Mercedes Mone nearly lost The Mandalorian role due to unsupportive WWE bosses

Everyone remembers Mercedes Mone as Koska Reeves for saving Grogu in The Mandalorian Season 2, Chapter 11, "The Heiress," and her brawl with Boba Fett in "The Rescue," but the actress has revealed that she almost lost out on the role.

While Mone, who is also a professional wrestler by the name of Sasha Banks, hopes for a Star Wars return in The Mandalorian & Grogu, she exposed the WWE's discomfort with her acting career.

According to MovieWeb, Mone told the WFAN Sports Radio in New York that the WWE had serious reservations about her involvement in Star Wars, which pushed her to leave them for rivals AEW, where she's receiving proper support and encouragement for her acting career.

"That's definitely a big reason why I came to AEW. Even doing The Mandalorian was pulling teeth with the WWE, to even try and get time off to film that show. Tony (Khan) says, whatever I need. If I need the private jet to go from filming in LA to coming for a show, it's available for me."

- Mercedes Mone.

Mercedes seems a lot more optimistic about her career now and hopes to return to Star Wars again after she was last seen in The Mandalorian Season 3, Chapters 22-24:

"Besides freaking Star Wars, I would love to be in a movie. I would love to put Koska Reeves in a Mandalorian movie. That would be incredible. I would love to be in any type of series like Fast & Furious, anything my brother would like. He likes action movies."

- Mercedes Mone.

Although MovieWeb mentions that Koska Reeves may return in The Mandalorian & Grogu as the movie is likely to deal with the retaking of Mandalore, that's unlikely to be the case. The Mandalorian Season 3 has already spent considerable time on the retaking of Mandalore, and the movie could gloss over Mandalore as a plot point or focus more on its rebuilding. If Koska makes a return, she'll likely be pivotal in rebuilding her home world. It remains to be seen whether she will welcome Bo-Katan as the rightful Mand'alor or not.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is in line for a May 22, 2026 release and was rumored to go into production in June. However, Lucasfilm hasn't confirmed whether the movie has entered production, and cast and crew have remained tight-lipped. Apart from Pedro Pascal, no one has been confirmed for the film, although fans have begun speculating on Eman Esfandi's possible return as Ezra Bridger in the movie. Star Wars is unlikely to give Mando news, with The Acolyte being their main priority at present.

The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney+.