The Mandalorian & Grogu Cast Guide: 8 New & Returning Star Wars Actors & Characters Explained

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Lucasfilm is returning to theatrical releases for Star Wars with Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, continuing the story from the popular Disney+ series The Mandalorian. Directed by Jon Favreau (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor), the film will follow the bounty hunter Din Djarin and Grogu as they pursue remnants of the Imperial army to help establish the New Republic. With a substantial $165 million budget, the 2026 release marks a significant move for the franchise, bringing the characters’ adventures to a larger cinematic scale.

This film is the first big Star Wars release in theaters since 2019, signaling a return to the franchise’s classic, large-scale movie format. Next year, Ryan Gosling will lead Star Wars: Starfighter, a standalone film directed by Shawn Levy. Lucasfilm is also working on several other projects. It’s still early to know if this new direction for Star Wars will resonate with fans, but this first movie has brought together a large and impressive cast.

1) Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin / The Mandalorian

As a huge fan of sci-fi and character-driven stories, I’m really invested in Din Djarin, the Mandalorian. He’s come a long way from being a simple bounty hunter – he’s basically a dad now, and it’s awesome. After everything that happened in season three, he’s officially working with the New Republic, hunting down leftover bad guys from the Empire to try and keep the galaxy peaceful. It’s a tricky role for Pedro Pascal because his character’s religion demands he always wear that helmet, so he has to do a lot of acting with just his voice! Of course, a lot of us already know and love Pascal from roles like Joel in The Last of Us, Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, and even his recent appearance as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps – the guy is incredibly talented and brings so much to this part.

2) Brendan Wayne & Lateef Crowder Also Play The Mandalorian

Pedro Pascal provides the voice and acting for the main character, but bringing the Mandalorian’s physical performance to life is a team effort. On set, Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder wear the heavy armor and perform the character’s movements. Wayne, following in the footsteps of his grandfather John Wayne, brings a classic Western style to the character’s walk and stance. Crowder, a skilled martial artist and stunt performer, handles all the intense close-up fighting. This combination of three performers – Pascal, Wayne, and Crowder – makes the Mandalorian a consistently powerful and believable character.

3) Grogu

Grogu, often called Baby Yoda, brings a focus on real, physical effects to the screen. Instead of creating him entirely with computer graphics, Jon Favreau insisted on a complex animatronic puppet, operated by a team of five puppeteers. This allows the actors to genuinely interact with the character. In The Mandalorian & Grogu, Grogu continues to grow his Force abilities while remaining a young apprentice and foundling to his caretaker. He still has a big appetite and a playful, curious personality, which adds some much-needed lightheartedness to the story’s intense galactic conflict.

4) Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt

The world of crime in The Mandalorian & Grogu is getting bigger with the introduction of Rotta the Hutt, Jabba the Hutt’s son. Viewers first met Rotta as a baby in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano rescued him from Count Dooku – earning him the nickname “Stinky.” Now, decades later, Rotta returns as a fully grown, imposing gladiator. Jeremy Allen White, currently famous for his role in the hit show The Bear, was personally asked by Jon Favreau to voice the character and bring this unusual crime boss to life.

5) Sigourney Weaver as Col. Ward

Sigourney Weaver, a highly respected actress known for her iconic roles in science fiction, is joining the cast as Colonel Ward. Her character is a veteran military officer with the New Republic who gives the main characters their challenging assignments and tries to maintain control in a chaotic galaxy. Weaver is a legend in the sci-fi world, famous for playing Ellen Ripley in the Alien movies, and has also starred in blockbuster hits like Ghostbusters and James Cameron’s Avatar films.

6) Steve Blum As Zeb

Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios, voiced by Steve Blum, is back as the powerful Lasat warrior from Star Wars Rebels. After a memorable appearance in The Mandalorian’s third season, Zeb now has a bigger part to play, helping the New Republic maintain order. Steve Blum is a highly respected voice actor with an extensive career, including iconic roles like Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop and Wolverine in various Marvel animations. His deep, recognizable voice perfectly embodies Zeb’s tough exterior and kind heart.

7) Dave Filoni as Embo

Embo, a Kyuzo bounty hunter voiced by Dave Filoni, appears in The Mandalorian & Grogu as a threat hired by the Hutt cartel. But this character has roots in Star Wars history, first appearing in season two of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He quickly became popular with fans thanks to his unique look—especially his wide-brimmed metallic hat, which he uses as both a shield and a weapon. For his first live-action appearance, the creators carefully recreated his distinctive samurai-inspired design. Filoni, who is also a writer and producer on the upcoming 2026 film and president of Lucasfilm, returned to voice the character after more than ten years.

8) Martin Scorsese As Hugo

Martin Scorsese, the acclaimed director behind films like Goodfellas and Taxi Driver, has taken on a surprising new role: voicing Hugo, an alien fry cook in a Star Wars project. Hugo is a four-armed member of the Ardennian species, first seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Producer Kathleen Kennedy successfully convinced Scorsese to lend his unique voice to this unusual character – a computer-generated chef operating on the edge of the galaxy. It’s certainly unexpected to hear a legend of American cinema voicing an alien!

9) Other Characters

Because The Mandalorian & Grogu covers a large part of the galaxy, many other interesting characters appear throughout the story.

  • Trapper Wolf: A New Republic X-wing pilot assisting the core military operations in the dogfight against Imperial remnants. The character is portrayed by Dave Filoni, marking his second role in the feature.
  • Janu: A ruthless warlord leading a dangerous splinter faction of Galactic Empire loyalists. The antagonist is portrayed by Jonny Coyne, a veteran character actor recognizable from prestigious television dramas like The Crown and The Blacklist.
  • Hogsbreth: A towering physical enforcer operating on the lawless fringes of the Outer Rim. The imposing alien is portrayed by Matthew Willig, a former professional football player who previously utilized his massive frame in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • Jabba’s Twin Cousins: The influential crime bosses attempting to manipulate the galactic underworld. The massive Hutt siblings return to the screen after making their live-action debut in The Book of Boba Fett.
  • The Anzellans: Diminutive, highly skilled droidsmiths who provide crucial technical support. Members of the species return to assist the protagonists following their introduction in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters on May 22nd. 

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2026-05-20 21:44