The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Referenced Star Wars: Rebels

Written By Kieran Bugg

Major Star Wars: Rebels Connection Spotted In The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere

The Mandalorian’s Season Three premiere referenced Star Wars: Rebels.

The finale of the animated Star Wars: Rebels series ended on a cliffhanger which left more questions than answers. Lead character, Ezra Bridger defeated the classic villain Grand Admiral Thrawn seemingly at the cost of his own life.

It turns out that Bridger had actually sent them both into an unknown region of space. Moreover, the young Jedi only managed this with the help of the mysterious Purrgil.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Referenced Star Wars: Rebels

The Purrgil are a semi-sentient species of whale-like creatures that live in deep space that could naturally travel through hyperspace. They were introduced to the franchise in the show and have since become a huge part of it’s deep lore.

Rebels ended with mandalorian Sabine Wren and former Jedi Ahsoka Tano embarking on a mission to bring Ezra back home. In addition, Ahsoka would go on to make her live-action debut in the second season of The Mandalorian.

The character was portrayed by actress Rosario Dawson who would briefly reprise the role in The Book Of Boba Fett. It’s revealed in The Mandalorian that Ahsoka is still hunting down Thrawn following his and Ezra’s disappearance.

This will be the main focus of her own upcoming spin-off series which will serve as a sequel to Rebels. The third season of The Mandalorian recently premiered it’s opening episode and the story remains focused Din Djarin’s personal journey.

Nonetheless, there was brief moment in the episode that got fans everywhere talking. While en route to Nevarro, Grogu look out into the hyperspace trail they’re travelling through and notices some familiar shapes.

Purrgils.

This is the first time since Rebels concluded that Purrgils have appeared in a Star Wars series. Furthermore, their cameo in The Mandalorian lays the groundwork for the Ahsoka Disney Plus series.

Especially since that both Ezra and Thrawn were last seen with the creatures before they vanished. It’s been confirmed by Jon Faverau that he’s planning to have the Star Wars Disney Plus shows crossover.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Referenced Star Wars: Rebels

Major Star Wars: Rebels Connection Spotted In The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere

Image: Disney Plus

The Purrgil’s latest appearance could be a tease that Mando and Grogu will both play a role in finding Ezra. It’s looking like Faverau has been planting seeds for a potentially huge Star Wars crossover.

Whether we’ll see it culminate in The Mandalorian or Ahsoka remains to be seen. Who knows? Maybe it could even be leading up to a movie.