Rogue One prequel series, and another still unknown TV show from Russian Doll's co-creator, Leslye Headland.
These live-action Star Wars shows offer a chance to continue telling stories set in a galaxy far, far away without the need for a feature film production. Originally, this was a role served almost exclusively by the books, comics, video games, and most recently, Star Wars cartoons. The Clone Wars, for instance, helps to expand on Anakin's story in between Episodes II and III, while Star Wars Rebels helps to establish the early days of the Rebellion prior to A New Hope. Now, The Mandalorian is exploring the Star Wars galaxy even further, picking up its story just five years after the events of Return of the Jedi.
With the most recent report that The Mandalorian season 2 has cast Temuera Morrison to play a miraculously still alive Boba Fett, the possibilities for who else might appear are almost endless. While the story being told on The Mandalorian is largely divorced from that of the larger Skywalker saga, there are still many characters who can play a role in both. Some of these characters have only appeared before in animation, but The Mandalorian season 2 can be where they make that transition to live action. Here's every character from The Clone Wars and Rebels who we suspect are appearing in The Mandalorian season 2.
Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano is a real success story for Lucasfilm. First introduced in the 2008 animated feature Star Wars: The Clone Wars as Anakin's new Padawan learner, fans were initially weary of Ahsoka because she came across as childish and annoying. In time, though, Ahsoka won over fans as she developed into a talented Jedi and true friend to Anakin across seven seasons of The Clone Wars cartoon. When Star Wars Rebels followed Clone Wars, it was only a matter of time before Ahsoka appeared in that series, too, with the show regularly checking in with the now fan-favorite character during the age of the Empire.
Given how popular Ahsoka has become in the years since she was first introduced, it's no surprise she's expected to soon break out of animation and appear in live-action for The Mandalorian season 2. While still technically unconfirmed, it's widely reported Rosario Dawson has been cast as Ahsoka, taking over the role from Ashley Eckstein, the actress who voiced Ahsoka in all her previous appearances. As to how much of The Mandalorian season 2 she'll appear in or what role she's playing in the story, those details remain unknown, but considering when audiences last saw Ahsoka, it's possible to guess why she might be returning.
At the very end of Star Wars Rebels, the series jumps forward in time to right Darksaber, an ancient Mandalorian weapon now in the possession of Moff Gideon. Were Sabine to learn of this, it's possible Ahsoka and her will come to retrieve it. And if this is why Ahsoka is involved with The Mandalorian season 2, then it could help explain why another Clone Wars and Rebels character is expected to appear.
Bo-Katan Kryze
First introduced in The Clone Wars cartoon, Bo-Katan Kryze is a Mandalorian warrior of great esteem. When she first appears, she's a member of the terrorist group Death Watch, but once the former Sith lord, Darth Maul, infiltrates Death Watch, kills its leader, and claims the Darksaber - Bo-Katan is out. She leads the resistance to Maul's takeover of Mandalore and, with the help of Ahsoka, enables the Republic's siege that eventually ousts Maul. Bo-Katan is then made Regent of Mandalore, but her tenure is short lived because of her refusal to obey the Empire. When Bo-Katan next appears on Star Wars Rebels, it comes some years after. Sabine has since recovered the Darksaber and she presents it to Bo-Katan, choosing her as the leader who will unite the clans of Mandalore and free the planet from the Empire.
What comes after that, though, is still a mystery, because while the Empire is eventually defeated, the exact The Mandalorian season 2 has cast Katee Sackoff to reprise her role of Bo-Katan in live-action. Including her in the narrative, even briefly or in flashback, is sure to answer some of the lingering questions about Mandalore's fate.
Not only that, but an appearance from Bo-Katan is likely going to answer how it is that Moff Gideon is now in the possession of the Darksaber. As mentioned earlier, the legendary weapon was last seen in Bo-Katan's hands before it next appeared in The Mandalorian season 1 finale being wielded by Gideon. That is without a doubt the biggest mystery Bo-Katan's appearance could answer.
Rex
Captain/Commander Rex is a clone trooper who commanded the famous 501st Legion during the Clone Wars. He became close friends with Ahsoka Tano and many other Jedi, taking part in several crucial battles, including the Siege of Mandalore in the war's final days. When Order 66 was given, Rex struggled against his programming until Ahsoka was able to remove his chip. They both then went into hiding, but would later reappear years later during Star Wars Rebels, helping to establish the still growing Rebellion. At that time, Rex is only technically about 30 years old, but with a clone's advanced aging, he appears closer to 60. Still, he went on to fight for the Rebellion, even taking part in the Battle of Endor.
What happens to an older Rex - they are both clones of Morrison's original character, Jango Fett, after all. They're just different ages, since Boba Fett was an unaltered clone.
More Clone Wars & Rebels Characters Who Could Appear
In addition to Ahsoka, Bo-Katan, and possibly Rex, there are certainly other characters who first appeared on The Clone Wars or Rebels who could show up in The Mandalorian season 2. The most obvious is Sabine, given that she was last seen with Ahsoka and she has a connection to Mandalore as well as the Darksaber. More than any other animated character, an appearance from Sabine makes sense for The Mandalorian season 2. Not only could she appear alongside Ahsoka, but she could also relate to Bo-Katan's involvement, and she could show up in either the present, a flashback, or both. She could be seeking to retrieve the Darksaber, or she may have been there when Gideon took it. Either way, Sabine is a strong bet for another character who will make the transition from animation to live-action.
Along with Sabine, Rebels characters like Hera and Ezra (assuming he's been found) could also show up on The Mandalorian. Sabine's mother, Ursa Wren, also an ally of Bo-Katan's, could potentially appear, as could Grand iral Thrawn, a villain introduced in Rebels who disappeared along with Ezra, but is perhaps now among the many Imperial remnants, like Gideon. From The Clone Wars, if Rex can appear then so could other clones who survived Order 66, like Wolffe. The smuggler, Hondo Ohnaka, is also a good candidate to appear, having gone on to appear in Rebels and even in Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park. With his underworld connections, an appearance from Hondo in The Mandalorian season 2 works both on its own and in relation to characters he's previously met, like Ahsoka or Sabine.