If The Mandalorian & Grogu’s Secret Villain Theory Is Right, It’s A Huge Betrayal For An OG Star Wars Hero

An original Star Wars hero will be massively betrayed if The Mandalorian and Grogu's secret villain theory is true. Between a Super Bowl commercial, an official trailer, and Grogu appearing in the audience at the 98th Academy Awards while Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver presented on stage, the movie's marketing push is in full swing ahead of the May 22 theatrical release.

With Imperial warlords, the Hutt twins from The Book of Boba Fett, and the bounty hunter Embo, several smaller villains have been teased in the marketing, but one of the key mysteries surrounding The Mandalorian and Grogu's story is the identity of the main antagonist. Grand Admiral Thrawn is the primary villain of this era and is seemingly being saved for Ahsoka season 2 and other upcoming stories. Another major villain candidate for Din and Grogu's next adventure may have already been revealed, though.

Theory: Sigourney Weaver’s Colonel Ward Is The Mandalorian & Grogu's Secret Villain

Science-fiction icon Sigourney Weaver makes her Star Wars debut in The Mandalorian and Grogu as Colonel Ward. After having previously served with the Rebel Alliance, Ward is a pilot and New Republic official. In The Mandalorian and Grogu official trailer, she is seen at Adelphi Base giving the titular characters cards that identify their Imperial warlord and gangster targets. She also says to them, "This isn't about revenge. It's about preventing another war."

None of this insinuates that Ward is a secret villain, but it still seems like a viable twist because she is being introduced as an important, well-connected, and trustworthy character that the audience knows little about. Given Weaver's defining role as the heroic Ellen Ripley in the Alien franchise, fans of the science-fiction genre are naturally inclined to trust her as well, making it all the more surprising when she turns out to be the real antagonist in league with the Imperial Remnant and Grand Admiral Thrawn.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, which featured Emperor Sheev Palpatine as the central villain. While this is comparatively a smaller-scale story, some Imperial warlords, the Hutt twins, and Embo do not seem like big enough antagonists to be worthy of the franchise's return to theaters. Weaver playing the next cinematic villain seems more appropriate, especially with stories in this era of the Star Wars

timeline exploring how the New Republic is already beginning to crumble from within.

Ward's History With Leia & The Rebellion Would Make The Secret Villain Twist Devastating

If Ward is working with the Imperial Remnant because of a desire for power, frustration with the New Republic, financial gain, or any other reason, it would be devastating based on what has been shared about the character's history with Leia and the Rebel Alliance. While speaking with Empire magazine, Weaver revealed that Ward and Leia Organa "go way back." Dave Filoni, the co-president of Lucasfilm, also teased that Ward comes from the inspiring group of Rebel female leaders "who really went through it," which, along with Leia, includes Mon Mothma, Hera Syndulla, and Amilyn Holdo. Weaver added that "To be playing someone who is from that time, and from that history, who would have been a cohort of these guys, is a great honor."

As a secret villain, Ward would not only be betraying the trust of Din and Grogu, but of Leia and the other daring, honorable women vital in defeating the Empire. Leia, Mon, Hera, and Holdo are all still active at this time, with Mon even being the chancellor of the New Republic, but Ward's betrayal could undermine their credibility and that of the galactic government. This would be dangerous under any circumstances, but especially after Thrawn returned to the galaxy during Ahsoka season 1's ending.

Ward's history does create some potentially compelling ties to the original trilogy in The Mandalorian and Grogu. This backstory may not receive much attention given the movie's obvious focus on the beloved eponymous characters, but it could take on more relevance if the theory of Ward being a villain comes to pass. If she is not an antagonist, the question remains of whom the real evil is going to be in the film and if it is a character who has already been established.

The Mandalorian and Grogu releases in theaters on May 22.