Star Wars' The Mandalorian Season 2 brought the search for Grogu's home to a close, leaving Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) to deal with other pressing matters like what he's going to do with the Darksaber. And now, he needs to figure out how to give the Mandalorian relic back to Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) without entering into a fight to the death. Of course, those are the least of his worries.
In addition to working through a hierarchial struggle, Mando will also have a new foe to contend with, Admiral Thrawn. While the Rebels' antagonist still isn't in the picture, he already exists in the Disney+ universe.
In Chapter 13: The Jedi, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) made the grand reveal after her bout with Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto). She asked the defeated Imperialist of her master's whereabouts, confirming that he's around, somewhere.
The Admiral's Arrival
Despite not knowing where or when Thrawn will make his first live-action appearance, Season 3 of The Mandalorian feels like the best bet. Some fans probably assume the Admiral is the primary antagonist for Disney's Ahsoka series, though it seems much more fitting for him to join the current show.
The reason Thrawn is likely to be introduced here rather than another Disney+ series is the current plot. Season 2 concluded with Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) in custody, presumably heading to a jail cell on Mandalore. That means there's an open vacancy for a new villain to take over, which is where the Admiral comes in.
Thrawn sounds perfect for the role since the planet of Mandalore is still under Imperial control. Both Bo-Katan and Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) have referenced the planet's current state, noting that it's somewhat of a wasteland now. Of course, the larger takeaway is that another Imperial loyalist will have to step up in Gideon's stead.
Seeing as how that's the case, Thrawn joining the junior season of The Mandalorian sounds like a safe bet. Din Djarin and the Nite Owls are heading towards their homeworld in hopes of freeing their people, so a showdown with the Admiral seems inevitable. That is unless a different antagonist enters the fold.
Thrawn In Control Of Mandalore
While there's a distinct possibility that the heiress herself will switch sides—becoming an antagonist out of necessity—either Admiral Thrawn or one of his henchmen will probably be the planet's chief. He hired Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) to dominate the people of Corvus. And that's reason enough to believe Thrawn ordered another of his followers to manage Mandalore in the same fashion.
Knowing that a battle with the Admiral is forthcoming, the question now on fans' minds is: who will play the part? Details surrounding the mysterious antagonist remain scarce, and we know Disney won't be giving us any hints, evidenced by their secrecy surrounding Mark Hamill's return as Luke Skywalker. However, there's one clue that may provide audiences with an answer.
In case it wasn't already apparent, Disney has been borrowing several Marvel's Agents of SHIELD alums for The Mandalorian. Everyone is familiar with Ming-Na Wen starring as Fennec Shand, though not all the fans have noticed the other actors who've crossed over.
Numerous Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Alums Cast On The Mandalorian
To name just a few, both Titus Welliver and Thomas E. Sullivan had integral roles in Agents of SHIELD, playing two of the series most prominent antagonists. And what's surprising, both have had bit parts on Disney's The Mandalorian. Welliver portrayed an Imperial Officer and Sullivan had a small role as a pilot in the Season 2 Finale.
Now, there's no guarantee that the media giant is digging through their impressive roster of actors to fill the Thrawn vacancy, especially when Lars Mikkelsen—the voice of Admiral Thrawn on Star Wars: Rebels—is a feasible candidate in the running. But, if the media giant does want to bring back anyone from Agents of SHIELD, it should be Adrian Pasdar.
Despite having a distinctly different voice from Thrawn's animated counterpart, Pasdar has shown he possesses quite the range. He's performed so well on shows like NBC's Heroes and shows alike that he could be accepted as the actor to portray Admiral Thrawn.
If not Pasdar or Mikkelsen, the question remains: who is worthy enough? No one else comes to mind, although the outstanding Jon Hamm sounds promising. He's sly, carries the swagger of an overconfident Imperialist, and already sports the slick-backed hairstyle that has become synonymous with Admiral Thrawn. That said, it'll be interesting to see who Disney chooses for the part.