With the third season of The Mandalorian on its way to Disney+ sometime in February 2023, fans are wondering who Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) will be facing next in his and his young ward’s travels across the galaxy. Star Wars has always hosted a rich and colorful collection of characters who have surprised and delighted over the years. Many of them would make for great adversaries against our protagonist.

Before diving into season 3 possibilities, fans will be happy to know that the series has been renewed for season four. Jon Favreau told CinemaBlend:

Now, here are some of our predictions on whom the villain may be in The Mandalorian season three.

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Connections With The Last Jedi

     Lucasfilm

Leaked photos from the season three set of The Mandalorian have revealed the iconic gray and red aesthetic of Imperial sets and what looks like a red helmet in the styling of Red Troopers from The Last Jedi. The validity of these leaks was given strength by Making Star Wars, which also discussed a supposed combat scene between Din Djarin and these red-clad enemies. In addition, it is also likely that the Praetorian Guards will get themselves involved in Din and Grogu’s travels. Fans will remember that the Praetorian Guards were an elite team working under Supreme Leader Snoke and are meant to be particularly powerful users of the Force (even if Rey and Kylo Ren knocked them around like bowling pins in The Last Jedi).

Snoke himself may even make an appearance if we consider the cloning storyline hinted at in season two. We can be understandably wary about any mention of the villains from the newest Star Wars trilogy. Especially when fans feel that Snoke’s potential as the latest malicious force in the galaxy was effectively cut short in The Last Jedi (before being made even less impactful with that one reveal in Rise of Skywalker). Still, the writing team on The Mandalorian has proven themselves numerous times by this point. Who says they aren’t capable of doing something cool with the cloning idea, especially if the Praetorian Guard will appear with all their powers on full display.

Returning Mandalorian Season 3 Characters

     Disney

We have numerous antagonistic faces from previous seasons of The Mandalorian who could return to face off against Din once more. One of them, in particular, is Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito). Din sent him away packing to prison at the end of season two after taking the Darksaber from him. The legendary blade’s ownership decides the leader of the Mandalorians.

However, unless a character dies on-screen where audiences can witness it, the chances of them returning are likely (and in the Star Wars universe, death isn’t always enough to keep a character down, anyway). So, there has always been a chance Moff would be making a return in season three, even before Giancarlo Esposito confirmed the return himself. We will have to wait and see what role he plays this upcoming season, though we’re expecting he will either attempt to take the Darksaber back or try his hand at taking Din down somehow.

Along with Moff, Din also faced Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff), a fellow Mandalorian and a rebel leading her tribe against the Empire. The character’s previous appearances in the Star Wars franchise have been filled with twists, turns, and self-serving moral ambiguity. She has always been portrayed as a highly ambitious woman looking to get ahead in life. In the case of The Mandalorian, she was looking for the legendary Darksaber to establish herself as the official leader of the Mandalorians. Of course, Din manages to take the ancient lightsaber first. Though he offers it peacefully to Bo-Katan — his interests lie in having a place within the galaxy, not being a leader — she insists it must be earned through combat.

It wouldn’t be surprising if she attempts to goad Din into fighting her in season three. This may also happen more than once, making her a consistent threat throughout the season. In the face of potential antagonism from Supreme Leader Snoke and his Praetorian Guard, Bo-Katan could wind up being more of a side antagonist, but there is also a chance of her being the main threat. Whatever the case, her relationship with Din and her fight for the Darksaber could provide an extra overlay of tension for audiences and protagonists alike.

Cad Bane Could Return

     Disney+

In The Book of Boba Fett, Star Wars’ most iconic bounty hunter faces off against his master, Cad Bane (voiced by Corey Burton and physically portrayed by Dorian Kingi). Bane was hired to assist the Pyke Syndicate in taking over the planet of Tatooine. However, Boba Fett has already staked a claim on the planet’s criminal elements, replacing Jabba the Hutt, and he now has a vested interest in maintaining the planet’s independence. He and his former mentor face off, and in the end, just as things look like they’ll take yet another fatal turn for Boba Fett, he manages to stab Cad with a Tusken Raider’s spear.

This seems to spell the end for Bane… but maybe not. As stated previously, death isn’t always the end for a Star Wars character. The fact that Boba Fett is even around for a final duel is proof enough of that. At the moment of his defeat, Cad’s suit was blinking red. He is equipped with all sorts of tricks to help him counter Force-sensitive opponents and powerful blows of all types, so this could merely be his suit making one last, desperate attempt at keeping him alive. Still, it wouldn’t be completely far-fetched to assume it was a distress signal of some sort.

Whatever the case may be, we can’t completely cast off the idea that Cad is still alive and kicking. And if that’s the case, who’s to say he won’t return to add more trouble to Din and Grogu’s adventures?