 1, Jon Favreau stayed away from directing any of the episodes.
But this is expected to change in season 2.
“I didn’t get a chance the last time around because I was doing Lion King,” Favreau mentioned to EW. “So, I’ll step in for one of them.”
What’s more, the rumor is that Peyton Reed (Ant-Man, Yes Man) will also direct two episodes this season. This news is sourced from Charles Murphy, but he admits to no secondary source corroborating his information.
Meanwhile, Taiki Waititi has confirmed he is sitting this one out. During an Instagram Live session, the Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok director said: “I’m not directing any of the episodes of The Mandalorian because I was doing another film.” However, Waititi didn’t rule out a return as sharpshooting droid IG-11.
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