This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1.The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 confirmed Gina Carano's Cara Dune has been written out of the Disney+ TV show, although the character may yet be recast. A major recurring character in The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2, Cara Dune was introduced as a former Rebel Alliance shock trooper who briefly became a mercenary for hire. Her fragile faith in the New Republic was gradually restored, and she became Marshal of the planet Nevarro, where she seemed positioned to be a continuing figure in the lives of Din Djarin and Grogu.
Carano herself became a subject of controversy during the coronavirus pandemic, with some of her political posts - including those about the Holocaust - earning her significant ire. Disney fired Carano from The Mandalorian in February 2021; the character had actually been planned to star in Rangers of the New Republic, a spinoff that was canceled as a result. This has, naturally, placed Lucasfilm in the difficult position of figuring out what to do with the character of Cara Dune.
How Mando Season 3 Explains Cara Dune’s Exit
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 confirmed Cara Dune has been written out of The Mandalorian. The episode featured Din Djarin's return to Nevarro, where he learned there is now a vacancy for the role of Marshal. According to High Magistrate Greef Karga, Cara Dune was recruited by the New Republic Special Forces. This corresponds with comments made executive producers Dave Filoni and Rick Famuyiwa in an interview with Deadline, with Famuyiwa confirming Cara Dune's role has been a subject of intense debate in the writers' room when working on The Mandalorian season 3.
"Cara was a big part and continues as a character to be part of the world," Famuyiwa confirmed. "It had to be addressed in the creative and [Jon Favreau] took the time to think about that. It was something that was discussed as we knew it was going to have impact on the show, but at the same time, what has been at the heart of the show are the two characters — Din Djarin and Grogu — so ultimately it felt like a servicing of that, and around the Mandalorians." Din Djarin's return to Mandalore seems quite useful, in that Cara Dune can be written out with minimal changes to the plot.
"It’s a big galaxy and we have many characters in it," Filoni confirmed. "Many characters are fighting for their screen time." Oddly, though, the way Dune has been written out of The Mandalorian season 3 seems to open up the possibility of her return. Lucasfilm originally intended the character to star in the Rangers of the New Republic spinoff, which would surely have seen her leave Nevarro on the same mission. It doesn't sound as though Lucasfilm needed to make massive changes to their plans.
Cara Dune Could Still Be Recast As The Mandalorian Era Continues
This naturally raises the question of whether Lucasfilm could simply recast Cara Dune as The Mandalorian era continues, and perhaps even relaunch that proposed Rangers of the New Republic spinoff. "[She's] a great character, someone who was vital to Din Djarin’s beginnings; we’ll see if he has evolved beyond that," Filoni noted in the interview with Deadline. If Lucasfilm do indeed recast Cara Dune after The Mandalorian season 3, it will be exciting to see who they choose - and whether she winds up starring in the spinoff Disney+ TV show after all.
The Mandalorian season 1, episode 3 is streaming now on Disney+. New episodes release Wednesdays.