Jonny Coyne is back in The Mandalorian & Grogu! He appeared in Season 3 as an Imperial warlord and a member of the Shadow Council, alongside Moff Gideon (played by Giancarlo Esposito). Even though Din Djarin and Grogu defeated Moff Gideon and took back Mandalore, the Shadow Council and the Imperial Remnant still pose serious dangers in their upcoming adventures.
Deadline has confirmed that Jonny Coyne will return as an Imperial warlord in The Mandalorian & Grogu. The cast is growing, with Pedro Pascal continuing as Din Djarin, joined by Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder.
Sigourney Weaver will also appear in a mystery role, while Jeremy Allen White will voice Rotta the Hutt, a character first seen in the 2008 animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie. The film is set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026.
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Jonny Coyne’s return to The Mandalorian & Grogu adds more than just a familiar villain; it hints at bigger story developments. In Season 3, during the Shadow Council scene, Coyne’s character disagreed with Captain Gilad Pellaeon (played by Xander Berkeley), who wanted to proceed carefully.
Instead, he pushed for plundering the hyperspace lanes, saying there was “a fortune to be had.” Since this character is so focused on making money and the Imperial Remnant was linked to pirates in Season 3, his role might resemble Warlord Zsinj from the Star Wars Legends stories.
Zsinj was once an Imperial admiral who became a warlord, following his own plans after the Empire collapsed. Similarly, Coyne’s character in The Mandalorian & Grogu might take a similar path. In the Shadow Council scene from Season 3, he already disagreed with Pellaeon’s cautious approach.
The movie might show him leaving the Shadow Council entirely to team up with pirates, possibly even those from Skeleton Crew. He could continue his hit-and-run attacks in hyperspace lanes, focusing on making the fortune he was after.
Even though Grand Admiral Thrawn (played by Lars Mikkelsen) returned to the galaxy at the end of Ahsoka Season 1, it seems he’ll be saved for Ahsoka Season 2 and other future stories in the Mandoverse.
In the meantime, Jonny Coyne’s Imperial warlord, who might be similar to Zsinj from Star Wars Legends, is shaping up to be a tough challenge for Din and Grogu. His character, already teased in The Mandalorian Season 3 and Skeleton Crew, could take on the role of either the main villain or a secondary one. Either way, he fits perfectly as a foe for The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Source: Deadline