The Mandalorian season 3 included the show’s biggest cast of cameos yet, both from wider Star Wars characters and famous figures in pop culture. Given the wide-reaching nature of the Star Wars franchise, cameos have always been part of the series’ formula. From famous actors like Simon Pegg and Daniel Craig being hidden in the Star Wars sequels to Sofia Coppola and even George Lucas himself appearing in the prequels, cameos are a long-standing tradition in a galaxy far, far away that is expected to continue in upcoming Star Wars movies.
Star Wars TV is also no stranger to cameo appearances. As with the future of the franchise in theaters, Star Wars’ upcoming TV shows will likely continue this trend after The Mandalorian‘s first three seasons featured a handful of guest appearances. Some from the first two seasons of The Mandalorian include Jason Sudeikis, John Leguizamo, Richard Ayoade, and even Star Wars director Dave Filoni. Despite this abundance of guest stars, The Mandalorian season 3 arguably had more cameo appearances than any of its predecessors be it from known Star Wars personalities or prominent actors, actresses, and musicians – a trend set to continue in The Mandalorian season 4.
10 The Anzellans
Shirley Henderson returned from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The first major cameo found in The Mandalorian season 3 came in the season premiere, “The Apostate.” The episode was largely used as a way to catch audiences up with the titular character after his appearance in The Book of Boba Fett, featuring many returning faces from The Mandalorian‘s past. One of these characters is Carl Weathers’ Greef Karga whom Din visits to recover the parts of IG-11, an assassin droid from The Mandalorian season 1. Greef sends Din and the parts of IG-11 to nearby mechanics on Navarro so that the latter can be fixed and aid the former in his quest to the treacherous atmosphere of Mandalore.
Interestingly, the group of mechanics Din is sent to are Star Wars cameos in and of themselves. Din is sent to a group of Anzellans, the small, tech-savvy race of Star Wars creatures first introduced in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. In that film, the core Anzellan character was Babu Frik who instantly became a fan-favorite due to his extroverted personality and hilarious voice provided by Harry Potter alum Shirley Henderson. Henderson returned to Star Wars for The Mandalorian season 3, voicing another batch of Anzellan mechanics who may or may not be linked to Babu Frik himself.
9 Kelleran Beq
Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best made a surprising return to Star Wars
Undoubtedly one of the more exciting cameos found in The Mandalorian season 3 was that of Kelleran Beq in episode 4, “The Foundling.” The episode detailed the long-theorized moment in which Grogu survived Order 66, finally revealing the Jedi who was responsible for his escape from Coruscant. While not a character from Star Wars’ films or Disney+ shows, Ahmed Best’s Kelleran Beq appeared, reprising his role from the canon game show Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. Kelleran Beq’s appearance was a deep cut for fans of the Star Wars game show and subverted popular theories that Anakin Skywalker or Mace Windu were responsible for keeping Grogu alive during Order 66.
The appearance, however surprising, was endlessly heartwarming given Best’s history as Jar Jar Binks in the franchise. The negative reaction to Binks saw Best receive an overwhelming amount of online hate and abuse to the significant detriment of the actor’s mental health. As such, his cameo appearance in The Mandalorian season 3 was a welcome return to Star Wars for both the actor and the many fans who welcome anyone in a galaxy far, far away, no matter their roles.
8 Carson Teva
The lovable New Republic pilot made two brief Mandalorian S3 cameos
One of the recurring characters throughout Star Wars’ New Republic era is Carson Teva, played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. The character is a New Republic Ranger who has been an ally of Din Djarin’s at multiple points in the past which continued in The Mandalorian season 3. Teva first made a cameo in the season in episode 5, “The Pirate.” Teva was shown investigating a pirate attack on Navarro, attempting to recruit the aid of the New Republic government. After contacting Din Djarin who led the Mandalorians in defense of Navarro, Teva was absent until season 3’s final episode, “The Return.”
The second cameo of Teva’s was during The Mandalorian season 3’s epilogue. After defeating Moff Gideon and helping to free Mandalore, Din Djarin traveled to Adelphi to meet with Teva. Djarin tells Teva that, in the future, he will unofficially help the New Republic in hunting down Imperial remnants in the Outer Rim, setting up both to appear in The Mandalorian season 4.
