Lucasfilm has officially announced the cast of the upcoming TV show, The Mandalorian. While J.J. Abrams is hard at work getting Episode IX ready for its theatrical premiere next December, the studio is also piecing together their first live-action television program. Spearheaded by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian will be an exclusive on the Disney Plus streaming service and is currently in production. Plot details remain largely under wraps for the time being, but a brief synopsis revealed it's set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, following a lone gunman traversing through a lawless corner of the galaxy.

The Mandalorian has been so secretive that its cast was largely a mystery for the longest time. To be fair, there have been no shortage of reports and rumors mentioning names like Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, and Carl Weathers, but Lucasfilm had yet to officially confirm any of their involvement. That changes now, and the studio has recruited another star-studded ensemble to bring The Mandalorian to life.

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In a press release, Lucasfilm finally unveiled the show's principal cast. Pascal is indeed starring as the titular Mandalorin, and he's joined by Carano, Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Omid Abtahi, Werner Herzog, and Nick Nolte. Favreau expressed excitement for what the actors are bringing to the table in a statement:

“We’re having a great time working with this incredibly talented group and excited for everyone to see what we’re up to.”

While some fans have expressed concern over storytelling decisions in the modern Star Wars projects, it's hard to argue against Lucasfilm's knack for casting. All of the new movies feature several standout performances, and the same should be true for The Mandalorian. It'll be exciting to see what this acclaimed group can bring to the galaxy far, far away, especially since any of them can play any sort of character in the franchise. Pascal will likely be a mercenary type (with a heart of gold, of course, going by rumored plot details), but there's no telling what to expect from the others. Many of the names listed here have wide range and are capable of portraying a heroic or villainous figure. The Mandalorian will likely take viewers into the underbelly of the galaxy, so there's the potential here for some juicy roles.

Favreau can't wait to show fans what's in store, but there's no telling when that will be. It's possible a short teaser will debut after the show wraps production, but if nothing happens then, the likeliest bet would be Star Wars Celebration in April 2019. Lucasfilm will certainly want to spotlight the franchise's exciting future at the convention, and there should be a panel dedicated to the live-action TV side of things.

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Source: Lucasfilm