The Mandalorian Season 3 Cast: Meet the New and Returning Star Wars Characters

This Star Wars article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

While Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze are at the heart of The Mandalorian, there are no shortage of great actors and new characters making their way to the Star Wars galaxy this year. We’ve already seen Mark Hamill return as Luke Skywalker as well as Rosario Dawson bringing fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano to live-action. And of course, the series is anchored by returning cast like Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, Emily Swallow as the Armorer, and Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon.

Let’s take a look at all the characters, both new and returning, that have made their way to The Mandalorian season 3:

Pedro Pascal is The Mandalorian aka Mando aka Din Djarin

Pedro Pascal is returning as the titular Mandalorian Din Djarin for season 3. The former bounty hunter has reunited with his adopted son Grogu, and the pair are once again set to travel the galaxy together, including on a pilgrimage to Mandalore. Djarin was banished from his clan in The Book of Boba Fett after admitting to removing his helmet, and the only way he can return is to bathe within the “living waters beneath the mines of Mandalore.” Pascal is currently starring in HBO’s The Last of Us, and you can also watch him in Game of Thrones, Wonder Woman 1984, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Katee Sackhoff is Bo-Katan Kryze

First lending her voice to Bo-Katan Kryze in The Clone Wars and Rebels, Katee Sackhoff reprised her role for the first time in live-action for season 2 of The Mandalorian. Bo-Katan spent season 2 in search of the Darksaber, hoping to win the weapon from Moff Gideon and take her rightful place as ruler of Mandalore. Now that Djarin wields the saber, her relationship with him is strained, but hopefully they’re able to come together and take back Mandalore eventually. Sackhoff has also appeared in Battlestar Galactica, Longmire, The Flash, and Another Life.

Giancarlo Esposito is Moff Gideon

He may have been defeated and handed over to the New Republic at the end of season 2, but that doesn’t mean that will be the last we see of Moff Gideon. Giancarlo Esposito reprises his villainous role in season 3, this time heading up a new plot against the Mandalorians in the name of the Empire. Giancarlo Esposito has an extensive filmography, with appearances in series like Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Boys, and Kaleidoscope just to name a few.

Xander Berkeley as Captain Gilad Pellaeon

One of the biggest blasts from the past yet on The Mandalorian, Captain Gilad Pellaeon is ripped straight out of now non-canon Legends continuity to set the stage for the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, who we know will be played by Lars Mikkelsen on Ahsoka. In Legends, we first meet Pellaeon as Thrawn’s second in command in the seminal novel Heir to the Empire, which the Mandoverse is lifting from quite frequently these days. The Mandalorian season 3 follows suit, re-introducing Pellaeon as Thrawn’s messenger at the Shadow Council.

Pellaeon is played by Xander Berkeley, who you probably know best as Gregory from The Walking Dead or George Mason from 24, although he looks absolutely unrecognizable here as the Imperial captain. You’ve also seen Berkeley on Salem, Criminal Minds, and The Mentalist as well as films like Terminator 2, Gattaca, Candyman, and Air Force One.

Brian Gleeson as Brendol Hux

If you jumped when you heard the name “Hux” on The Mandalorian, you’d be right to assume he’s related to General Hux from the Sequel Trilogy. In fact, Commandant Brendol Hux, a member of the Imperial Shadow Council and head of one of the foremost Imperial training facilities, is General Hux’s father. The character who would become one of the forefathers of the First Order has so far appeared most prominently in Star Wars novels, but on The Mandalorian he’s brought to life by Brian Gleeson, General Hux actor Domhnall Gleeson’s brother. A very nice touch! Brian Gleeson is a mainstay of Irish TV, such as Love/Hate and Frank of Ireland. He also played Jimmy McCavern on British period crime drama Peaky Blinders.

Charles Parnell as Mandalorian Captain and Charles Baker as Mandalorian Scout

“The Spies” introduces two new Mandalorians, followers of Bo-Katan who survived on Mandalore even after the planet was glassed by the Empire. The captain of this group of Mando survivors is played by Charles Parnell, who played Police Chief Derek Frye on the long-running ABC soap opera All My Children. Charles Baker plays his second-in-command. You know him best as Skinny Pete from Breaking Bad!

Ahmed Best is Master Kelleran Beq

We finally know who saved Grogu from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant during Order 66. It’s none other than Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, who we first met as the host of the kids game show Jedi Temple Challenge. In lore, Kelleran Beq was known as an expert lightsaber duelist, incredibly skilled in the art of wielding dual blades in combat, as we see during his daring escape with the youngling in The Mandalorian season 3. His abilities earned him the nickname “Sabered Hand.” Before the rise of the Empire, Beq was tasked with helping guide Padawans on their way to the Jedi Trials and Knighthood. This brave Jedi Master is of course played by Ahmed Best, who has a long history with Star Wars. After all, he portrayed the unforgettable Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. While Best’s official return to the franchise was as the host of the aforementioned game show in 2020, this is his first time back to scripted Star Wars since he voiced Jar Jar in The Clone Wars animated series.

