You just never know who you’re gonna run into on The Mandalorian. The galaxy is vast, the clout is high, and the pockets are deep — and that generally enables Star Wars to surprise us with all sorts of wild cameos and cast additions. Take the Season 3 episode “Guns for Hire,” for example. SPOILERS ahead, duh.
This is for all intents and purposes a done-in-one chapter in Din Djarin’s saga, a 35-ish minute caper designed to entertain us until some very necessary plot progression happens at the end. But if you think our guy and Bo-Katan were gonna visit a resplendent planet of decadence and luxury and not run into a couple of major, A-list celebs, think again! Immediately upon their arrival on Plazir-15, they’re called to meet with the planet’s leadership. They arrive at what’s revealed to be a grand banquet hall and there are the royals/elected leaders: Jack Black and Lizzo.
These two play brand new characters in the Star Wars universe — so new that their names aren’t even completely known. Jack Black plays Bombardier, an ex-Imperial facilities planning officer who underwent rehabilitation as part of the New Republic’s Amnesty Program (remember the program Dr. Pershing was placed into?). He was then sent to Plazir-15 where he helped rebuild the planet following Imperial occupation. It’s then and there that he fell in love with the Duchess.
The Duchess is played by groundbreaking, Emmy and Grammy-winning pop star Lizzo — and so far we just know her as “the Duchess.” Maybe she’s Duchess Lizzo. Honestly, that sounds pretty Star Wars-y. She’s a member of the royal family, in love with Bombardier, and she knows that the way to Grogu’s heart is through his stomach.
But these aren’t the only two major stars in “Guns for Hire.” Bombardier Black and Duchess Lizzo hire the Mandalorians to deal with the city’s malfunctioning battle droids. Bo-Katan and Din then meet with the man in charge of the droids: Commissioner Helgait. He is played by the legendary Christopher Lloyd.
This feels like a long time coming, you know? Christopher Lloyd is one of the most iconic actors of the ’80s and ’90s, and finally having him in Star Wars just feels right. The man’s already got his own blockbuster franchise in Back to the Future, so why not throw him in Star Wars too?
And if you don’t know him as Doc Brown, then maybe you know Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester in the ’90s Addams Family movies, or as Professor Plum in Clue, or Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, or as Rev. Jim Ignatowski on the classic sitcom Taxi. He even played Commander Kruge in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, which means he’s know appeared in both of the iconic Star _____ franchises.
Jack Black, Lizzo, and Christopher Lloyd all in one Star Wars episode? Season 3 is just getting more and more unpredictable every week. Who’ll show up next week, John C. Reilly, Dua Lipa, and George Wendt? I mean… stranger things have happened.
The Mandalorian Season 3 continues next Wednesday on Disney+.