The Mandalorian will get two spinoff series: Ahsoka, Rangers of the New Republic

By Rick Marshall December 10, 2020

To the surprise of no one, Disney is betting big on the Star Wars franchise as it looks to the future. Runaway hit The Mandalorian will get not one, but two live-action spinoff series set in the same timeline as the Disney+ series.

The two series, Ahsoka and Rangers of the New Republic, will spin out of the events of The Mandalorian and culminate with all three shows’ storylines converging for a crossover event. The announcement was made during the Disney Investor Day event, and was accompanied by the debut of title art from both shows.

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Ahsoka, a new Original Series, starring @RosarioDawson and set within the timeline of @TheMandalorian, is coming to @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/ZojpCkhPS7

— Disney (@Disney) December 10, 2020

Rosario Dawson is expected to reprise the role of former Jedi Ahsoka Tano in Ahsoka after making her debut as the live-action incarnation of the character in season 2 of The Mandalorian.

As for Ranger of the New Republic, that series is likely to be an expansion of a plot point in season 2 of The Mandalorian that had former Rebel Alliance shock trooper Cara Dune (Gina Carano) become an officially recognized peacekeeper for the New Republic.

Both spinoff series will be executive produced by The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau, and although Disney declined to provide the premiere date for the two shows, the presentation did indicate that the “next chapter” of the Star Wars saga will premiere around Christmas 2021. The two series will join a host of other Star Wars shows in development, including Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and The Bad Batch, as well as the newly announced Lando.

Season 2 of The Mandalorian will conclude later this month on Disney+ and will likely receive a renewal for a third season in the near future.

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Want to enjoy the Star Wars TV shows more? Watch the cartoons, already!

Ahsoka Tano prepares for battle in an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

I’m pretty nerdy about a lot of things: turntables, vinyl records, barbecue, Game of Thrones, and yes, Star Wars. To a fault, I can be hard to shut up once my string is pulled, and lately, much of my blathering has been focused around a couple of Star Wars TV series -- The Mandalorian and the upcoming Ahsoka, the latter of which I am super-excited for. But I’ve had a few conversations about these shows with friends recently that have been driving me nuts. The latest involved me gushing over a live-action cameo of the animated Star Wars: Rebels series character Zeb Orrelios in season 3, episode 5 of The Mandalorian. My friend exclaimed that he had no idea who Zeb was and that he'd never watched "that cartoon," and here we are.
But a couple of notes before I continue: First, I know that Star Wars: Rebels and its precursor, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, are “cartoons.” Second, I’m aware that I’m a grown man. The point is, I’m often amazed to learn that, for those and other reasons, many people have avoided these excellent animated Star Wars series -- and this is a mistake. Much of what happens in The Clone Wars and Rebels has direct ties to shows such as The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, and especially Ahsoka, as they introduce incredible characters and crucial backstories. Do you need to watch them to know what's going on? No. You don't even need to watch every episode to get a better understanding of the live-action shows: We have great essential episode guides for Clone Wars and Rebels to set you up. But time and again I’ve been rewarded with excitement, a better understanding of characters and plotlines, and a more satisfying cathartic payoff because of watching these "cartoons." Plus, they’re just really good.
And whether you’ve just started watching The Mandalorian or are, like me, waiting eagerly for Ahsoka in August, here are a few good reasons you should take the next few months and get caught up on some of the best cartoons you’ll ever see.
Note: There are Mandalorian spoilers ahead.
Ahsoka Tano gets her due

Making her live-action debut in season 2 of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka Tano began her journey as Anakin Skywalker's tenacious young Padawan, and her adventures throughout seven seasons of the animated Clone Wars made her one of the most exciting and loved Jedi characters in the Star Wars universe. Not only does she endure betrayal through Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader, but her arc connects her to the warrior Mandalorians when she helps Bo-Katan Kryze liberate the planet Mandalore from occupation. The series concludes when Darth Sidious issues Order 66, which triggered the betrayal and extermination of the Jedi, aligning the show with the film Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith.

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All The Mandalorian episodes ranked from worst to best

A screenshot from the first episode of The Mandalorian, showing the Mandalorian when he first sees Grogu.

The Mandalorian was an important show in the current era of Star Wars. After two trilogies of divisive films, The Mandalorian was a piece of Star Wars content that just about everyone liked -- especially in the first season. It's the lowest common denominator in terms of Star Wars storytelling, but that's exactly what this agitated fan base has needed over the past few years.

With season three in the books, let's look back at all 24 episodes of the show so far (Book of Boba Fett not included), and attempt to highlight the very best the show has offered so far.
24. Chapter 6: The Prisoner

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The Mandalorian season 3 episodes, ranked from worst to best

Promo poster for The Mandalorian season 3 featuring Din wielding the Darksaber and Grogu by his side.

It's been a long wait for the third season of The Mandalorian, with several other Star Wars shows getting their time in the sun in between. The refreshingly different Andor, Ewan McGregor's comeback vehicle Obi-Wan Kenobi, and more Star Wars animated ventures all kept fans occupied while they waited for the further adventures of Din, Grogu, and the rest of the gang.

And while The Mandalorian season 3 has felt somewhat aimless in spots, the story thankfully came to a compelling conclusion with its final two episodes. The biggest sticking points were the episodes that generally lost the main bounty hunter narrative, but the highest-ranking chapters focusing on the overarching plot mostly right the ship for Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), Grogu, and Bo-Katan Kryze's (Katee Sackhoff) exploits.