The Mandalorian season 2 trailer suggests that Mando could team up with the old Rebel Alliance, now the New Republic. A pair of scenes revealed in the trailer show two X-Wing Starfighters (with the split-engine design from Star Wars: The Force Awakens) flanking the Razor Crest in space, and then chasing the Mandalorian’s ship through the sky of an unknown planet. While there’s a chance these fighters have hostile intent toward Mando and Baby Yoda, there are no shots fired, and the scene in space could be a kind of escort. Either way, there’s a high chance Din Djarin may have to align himself temporarily with the New Republic, and a few main reasons why.
While The Mandalorian takes place about five years after Return of the Jedi, the New Republic hasn’t made much of an appearance so far. Mainly this is because the show takes place primarily in the Outer Rim of the galaxy, where the old Alliance has less of a presence (though there is a particularly good X-Wing scene in season 1). With Din’s season 2 journey sending him on a hunt for the Jedi, he’ll inevitably come into contact with the Republic more directly this time around. Since both parties are enemies of Moff Gideon and the remaining Imperial forces, a team-up would make sense.
Every Star Wars Easter Egg In The Mandalorian Season 2 Trailer
The Mandalorian season 2 trailer, narrated by the Armorer's words from the end of season 1, suggests that Din’s search for the Child’s home will also be a search for the Jedi. This makes sense, given Baby Yoda's Force-sensitivity, and it will likely mean some run-ins with the New Republic. While it is highly unlikely that Luke Skywalker will make an appearance in The Mandalorian, there are still canonical Jedi whose whereabouts during the show are unknown, most notably, Star Wars: Rebels’ Ezra Bridger, and The Clone Wars’ Ahsoka Tano. It’s been heavily rumored that Ahsoka will appear in season 2, played by Rosario Dawson. Ezra and Ahsoka both have close ties to the Alliance, and while their whereabouts during the original trilogy are unknown, any search for them would likely bring Mando into contact with the former Rebels.
It’s also possible that Mando could temporarily join forces with the New Republic to battle against Moff Gideon and his ragtag army of Stormtroopers. Gideon will likely play a more active role in the second season, and Din may have to make some new alliances of his own in order to protect the Child. Since the New Republic is likely actively hunting Gideon, cooperation with Din could be beneficial to both parties.
Of course, even if Mando does work with the New Republic in season 2, the partnership would likely be tenuous at best. It’s doubtful that Mando trusts the “good guys” more than he trusts anyone else, especially considering that he’s attacked New Republic ships in the past. Plus, Baby Yoda’s very nature, mysterious to many, would naturally be of significant interest to Luke and Leia, and Din is unlikely to freely give up the Child to anyone, for any reason.
While appearances from notable Rebel characters like Luke, Leia and Han are unlikely given the necessary recasts, cameos from more recent Alliance-affiliated characters like Ahsoka, Ezra and fellow Mandalorian Sabine Wren would be exciting to see in season 2. Moff Gideon's possession of the Darksaber in particular is an interesting link to Sabine, who wielded the weapon herself before giving it Bo-Katan Kryze. It's likely that Gideon obtained the Darksaber during the Purge of Mandalore, which would certainly give Sabine reason enough to make an appearance. Both she and Ahsoka were last seen in canon leaving the rebellion to search for Ezra after the liberation of Lothal. Whoever Din and the Child meet on their journey in The Mandalorian season 2, the former Rebels are likely to play a significant role.