Giancarlo Esposito, known for his role as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, hinted at a potential return in the upcoming Star Wars film The Mandalorian and Grogu. On the red carpet for his new film MaXXXine, Esposito expressed his desire to reprise his role. When Deadline asked him about the possibility of donning the black cape again, the Breaking Bad actor said coyly, “Anything is possible.”
Though he admitted he had no concrete knowledge about returning to the Star Wars franchise, Esposito shared his admiration for The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau and executive producer Dave Filoni. “I don’t know anything about that at the present, but I put out there that if they need me I’ll be there. I love what Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Disney does with The Mandalorian – and who knows? There may be a moment where I can swoop down and take over once again,” he remarked.
Esposito’s Moff Gideon became a standout villain in the first three seasons of The Mandalorian. Leading a remnant of the Galactic Empire, he was obsessed with Grogu and sought to harness his Force abilities. Despite being seemingly killed in an explosion on Mandalore in season three, fans hope he survived to fight another day.
The Mandalorian and Grogu will be directed by Favreau, who is also co-writing the script with Filoni. So far, only Pedro Pascal has been confirmed as a returning cast member, and the plot remains under wraps. If Esposito doesn’t return, fans speculate about potential villains, especially after Lars Mikkelsen’s portrayal of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka. Thrawn, an Imperial officer with a thirst for power, was first introduced in Timothy Zahn’s 1992 novel Heir to the Empire.
Esposito’s career is filled with iconic villain roles, including Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Stan Edgar in The Boys, and Ra’s al Ghul in the animated film Son of Batman. His upcoming projects include a role in Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World.
