While Season 2 of The Mandalorian was a huge success for Disney+ and Lucasfilm and met with positive reactions from fans and critics alike, actress Gina Carano who plays Cara Dune in the series has been a source of controversy.
For months, Carano's social media posts about political issues, preferred pronouns, and masks produced backlash leading many on Twitter to use the hashtag #FireGinaCarano.
Today, Carano took to Instagram and drew comparisons between Nazi Germany and today's political atmosphere that, once again, sparked significant backlash.
LUCASFILM STATES GINA CARANO IS NO LONGER WITH LUCASFILM
According to Gizmodo, a Lucasfilm spokesperson has issued the following statement:
“Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”
This announcement is significant as it has long been speculated that Carano's character of Cara Dune would receive her own spin-off Disney+ series.
After she became Nevarro's New Republic Marshall in “Chapter 14" of Season 2, many believed her series could've been the Rangers of the New Republic series announced during Disney's Investor Day Event in December.
According to Aaron Couch from The Hollywood Reporter, that was Lucasfilm's original intention, but the studio decided against including Carano in upcoming projects following her November tweets and were prepared to take further action.
"They have been looking for a reason to fire her for two months, and today was the final straw." https://t.co/ANECxE5r22
— Aaron Couch (@AaronCouch) February 11, 2021
WHEN WAS CARANO DROPPED AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FUTURE STAR WARS SERIES
Lucasfilm's language is interesting in that it doesn't state Carano was fired today, even though the studio was clear to condemn the content of her social media posts.
The decision also raises questions about the future of The Mandalorian and Rangers of the New Republic, especially since Carano's Cara Dune was intended to play a role.
Fortunately for The Mandalorian, Cara Dune's presence was consistent but not essential, and there's time to adjust future storylines since series showrunner Jon Favreau has said Season 3 begins production after The Book of Boba Fett. The reveal of this upcoming series starring Temuera Morrison was a surprise to fans as it wasn't announced during Disney's Investor Day Event and meant Season 3 of The Mandalorian debut later than fans expected.
Very little is known about Rangers of the New Republic apart from it being produced by Favreau and Filoni, culminating in a crossover event with The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Star Wars: Ahsoka. The absence of a release date affords the studio time to readjust if Cara Dune was indeed essential to the series story.