Lizzo as The Duchess

The talented singer-songwriter and rapper Lizzo makes her Star Wars debut as the Duchess of Plazir-15. You likely know Lizzo best from her many hit studio albums and singles as well as more than a few Tik Tok trends, but she’s also appeared in movies and other TV series, most memorably in 2019’s big-screen hit Hustlers.

Jack Black as Captain Bombardier

Comedian, actor, and musician Jack Black cameos in “Guns for Hire” as Captain Bombardier, a rehabilitated ex-Imperial who’s married the Duchess of Plazir-15 and helped rebuild the planet into a prosperous society where people don’t even need to work — unless you’re a droid under threat of being decommissioned. As you might expect, we learn there’s more to this technologically advanced city than meets the eye.

You’ve likely seen Black’s over-the-top performances in tons of stuff, including Mars Attacks, School of Rock, Orange County, Shallow Hal, King Kong, Community, and much more.

Christopher Lloyd as Commander Helgait

Back to the Future’s Christopher Lloyd cameos as Commissioner Helgait, the security officer on Plazir-15. It’s revealed that he’s actually a former Separatist who’s planning a battle droid uprising in retribution for the Clone Wars.

Lloyd’s history of genre work extends far beyond Doc Brown and makes him a very welcome addition to The Mandalorian. Aside from his role as Doc Brown, you probably recognize Lloyd from his appearances in Star Trek, Clue, The Addams Family, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Simon Kassianides as Axe Woves and Mercedes Varnado as Koska Reeves

Bo-Katan’s former Nite Owl partners in crime from season 2 are back, this time wandering the galaxy as mercenaries on an Imperial Star Cruiser that formerly belonged to Moff Gideon. We learn that Simon Kassianides’ Axe Woves has become the new leader of the Mandalorian clan that used to follow Bo-Katan and has basically reverted them back to bounty hunters willing to work for the highest bidder. But when Bo beats Axe in a duel and recovers the Darksaber from Din, it seems that all the other Mandalorians, including Mercedes Varnado’s Koska Reeves, are ready to fall in line and take back Mandalore.

Steve Blum is Zeb Orrelios

The Mandalorian season 3 gives us the surprise return of Garazeb Orrelios, a beloved character from the Rebels animated series. Zeb fought in the Rebel Alliance on the cartoon in the early days of the Galactic Civil War and it looks like he joined the Adelphi Rangers in the aftermath of the war, serving the New Republic as a space cop in the Outer Rim. The cameo makes a bit of sense since, presumably, Zeb will play a part in the Ahsoka series, which is bringing the rest of the Rebels characters to live action. This CGI Zeb is once again voiced by the very talented Steve Blum, who reprises his role from the animated series. His credits include tons of other animations, including anime like Perfect Blue, Naruto, and Ultraman, as well as work in the Transformers franchise and Marvel.

Tim Meadows is Colonel Tuttle

The unhelpful New Republic requisitions officer Colonel Tuttle is played by Tim Meadows, whom you’ll likely recognize from his roles in Mean Girls, The Goldbergs, Grown Ups, and his recent appearance in Rian Johnson’s Poker Face. The name “Tuttle” is actually a fun callback to Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, a satire about the kind of bureaucracy the New Republic is wrapped up in at the moment. Robert De Niro’s character is Harry Tuttle, a rogue repairman who doesn’t play by the rules of the movie’s dystopian and paperwork-obsessed society.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is Captain Carson Teva

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee will be returning as New Republic captain Carson Teva, a pilot that Djarin has run into on more than one occasion. Djarin and Teva aren’t enemies per se, but Djarin has become known for giving him the slip any and every time they meet in space. Teva usually just lets it slide though, especially as he realizes that Djarin is also an enemy of the Empire. Without Cara Dune as our connection to the New Republic, hopefully Teva will have an even larger role this season. Sun-Hyung Lee has also appeared in Kim’s Convenience and Train 48.

Omid Abtahi is Dr. Pershing

Dr. Pershing is set to make another appearance in season 3, although with Moff Gideon in New Republic custody, it’s hard to say where his loyalties will lie. Pershing has never seemed particularly evil, as he tried his best to keep the child alive throughout the experiments that Moff Gideon ordered. But he also likely would have followed orders and killed the child out of fear if Djarin hadn’t shown up when he did in season 1. Whether or not we get to see Pershing outside of the Empire’s influence, it will be interesting to see what role he and his research into Grogu’s abilities have this season. Dr. Pershing will once again be played by Omid Abtahi, who has also appeared in Better Call Saul, American Gods, and Fear the Walking Dead. 

Katy M. O’Brian is Elia Kane

Katy M. O’Brian returns as Elia Kane, a former Imperial communications officer who worked for Moff Gideon but has now been “rehabilitated” and given amnesty by the New Republic. In season 3, we catch up with her on Coruscant, where she’s trying to become a productive member of society after years of serving the Empire. On top of being a writer, bodybuilder, and a trained martial artist with a black belt in Hapkido, O’Brian has also appeared as an actor in tons of other genre fare, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania as Jentorra, both The Walking Dead and Z Nation, Black Lightning, Agents of SHIELD, and Westworld.

