What surprises could be in store for The Mandalorian season 3? Jon Favreau created the first live-action Star Wars TV show, and even though the main character is Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), the talk of the first season was the surprise appearance of The Child aka Baby Yoda. It was revealed at the end of the first episode and immediately became an internet sensation. Baby Yoda isn't The Mandalorian's only surprise either, as the Darksaber appeared in the season finale and there are reports that Rosario Dawson will play Ahsoka Tano in season 2.
Although the story of The Mandalorian season 2 and Favreau's long-term plans are a mystery, it is clear that he - and producer/writer/director Dave Filoni - are finding multiple ways to keep Star Wars fans on their toes. Thankfully, there is no end in sight for The Mandalorian. It has been reported that Favreau is already developing plans for The Mandalorian season 3 and is working with Lucasfilm's art department to bring his ideas to life. These plans have not been revealed publicly, but Favreau's track record indicates that more surprises will come in season 3 - but what will they be?
One of the biggest surprises The Mandalorian could include in season 3 is the return of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. Since the series is set between Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, this could be an opportunity to explore a significant gap in Luke's life that the entire Star Wars canon has barely touched. This would require Hamill to be de-aged, but that is proven to be achievable, and it would give him a chance to explore Luke at a time when he was still at the height of his powers. And, since he knew Yoda, there's a chance he could help Din learn more about the species or train The Child. Even though there are no rumors that this will happen, the return of Luke during this time period would be an exciting announcement or surprise (if Lucasfilm was able to keep it under wraps).
The return of Luke Skywalker would be quite the surprise for The Mandalorian season 3, but there are other possibilities as well. Assuming he doesn't appear in season 2, the following season could be when Favreau plans to bring Boba Fett into the mix. Fans have been waiting for the bounty hunter to return to Star Wars for years and it wouldn't be surprising if Favreau is able to utilize him in the near future. Perhaps the surprise could be a bit simpler too and see Chewbacca make an appearance, maybe even alongside Alden Ehrenreich or a de-aged Harrison Ford as Han Solo.
In terms of predicting the next Mandalorian surprise, though, we must also look towards the expanded canon now that Ahsoka might be involved. Other characters from Star Wars: Rebels, like Thrawn, Ezra Bridger, and Sabine Wren, could join The Mandalorian season 3 (if they don't do so before). Meanwhile, a fan-favorite comic character like Doctor Aphra would be an exciting addition to the series, possibly even as a backdoor pilot for a spinoff Disney+ series. If Favreau is planning more surprises for season 3 of The Mandalorian, fans could begin to get a better picture of what they could be once season 2 is released later this year.