Warning: There are spoilers ahead for The Mandalorian and Grogu.Villain star Jonny Coyne reveals that prior to The Mandalorian and Grogu, he had a major role in season 4 of the Disney+ series.
Coyne plays Lord Janu Coin, who is one of The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s key villains. Before the movie, he was introduced as an unnamed Imperial warlord and member of the Shadow Council in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7, “The Spies.” While there were plans for a fourth season, with Jon Favreau having completed scripts for it, plans changed at Disney and Lucasfilm, and the story’s next chapter becoming a theatrical movie necessitated a new script being written.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, Coyne shared that he was originally “booked to do a whole load of other episodes in season 4,” although he does not know any specific details as he never received any scripts for it. Between the SAG-AFTRA strike, COVID-19, and the evolving plans at Disney and Lucasfilm, he then thought the show was canceled and his time in Star Wars was over. However, he later learned that he was going to have a significant part in The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. Check out Coyne’s comments below:
There was a time when I was booked to do a whole load of other episodes in season 4. And then that show went away, and then there was an actor strike, and there was COVID, and all sorts of things going on, and it was a difficult time.
Then I heard the show got canceled, and so I just went, “Okay, I’ll pack my bags, and leave LA.” And then I heard I was going to be part of the movie, and then I heard I was going to be seriously part of the movie, you know, significantly. And then, Jon Favreau called me up and interviewed me, and talked to me about what he plans to do with the character, and I thought, “Okay, bring it on.”
Never got the scripts for [season 4]. Literally, though, the only thing I did with Mando was three lines in the Shadow Council. They weren’t particularly significant lines, I don’t think so, but somehow it was all an intro to my character into what became the movie. So, I’m thinking maybe there was something along these lines in the series, but who knows.
With the original plans for The Mandalorian season 4 still under wraps and a new script needing to be written for the movie, the exact similarities and differences between the two stories remain unknown. Coyne being set to play a prominent role in multiple episodes of season 4 and then becoming a central villain in the film does suggest that certain story elements were carried over, though.
One of Coin’s lines in The Mandalorian season 3 involves him talking about the potential fortune to be made from “plundering the hyperspace lanes.” This sets up his interest not just in the Empire’s return, but in acquiring more wealth, which includes the money he makes off of Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) in Shakari’s fighting pits. Coyne’s character is also the mysterious Imperial warlord that the New Republic’s Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) sends Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal, Brendan Wayne, and Lateef Crowder) to capture, which he ultimately does with some help.
It has not been announced yet whether The Mandalorian season 4 or a movie sequel will happen, but there is potential for Coin to be in either one since he is still alive and a captive of the New Republic who divulged Imperial Remnant secrets to them. Any unused aspects of his original season 4 narrative could be incorporated if they still work with where the story goes next.
When speaking with ScreenRant about his Star Wars character’s name, which is a nod to his real name Jonny Coyne, the actor shared that he would be happy to continue starring in the franchise: “Always happy to make an appearance in Star Wars, but you have to understand, this is as high as any actor could…Every actor’s dream is to do a franchise movie like this. So as far as I’m concerned, I’ve done it. And if there’s any more to be had after that, fantastic.”
Another possible avenue for his return after The Mandalorian and Grogu is Ahsoka season 2, which is premiering on Disney+ in early 2027. In The Mandalorian season 3 scene with the Shadow Council, they speak of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) potentially returning to the galaxy. Since then, Thrawn has come back, and it’s confirmed that Ahsoka‘s coming episodes will see him battling against the New Republic.
- Release Date
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May 22, 2026
- Runtime
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132 Minutes