The Mandalorian is one of the most successful Star Wars projects of all time, but it almost didn’t happen because of Star Wars Rebels. The fascination with Mandalore, and the Mandalorian people, dates all the way back to the original trilogy and fans’ love of Boba Fett.
Not only does The Mandalorian have deep ties to other Star Wars titles like the prequel trilogy and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but it also actively expands on those stories and further enriches the world.
Mandalore is a planet that has been engaged in civil wars for generations, causing the surface of the world to become barren, with most inhabitants living within domes on the planet’s surface. The Mandalorian doesn’t just further explore the planet’s history, but also its customs and prominent figures who have appeared in various projects, like Bo-Katan Kryze.
However, The Mandalorian wasn’t the first time an entire storyline focused on Mandalore. In fact, it was first done in The Clone Wars – but Rebels season 3 has almost an entire season dedicated to enriching audiences’ knowledge of Mandalore.
Star Wars Rebels’ Mandalore Arc Wasn’t Planned To Happen
But We’re So Happy It Did
Rebels season 3 has a few major themes and arcs that span the entire season. These include the introduction of Grand Admiral Thrawn, Darth Maul’s final arc and eventual death, and Sabine Wren’s arc on Mandalore. It’s worth noting that all of these storylines intersect heavily, and there is causation between them.
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Rebels writer Henry Gilroy revealed at DragonCon 2018 that Rebels season 3 was originally supposed to focus on the Imperial Inquisitors and their origins. Gilroy explained that these plans were eventually altered to focus more heavily on Maul’s final arc and his search for Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, Gilroy noted that the Mandalore arc was a beneficiary of this shift toward Maul.
It was explained that the writers and Lucasfilm were looking to write a more Sabine Wren-centered storyline, since the character was so popular. Because of Maul’s connection to Mandalore through his holding of the Darksaber, this was the perfect way to connect these storylines.
Without this connection, much of what was set up in The Mandalorian wouldn’t have come to pass, especially with characters like Bo-Katan.
The Mandalore arc in Rebels provided a much-needed look at the state of the planet and the people during the reign of the Empire. It showed parts of their customs, their strong familial ties, and a sense of duty to one another and their planet. Additionally, it brought the Darksaber back into play in a major way that set up the blade’s future.
Mandalore’s Return Was Inevitable
If It Wasn’t In Rebels, It Would’ve Been Somewhere Else
The fascination with Mandalorians isn’t anything new. In fact, fans’ interest in Boba Fett essentially launched any and all stories that have been told about Mandalore and its people. Star Wars first expanded our knowledge of Mandalore in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where the planet was introduced through Duchess Satine Kryze and her relationship with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It was clear from how well these Clone Wars episodes were received, as well as sustained interest from the movies, that Star Wars couldn’t stay away from Mandalore for long.
The Clone Wars showed how Mandalore struggled with staying peaceful, and how groups like Death Watch sabotaged any chance of peace and pacifism that they had. It was clear from how well these Clone Wars episodes were received, as well as sustained interest from the movies, that Star Wars couldn’t stay away from Mandalore for long.
There was too much potential and fascination with Mandalore and its people for it to be ignored. If Rebels hadn’t explored the planet through Sabine Wren and her obtaining the Darksaber, Star Wars would likely have found a different project to return to Mandalore in.
The Darksaber has appeared in The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett, but was destroyed in The Mandalorian season 3.
Without Rebels’ Mandalore Return, Would The Mandalorian Have Ever Happened?
It’s A Complicated Answer
The Mandalorian is obviously a great show that has deep connections to previous Mandalorian stories that have been told. There’s no doubt that a show about a Mandalorian would’ve been made eventually, but it’s likely that without Rebels, the story we all know and love would’ve been very different.
Rebels’ use of the Darksaber as a plot point allowed for Bo-Katan to come into The Mandalorian with a goal, and it ultimately made her character better. There would have had to be a lot more legwork done by The Mandalorian if they wanted to tell the same story. At the very least, a story set in the New Republic era might have been harder to achieve.
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The Mandalorian is one of the most important Star Wars titles in recent years because it became such a cultural phenomenon, but it’s unlikely we would’ve gotten the same story without the Mandalore arc in Rebels season 3.
It’s easy to say two different shows don’t affect each other that much, but it’s clear that if Star Wars hadn’t changed its mind and created the Mandalore arc in Star Wars Rebels, then The Mandalorian might not be what it is.
