Warning: This article contains spoilers from Episodes 4 and 5 of Ahsoka.
Brendan Wayne, one of the stunt doubles who plays Din Djarin in The Mandalorian, appears in Episodes 4 and 5 of Ahsoka. While Pedro Pascal is the face and voice of Din, Wayne and Lateef Crowder are the ones who spend most of the time inside of the armor and bring Din’s various movements and interactions with other characters to life.
In Ahsoka, Wayne gets a chance to show his face while playing one of the New Republic X-Wing pilots who join Hera Syndulla and Carson Teva on their unauthorized mission to the planet Seatos. As seen in the credits, Wayne’s character is named Lieutenant Lander.
When the Eye of Sion jumps into hyperspace toward the end of Episode 4, “Fallen Jedi,” two of the X-Wings are destroyed, and it was left unclear whether Lander survived. Episode 5, “Shadow Warrior,” confirmed that Lander did survive.
Carson contacts Lander to get everyone in their crew to fly again over the waters of Seatos in the search for Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren. With help from Jacen Syndulla’s Force-sensitive abilities, the New Republic crew finds Ahsoka, with Lander helping to bring her out of the water.
Did you know? One of the X-Wing pilots in #Ahsoka Part 4 is played by Brendan Wayne, who is one of the actors who plays Din Djarin in The Mandalorian.
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) September 9, 2023
More Easter eggs, references & trivia facts from #Ahsoka Part 4 here: https://t.co/BIDYQd9vfP pic.twitter.com/TQrWSVWOXY
Due to Hera’s unauthorized actions, she is in danger of having her command permanently suspended by the New Republic oversight committee. Lander may face a similar punishment due to his involvement with the unauthorized investigation.
Even if he is demoted or stripped of being a lieutenant, his willingness to join Hera’s mission in the first place and his actions throughout the mission proves that he could be a valuable ally moving forward, regardless of what the New Republic decides to do.
While Lander most likely won’t become a prominent character in the Mandoverse, he could definitely pop up again to help Ahsoka, Hera, Carson, and others fight against the threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Most of Wayne’s time in the Mandoverse will still be spent playing Din, but Lander is a great way to give Wayne the opportunity to show his face, especially since much of his work as Din does not get enough recognition.
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the Star Wars content being covered here wouldn’t exist.