Star Wars fans have narrowly dodged a bullet, or more accurately, blaster fire. The coronavirus pandemic has forced a global production shutdown for film and television which has resulted in a rash of costly delays for major projects. However, Disney+ flagship series The Mandalorian snuck in under the wire with principal photography wrapping in early March. As such, Disney CEO Bob Chapek has confirmed that Season 2 of the hit show will arrive on time.
“There will be no delay on Mandalorian,” Chapek told CNBC in a recent interview. Post-production has continued from home during the COVID-19 outbreak and the sophomore run is expected to meet its fall 2020 release date. Specific plot details remain unknown, but it has been reported that Rosario Dawson will play fan-favorite animated character Ahoska Tano in her live-action debut while Jango Fett actor Temuera Morrison will play Boba Fett (who is a Jango clone), confirming decades of fan theories that the famed bounty hunter escaped the Sarlacc Pitt after 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
SEE ALSO: What the Success of ‘Dave’ Means for FX
Also new to the cast is Michael Biehn (The Termiantor, Alien), who will play a bounty hunter from the Mandalorian’s past. Giancarlo Esposito’s Moff Gideon, who was introduced in the final episodes of Season 1, is expected to play a march larger role in Season 2 as the primary villain.
Season 2, like Season 1, will feature a mix of established and up-and-coming talent behind the camera. Among the first-season directors returning for the show’s second season are Rick Famuyiwa, series creator Jon Favreau, and Dave Filoni. Robert Rodriguez (Alita: Battle Angel) and Peyton Reed (Ant-Man) have also joined as directors while co-star Carl Weathers is expected to helm an episode as well.
During a February conference call with shareholders, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that season 2 of The Mandalorian will premiere in October.
