As the premiere date of the second season of The Mandalorian draws closer, speculation continues to run rampant over its rumored ties to other Star Wars properties. Casting news has long swirled about possible appearances by actors both old and new to the franchise portraying the likes of Ashoka Tano, Sabine Wren, Rex and Boba Fett. Unfortunately, at this point, many of these reports remain frustratingly vague.
However, a tease on Twitter by actor Rahul Kohli claiming he was set to play Ezra Bridger in The Mandalorian seemed to confirm suspicions that this upcoming season was more or less an overstuffed, live-action sequel to Star Wars Rebels. This tweet, of course, sent the internet into a frenzy, leading to speculation over the possible role the Rebels protagonist will play in the continuing saga of Din Djarin and his mysterious companion.
Kohli's direct references to Ezra's identity in his initial tweet energized many fans' speculations that the character would have a major role to play in The Mandalorian. After all, it is not unfathomable that Bridger's path could cross with our existing heroes. If the reports about Ashoka and Sabine's involvement in the series are to be believed, then it's possible that the pair are still in the midst of the journey that they began in the series finale of Rebels, searching for a missing Ezra after he seemingly sacrificed himself to defeat Thrawn's forces and save Lothal.
However, these hopes were quashed only hours later when Kohli circled back to confirm that he was, in fact, joking. And, although it's possible that Kohli could simply be backtracking from a premature spoiler that Disney did not approve, it's more likely that the actor was simply having fun at the expense of eager fans. To add insult, the actor posted a picture of himself (sporting a Phantom Menace T-Shirt), showing off his resemblance to an older version of Ezra.
Kohli's clarification led to a wave of disappointment throughout the Star Wars fanbase, not only because an appearance by Ezra had been disputed, but also because the actor himself would not be taking on the role.
Kohli would be an excellent choice to play Bridger in a future live-action project. He is a charming actor, having amassed a large following due to his involvement in Rooster Teeth's Funhaus, as well as his role as Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti in iZombie. He has also recently branched out into dramatic roles, with his upcoming performance in Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor being eagerly anticipated by fans hoping to see his acting versatility. On top of that, he is also about the correct age to play a 30-something Ezra returned from the far reaches of the galaxy.
As Disappointing as Kohli's debunking was, the hype over his potential casting was a rare unifying moment for the fanbase. The actor even took to Twitter again to repost fan art that someone had shared, even sending a heartfelt thank you to fans after the furor had died down, which only further demonstrated his passion for the franchise.
Although Kohli is not playing Ezra, he should be someone the powers that be at Disney take into consideration. Alas, this latest anticlimax has not only proven that Ezra's role (or lack thereof) in the future of Star Wars is still up for speculation, but it has also once again shown how little fans actually know about the upcoming season of The Mandalorian.
Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Taika Waititi and Emily Swallow. Season 2 premieres Oct. 30 on Disney+.