The Mandalorian movie has a confirmed villain

Olivia Richman Published 10/05/2023

The Mandalorian movie has finally revealed its villain.

An untitled Mandalorian movie is in the works that is meant to be a culmination of the Mandoverse, or the television shows that revolve around The Mandalorian. The film will be directed by Dave Filoni, who has 20 years of experience working on Star Wars. But what do we know about the highly anticipated film and its bad guy?

Filoni indirectly revealed that Grand Admiral Thrawn will be the main antagonist in the Mandalorian movie. While speaking to Empire Magazine, Filoni said that Thrawn is an “iconic villain” that isn’t just another “helmet-wearing, lightsaber-wielding bad guy.”

Who is Grand Admiral Thrawn?

The Mandoverse takes place after the Return of the Jedi and includes all of the material surrounding The Mandalorian. This is near the end of the New Republic when Grand Admiral Thrawn was considered the biggest threat — that’s why he is almost 100% confirmed to be the villain in the Mando movie.

Grand Admiral Thrawn first appeared in Heir to the Empire, an Expanded Universe novel that takes place shortly after Return of the Jedi. He was a Chiss strategist that served under Palpatine’s Empire.

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While the Expanded Universe was originally considered not canon by Disney, the conglomerate decided to explore Thrawn a bit in the third season of Star Wars Rebels, which takes place during the age of the Empire. At the end of Star Wars Rebels, however, Thrawn disappeared into hyperspace.

In Season 2 of The Mandalorian, it was revealed that Ahsoka Tano was still looking for the Grand Admiral Thrawn to find out what happened to Ezra Bridger. At the end of Season 3, it seemed like Thrawn’s return was guaranteed and that he’d become part of the Imperial Shadow Council.

Grand Admiral Thrawn will have his first live-action appearance in Ahsoka. This comes out in August of 2023.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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