Carl Weathers is Greef Karga

Despite being an adversary to Djarin and Grogu as the leader of Nevarro’s Bounty Hunter Guild in season 1, Greef Karga has quickly become one of their most loyal allies. After driving away Moff Gideon and his Imperial forces, Karga turned Nevarro into a more prosperous and peaceful place with the help of New Republic marshal Cara Dune. In season 3, Karga is continuing to take his role as High Magistrate seriously as he tries to convince Djarin to settle down on Nevarro with Grogu. Karga will once again be played by the legendary Carl Weathers, who has also starred in Happy Gilmore, Rocky I-IV, and Predator.

Emily Swallow is The Armorer

The Armorer of Djarin’s former clan, the Children of the Watch, is set to return for season 3, and it looks like she’ll be helping Djarin atone for the “sin” of removing his helmet. Despite how restrictive their creed may appear, the Armorer has been a relatively loyal ally to Djarin throughout the series thus far. She has offered guidance on the best path forward with Grogu and is even the one who forged the cute little guy’s adorable chainmail armor in The Book of Boba Fett. Sure she kicked Mando out for what seems like a minor grievance, but to her their way of life is sacred.

Emily Swallow will once again play this fierce warrior. Swallow has also appeared in Supernatural and SEAL Team, although you might be more likely to recognize her voice-over work in The Last of Us Part II and Castlevania.

Taika Waititi is IG-11 and IG-12

Don’t call it a comeback! It looks like Taika Waititi is back as IG-11 in The Mandalorian season 3. We learn in the season 3 premiere, “The Apostate,” that Din wants to repair the former assassin-turned-nursing droid so that it can accompany him to Mandalore and watch over Grogu. The only problem is that, after IG-11 self-destructed at the end of season 1, it reverted back to its original programming once turned back on by Din in “The Apostate.” Unsurprisingly, IG-11 immediately tries to kill Grogu, which was its last directive before Kuill reprogrammed the droid in season 1. In order, the bring back IG’s gentler, more nurturing side, Din would have to find a special part the Anzellans on Nevarro need to fix him.

But we learn late into the season that the Anzellans working on IG have found a workaround by turning the droid into a mech for Grogu! Meet IG-12, complete with “Yes” and “No” buttons, guaranteeing that we’ll have archival audio of Waititi on the show at least until the end of the season.

Waititi of course needs no introduction. Not only is he a brilliant comedic actor but a very successful director. He’s directed and acted in two of Marvel’s Thor films, he made What We Do in the Shadows, co-created Reservation Dogs, and is set to direct his own Star Wars movie. Eventually.

Amy Sedaris is Peli Motto

Tatooine mechanic and Jawa-lover Peli Motto is set to appear again in season 3, with Amy Sedaris reprising her role. We last saw Motto in The Book of Boba Fett helping Djarin replace the Razor Crest, as she’s kind of become his go-to mechanic throughout his travels. No matter what zany role Motto will play in the events of season 3, it’ll be nice to see her again. Aside from The Mandalorian, Sedaris has appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows, such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, At Home with Amy Sedaris, Clerks III, and Jennifer’s Body. 

Nonso Anozie is Gorian Shard

A surprise new villain has entered the Star Wars universe. Meet the space pirate king Gorian Shard, who seems to be a mix of DC’s Swamp Thing and Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean. We learn in “The Apostate” that his pirate clan used to do business on Nevarro, and that Gorian isn’t too happy about High Magistrate Greef Karga going legit and cutting the pirates out of the spoils. Sounds like trouble is brewing once again on the volcanic planet.

Gorian is played by Nonso Anozie, who you might know best as the powerful merchant Xaro Xhoan Daxos in Game of Thrones and as Tommy Jepperd in Sweet Tooth. Anozie most recently appeared as the voice of Wyvern in The Sandman bonus episode, “Dream of a Thousand Cats.”

Marti Matulis is Vane

Vane is one of Gorian Shard’s enforcers in the pirate gang. He pays Greef Karga a visit to express his boss’ unhappiness over the state of things on Nevarro, but Vane soon learns the High Magistrate also has friends in high places. Vane is played by actor and cinematographer Marti Matulis, whose work you’ve seen recently in the hit horror film Smile, Star Trek: Picard, Westworld, and Teen Wolf.

Jon Favreau and Tait Fletcher are Paz Vizsla

The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau lends his voice to the walking tank performed by MMA fighter and actor Tait Fletcher. The grumpy Paz Vizsla is part of Din’s Mandalorian covert, usually the heavily armed enforcer standing by the Armorer’s side. He doesn’t really like Din, or at the very least wants to cut him down to size. Paz, who is a descendant of Tarre Vizsla, the Mandalorian Jedi who crafted the Darksaber, tried to challenge Din for the weapon in The Book of Boba Fett but lost. Surely, that’s improved his mood.

Wesley Kimmel is Ragnar Vizsla

The very first scene of season 3 introduces Ragnar, son of Mandalorian curmudgeon Paz Vizsla. We watch as he says the Creed and earns his first helmet. Later in the season, the heroes must go on a rescue mission to save the young Mandalorian from a nest of hungry raptors. Ragnar is played by Wesley Kimmel, nephew of TV presenter Jimmy Kimmel.