7 Captain Tuttle
SNL veteran Tim Meadows joined the Star Wars universe
During Teva’s quest for New Republic aid in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 5, he encounters Captain Tuttle. Tuttle refuses Teva’s request for aid, yet makes for another fun cameo in The Mandalorian season 3. Tuttle is played by none other than Tim Meadows, a veteran of Saturday Night Live and various other comedic films and TV shows from the last two decades.
6 Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios
The Star Wars Rebels hero made his live-action debut
Even more so than Kelleran Beq, the most exciting cameo in The Mandalorian season 3 came from Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios. “The Pirate” rounded out its surprise appearances with the iconic Star Wars Rebels character who was shown speaking with Carson Teva at the Adelphi base. Voiced once again by Steve Blum, Zeb appeared for the first time in Star Wars canon since Star Wars Rebels season 4, setting up his appearance in future New Republic-era projects while serving as an extremely exciting cameo for fans of the animated Star Wars shows.
5 The Duchess of Plazir-15
Pop sensation Lizzo had an interesting Star Wars role
While not the most exciting guest appearance, one of the more interesting in The Mandalorian season 3 was pop sensation Lizzo. The Mandalorian season 3, episode 6, “Guns for Hire,” involved Din Djarin and Bo-Katan taking a side quest to Plazir-15. The leader of the planet was simply named the Duchess, played by Lizzo. While not an overwhelmingly important role in regard to The Mandalorian‘s wider story, the Duchess made for a surprising, fun cameo from the unlikeliest of sources in a worldwide rapper and singer like Lizzo.
4 Captain Bombardier
Jack Black made his long-awaited debut in the Star Wars franchise
One of the few Hollywood actors who has always felt tailor-made for Star Wars is Jack Black, who finally made his anticipated debut in The Mandalorian season 3. Alongside Lizzo’s Duchess of Plazir-15 was Captain Bombardier, a former Imperial who became part of the New Republic Amnesty Program. Alongside the Duchess, Bombardier provides a funny albeit overly silly insight into Plazir-15’s community that brought Black to Star Wars for the first time in a role many may hope is left in the past.
3 Commissioner Helgait
Back To The Future icon Christopher Lloyd swaps flux capacitors for Separatist plots
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 6, “Guns for Hire,” makes room for one more cameo outside of Lizzo and Jack Black in the form of Commissioner Helgait. Helgait, played by Back to the Future legend Christoper Lloyd, appears as the head of Plazir-15’s security team who initially aids Bo-Katan and Din in their investigation into malfunctioning droids. Eventually, it is revealed that Helgait was a Separatist during the days of the Clone Wars and tampered with the droids himself, resulting in his exile to a moon orbiting Plazir-15.
2 Commandant Brendol Hux
The father of the Star Wars sequels’ General Armitage Hux
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7, “The Spies,” is the final episode to introduce two major cameos. One of these is Commandant Brendol Hux, one of the members of Moff Gideon’s Imperial Shadow Council. Brendol Hux’s cameo is a major one for The Mandalorian for a few reasons, the first being his importance to the events of the New Republic era and the Star Wars sequels. Hux has appeared in projects like the Aftermath book trilogy as one of the founding members of the First Order.
Hux was also mentioned in The Mandalorian season 3 to be working on Project Necromancer, which is presumably the contingency plan Palpatine created to be revived in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Furthermore, Brendol Hux is the father of Domhnall Gleeson’s Armitage Hux who appeared in a prominent role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. As such, Brendol Hux’s appearance proves above all else that the New Republic projects of Star Wars will actively set up the sequel trilogy.
1 Captain Pellaeon
Grand Admiral Thrawn’s right-hand man ushered in the Chiss’ return
The final cameo found in The Mandalorian season 3 is Captain Pellaeon. Like Hux, Pellaeon is another important character in wider Star Wars lore and was present during the Imperial Shadow Council. In Star Wars Legends, Pellaeon was the right-hand man of Grand Admiral Thrawn. While not depicted specifically as such in Star Wars canon as of yet, Pellaeon’s outspoken support of Thrawn’s return in The Mandalorian season 3 sets up this character arc. Similarly, it allowed The Mandalorian season 3 to seamlessly tie into the overall story of the New Republic era which is increasingly centered on Thrawn’s return to re-establish Imperial dominance in the galaxy.
