New viewership data shows that The Mandalorian remains the most-watched Disney+ Star Wars show following the release of Obi-Wan Kenobi. New data reveals that Disney+’s The Mandalorian is still the most popular Star Wars series. The debut live-action series first premiered in November 2019 on Disney+’s U.S. launch date and has since gone on to become a fan-favorite. The adventures of the titular Mandalorian Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his adorable foundling Grogu (“Baby Yoda”) have continued to capture the hearts of audiences everywhere as they embark on journeys of found family and self-discovery. With The Mandalorian season 3 slated to release in February 2023, anticipation has only grown for the series’ return.
The Mandalorian has been joined by 2 live-action Star Wars series since its 2019 premiere: 2021’s The Book of Boba Fett and this year’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. The former panned out to be a continuation of Mando’s story in the second half of the season alongside Boba’s own journey through healing and redemption. The latter saw the return of Ewan McGregor as the titular Jedi in addition to Hayden Christensen’s return as Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker. The hype of Obi-Wan Kenobi caused many audiences to expect that the viewer turnout for the limited series would easily top that of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, as social media reactions alone seemed to point towards that.
The Mandalorian Has Secretly Cast Jango Fett’s Master – The Mandalorian season 3 has announced several new cast members and there’s a chance one of them could be playing Jango Fett’s old mentor. The Mandalorian season 3 may have quietly cast Jango Fett’s master Jaster Mereel. The hit series returns to Disney+ in February 2023, but details are scarce. Based on his last appearance in The Book of Boba Fett, Din Djarin will likely travel to Mandalore in search of more of his kind, and possibly find redemption for taking off his helmet. After choosing to return to Djarin’s side, Grogu will presumably be joining Mando in his recently acquired N-1 Starfighter, and Djarin will likely have a fight on his hands for the darksaber with Bo Katan. Beyond this, audiences know very little. A substantial amount of casting has already been announced for Mandalorian season 3, however, including comedian Tim Meadows and sci-fi icon Christopher Lloyd. One of the most exciting casting choices so far for The Mandalorian season 3 is Christopher Lloyd. The iconic actor is most well-known for his role as “Doc” Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, but in later years has popped up in everything from Pirahna 3D to the action thriller Nobody. He’s a versatile actor with incredible comedic chops and having him appear in the next installment of The Mandalorian, even just as a guest star, is ingenious. It will be his first appearance in the Star Wars universe, and while it’s unknown who he’ll be playing, his gravitas and age could point to one character from legends who more recently made the jump to canon.
Star Wars Knows Jango Fett Was The Best Thing About Attack Of The Clones – Jango Fett’s legacy is being emphasized through various TV shows, demonstrating how Star Wars is salvaging the best part of Attack of the Clones. Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) didn’t receive a ton of screen time in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones but it’s clear the Star Wars franchise is aware he was the best thing about the maligned prequel. The father of feared bounty hunter Boba Fett from the original trilogy, Jango’s presence could have been needless fan service. Now, Star Wars is doubling down on Jango’s considerable impact on the galaxy with reference in The Book of Boba Fett.
Chosen as the genetic template for the Republic’s secret clone army, Jango Fett was more than just a hired gun. He might not have cared about the impending war, but Attack of the Clones established the soldiers he trained as a formidable army. The prequel didn’t spend much time dwelling on the ramifications of Jango’s involvement or his motivations, instead emphasizing and prioritizing its notoriously cringeworthy romance involving Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Padmé (Natalie Portman). However, Star Wars has begun to correct this oversight, salvaging the best character from one of the worst movies.
Boba Fett’s much-hyped return in The Mandalorian season 2 didn’t waste much time before making the first of several recent references to Jango. Coupled with The Book of Boba Fett’s Geonosis and Kamino flashbacks, Star Wars is displaying its awareness of Attack of the Clones’ most underutilized subplot. Emphasizing Jango Fett’s legacy retroactively improves the prequel, recognizing the compelling potential for a character who was largely ignored during his debut.
Jaster Mereel, in Legends, was the original name of Boba Fett, but in canon, he is a character in his own right. He is a Mandalorian who rose to become Mand’alor, the leader of the clans of Mandalore. His backstory was fleshed out in the mini-series, Jango Fett: Open Seasons and he was a mentor to Jango Fett. The character died during a battle with the vicious Death Watch, who wanted to return the Mandalorians to their ancient roots and opposed Mereel’s leadership. However, characters in Star Wars have been known to return from the dead, and Lloyd’s age would mirror that of Mereel’s if he had survived to the time period of The Mandalorian.