3 Ways The Mandalorian & Grogu Sets Up Ahsoka Season 2 and the Empire’s Future

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While The Mandalorian and Grogu appears to stand on its own, it actually lays important groundwork for the second season of Ahsoka. The film is designed to appeal to a broad audience, including those familiar with Grogu but not necessarily Disney+ subscribers, with the goal of bringing them into the Star Wars universe. Because of this, it’s more accessible and less reliant on prior knowledge than many recent Star Wars stories.

The show isn’t without preparation for future events, but galactic-scale conflicts take a backseat. We don’t hear about Grand Admiral Thrawn, a powerful Imperial leader who appears in later seasons of Ahsoka. The timing is intentionally vague, so it’s possible Thrawn hasn’t returned yet, or that these characters are acting independently because they don’t want to follow his orders. Regardless, these developments move the larger story forward in three important ways.

Rotta the Hutt is Now Part of the New Republic

One of the biggest changes coming is the introduction of Rotta the Hutt, who will be voiced by Jeremy Allen White. By the end of The Mandalorian and Grogu, Rotta becomes an official member of the New Republic – and it looks like Zeb even has a uniform for him! Since we know Zeb will be in Ahsoka Season 2, that sets up a subtle live-action reunion with the Star Wars Rebels crew. Considering Zeb is stationed at Adelphi Base, it’s likely we’ll revisit that New Republic location, and it’s a good chance Rotta the Hutt will show up again too.

Rotta first appeared in the 2008 Clone Wars movie, alongside Ahsoka Tano, so it would be fantastic to see them meet again in live-action. Interestingly, Jedi Ezra Bridger often pretended to be Jabba the Hutt, which sets up a funny potential encounter when Rotta meets the man who shares his father’s name. We might see all of this – and even more – unfold in Season 2 of Ahsoka.

We Now Know How the Imperial Shadow Council Works

Season 3 of The Mandalorian showed that the remaining Imperial leaders weren’t acting alone – they were secretly working together as a group called the Shadow Council. They were also teaming up with pirates to disrupt trade throughout the galaxy. Thanks to The Mandalorian and Grogu, we now understand their plan: the Empire is essentially running a protection scheme. They offer planets a degree of security in exchange for allegiance, land, and access to their resources. Those who refuse to cooperate become targets for pirate attacks, like the one on Nevarro by the Gorrian Shard.

The Empire seems to be cleverly using pirates to fund its military buildup, likely receiving a cut of their profits. This arrangement has allowed the Empire to operate in secret, hidden from the New Republic. While someone like Colonel Ward might suspect another war is coming, the politicians on Coruscant are unaware, and the New Republic’s fleet hasn’t received enough funding. This situation has been stable for a while, but the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn is about to disrupt everything.

The New Republic Now Knows All About the Shadow Council

Commander Coin’s capture is a major development for the galaxy. Colonel Ward reports that Coin has been revealing crucial information, meaning the New Republic now knows about the secret Imperial Shadow Council. This suggests the hidden conflict between the New Republic and the remnants of the Empire is about to become an open war, which explains Dave Filoni’s announcement of large-scale fleet battles in Ahsoka Season 2 – pitting Thrawn’s forces against Admiral Ackbar’s fleet. Ironically, Din Djarin’s actions have led directly to the war that Colonel Ward was trying to prevent.

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2026-05-29 17:41