'The Mandalorian & Grogu' must pay a special tribute to Greef Karga

The passing of Carl Weathers earlier this year shocked Star Wars fans, especially as it came not long after the announcement of The Mandalorian & Grogu.

The Star Wars community was already mourning the unexpected loss of Ray Stevenson, who played Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka. Carl Weathers' passing marked the franchise's second major death within a year. While Lucasfilm is believed to be searching for Stevenson's replacement, there's no indication that Jon Favreau has similar plans for Weathers' beloved character on The Mandalorian.

This week, Bespin Bulletin shared pictures taken by MakingStarWars that he believes confirm the return of Nevarro in the Mando movie. While the sets could be of anything, the return of Nevarro isn't a surprise as it's Din and Grogu's homeworld. The two settled down on the planet at the end of Season 3. Nevarro has featured heavily throughout the series, and it's also the home of Din Djarin's close friend and ally, High Magistrate Greef Karga. With Weathers' passing, Greef Karga's future is in question.

It would be best if Greef Karga becomes one with the Force because replacing Weathers at this juncture doesn't seem right. He's given his best to the series, and it's hard to picture anyone else in the role. Greef Karga has one of the most well-written character arcs in the show, which saw him becoming the High Magistrate of Nevarro, a significant promotion from where he began in Season 1 as the head of the Bounty Hunters Guild.

With Weathers' passing, Jon Favreau should do the right thing and give Greef Karga a proper send-off. It's an opportunity to say goodbye to a character we've all come to love, who's been a brother to Din and something of an uncle and a grandfather to Grogu. While it's an unfortunate set of circumstances and not one Favreau or Filoni could've foreseen, allowing Din Djarin and Grogu to grapple with this loss is the only way to go. Karga became a trusted ally to Din and a face he looked for every time he landed his ship on Nevarro. Karga doted on Grogu, preferring to take the little guy's side over Din's about wearing the IG-11 mech-suit. The news of Karga's passing will leave them both shaken, and the movie should spend some time on it.

Star Wars is best when it's emotional, and a funeral for Karga would allow Din to express his emotions toward his late friend. This would add depth to Din's character because it shows how much he values his friends. Loss is something Grogu is very familiar with, as so many of his kind were slaughtered during Order 66. No one consoled him and taught him how to deal with a loss, but Din can help him cope with the passing of Greef Karga. What better opportunity could there be for father and son bonding? It also opens the possibility of a helmetless Din Djarin shedding a few tears while eulogizing his friend. This is a great way to bring Pedro Pascal into a scene without appearing forced.

Just as important are the circumstances of Greef Karga's passing. He helped protect Din Djarin and Grogu, so it would be fitting if he died protecting them, too. Maybe someone shady can come searching for Din and Grogu on Nevarro, and Karga can die keeping his friends' exact location a secret. It would be a bittersweet but very befitting end to High Magistrate Greef Karga. Furthermore, this can lead Din and Grogu on a quest to find Karga's killers.

It's not an easy job and certainly not something Jon Favreau would have envisioned while writing The Mandalorian & Grogu, but I trust him to handle this right.

The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney+, and The Mandalorian & Grogu will hit theaters on May 22, 2026.