When you’re making Star Wars, how do you keep the franchise’s biggest secrets from getting out? These days, “just don’t tell anyone” doesn’t always cut it. The Mandalorian creators, for example, went to extensive lengths to keep even those involved in the project from knowing who would show up to save the day at the end of season 2. The latest episode of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian revealed a false script was used to fool everyone, and Jedi Master Plo Koon was used as “The Jedi” that shows up to rescue everyone instead of Luke Skywalker.
“Plo Koon. He is not dead after all,” that portion of the script read.
But there wasn’t just a fake script. There was even concept art to deter the show’s actors from the possible truth.
Of course, this isn’t the first time those behind-the-scenes have had to make great efforts to give audiences a chance to be surprised. Think Blue Harvest, the fake movie title used during the production of the original trilogy, or the alarming amount of money Disney gave up in potential merchandising profits to wait until after the Baby Yoda reveal to create purchasable items.
Luke Skywalker’s appearance at the end of The Mandalorian season 2 wasn’t something Lucasfilm was willing to spoil – not even for those in the room where it happened. Plo Koon may have only been a diversion … or was he?
Could Plo Koon have survived Order 66? We may find out the answer … or not. We’ve gotten a lot of Jedi Purge survivor stories in recent years, and Plo’s story would have to be pretty unique to stand out from the rest and not feel too repetitive. But it would definitely be worth it to see a Plo and Ahsoka reunion. (No, YOU’RE crying.)
It’s unlikely there are any real implications that Plo Koon is still alive this far past the Clone Wars, but in the wise words of Dave Filoni himself: “Never say never..”
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian‘s latest and very special episode is available now on Disney+.