Eman Esfandi, one of Star Wars’ most recent live-action additions, has debunked rumors that his character is set to appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu. As the most immediate upcoming Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu lies at the center of much speculation. Lucasfilm has yet to outline The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s cast and story. However, production began in August 2024, meaning more updates about the continuation of Din Djarin’s story areexpected in the coming months. How this impacts upcoming Star Wars TV shows is unclear, but rumors about ties to past small-screen installments have been aplenty.
A recent report that has surfaced online has claimed that Ahsoka star Eman Esfandi will appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu, a claim the actor has since debunked on social media. Esfandi portrayed the live-action version of Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka season 1, with the character being left open for future appearances in Star Wars. However, after reports claimed that Esfandi himself had stated he was part of The Mandalorian and Grogu, Esfandi replied with a simple “I did not say this,” shutting down the rumor mill before it could properly begin.
What This Means For The Mandalorian & Grogu
Would Ezra Bridger’s Appearance Affect The Mandalorian & Grogu?
Naturally, Esfandi’s comments will only lead to more speculation about the future of Star Wars’ New Republic timeline. It is worth noting that Esfandi did not outright deny he was in the movie, with his comments simply confirming he did not say what was initially reported. It could be the case that Ezra Bridger is lined up for an appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu, something that would track with another surprise appearance confirmed in the film’s early D23 2024 footage.
This footage confirmed the return of Garazeb “Zeb” Orelios, a Lasat warrior first introduced in Star Wars Rebels alongside Bridger. Zeb made his live-action debut in The Mandalorian season 3 as a pilot of the Adelphi Rangers, a group Din Djarin and Grogu are expected to have close ties with in the upcoming story. Where Zeb is, Ezra may not be far behind, potentially hinting that the latter could appear after all. Regardless, Esfandi’s comments make this slightly more unlikely, impacting the probability of a cameo in The Mandalorian and Grogu.
The Mandalorian & Grogu Is Better Being As Accessible As Possible
The Upcoming Star Wars Movie Cannot Alienate Casual Viewers
The rumors of Eman Esfandi’s appearance as Ezra Bridger in The Mandalorian and Grogu admittedly make me wary about a potential problem I think the movie could run into. The problem in question is relying too heavily on past Star Wars stories to make The Mandalorian and Grogu work. Although I am aware Star Wars has always been a transmedia franchise, the storytelling of differing mediums has always been crafted so that one story is not required viewing for another. I noticed that this seemed to change with The Mandalorian season 3.
In The Mandalorian season 3, I found that plot points and characters were being included in the story that first began in animation. As a fan of all things Star Wars animation who feels those projects are overlooked, I was delighted. That said, I am not blind to the fact that including characters like Zeb or Bo-Katan and elements like the Darksaber and Death Watch would mean almost nothing to casual Star Wars viewers who only keep up with live-action properties. The inclusion of Ezra Bridger in The Mandalorian and Grogu may worsen this, despite how exciting it could be.
Source: Eman Esfandi
