I think I’ve figured out exactly who Jonny Coyne is playing inThe Mandalorian and Grogu, and my theory blows the movie’s plot wide open. Five years ago,Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerbrought an end to the sequel trilogy. It performed well in the box office, but Lucasfilm struggled to figure out what to do next, and there hasn’t been anotherStar Warsmovie since. All that will change in 2026, with the release ofThe Mandalorian & Grogu.
All the evidence suggestsThe Mandalorian & Groguis adapted from plans forThe Mandalorianseason 4. That means it’s no surprise we’re hearing about returning characters such asJonny Coyne’s Imperial Warlord, who made his debut in season 3 as a member of theImperial Shadow Council. But that news may well have blown the entire plot wide open…
Everything We Know About Jonny Coyne’s “Imperial Warlord” In Canon
Who is Jonny Coyne playing in Star Wars?
TheNew Republicbelieves the Empire to be broken, with surviving Imperial loyalists scattered and disorganized. In reality,Imperial leaders have been coordinating to orchestrate the Empire’s restoration, and they’ve surely been galvanized by the return ofGrand Admiral Thrawn. Jonny Coyne’s Imperial Warlord is a member of the Imperial Shadow Council, and he seems to be a key player.
The character has a little dialogue inThe Mandalorianseason 3, and he’s clearly both greedy and ambitious. “There’s a fortune to be had plundering the hyperspace lanes,” he insists at one point, suggesting he’s reinvented himself as a pirate after the Empire’s fall - which fits with the increasing focus on pirates after season 3 andStar Wars: Skeleton Crew. His hit-and-run operations are apparently drawing a little too much attention, making him a target for the New Republic.
Zsinj Is The Definitive “Imperial Warlord” Of Star Wars Legends
Coyne’s character is being described as an “Imperial Warlord,” and that name means a lot to anyone familiar with the oldStar WarsExpanded Universe(now called “Legends”). In Legends, Zsinj was the definitive Imperial Warlord, respected by Palpatine himself because of his tactical brilliance.Zsinj’s mother turned to piracy after the end of the Clone Wars, and Zsinj proved his loyalty by hunting her down and killing her.
Commander of the Victory I-class Star Destroyer called the Iron Fist, Zsinj was one of the few Imperials to hold the rank of Grand Moff, commanding a vast fleet and controlling the important hyperspace lane called the Hydian Way. He ultimately broke away from the Empire after the death of Palpatine, and at one point ruled a third of the known galaxy. Zsinj’s acts of piracy ultimately led to open war with the New Republic.
If Coyne Is Playing The Canon Zsinj, He’s The Mandalorian & Grogu’s Real Villain
It’s not hard to see the parallels between Jonny Coyne’s Imperial Warlord and Legends. Selfish and greedy, Zsinj took to piracy to bolster his coffers - just like Coyne’s character. He never played well with others, which fits with his apparent frustration with the Shadow Council inThe Mandalorianseason 3. And he’s definitely a big deal, a fitting antagonist for the big screen who fits with the growing themes of piracy.
It’s easy to imagine the New Republic asking Din to bring in an Imperial Warlord whose hit-and-run raids are causing massive economic disruption on the Hydian Way.
Why would Zsinj appear inThe Mandalorian & Grogu? Simply becauseThe Mandalorianseason 3’s endingsaw Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin reinvent himself as a different kind of bounty hunter, one who works for the New Republic and hunts down Imperial Warlords like Moff Gideon. It’s easy to imagine the New Republic asking Din to bring in an Imperial Warlord whose hit-and-run raids are causing massive economic disruption on the Hydian Way, especially given Din’s adopted homeworld of Nevarro is in that part of space.
The interesting question is whether Zsinj is still working with the Imperial Shadow Council, or whether he’s gone rogue. As noted, Zsinj was never really a team player in Legends; the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn would surely mean he’s lost a lot of his independence, and he’d resent that. In that scenario, the Shadow Council may be quite happy for a random bounty hunter to neutralize their former member.
If Zsinjisstill working with the Shadow Council, though, then Din Djarin is potentially about to stumble on a vast galactic conspiracy. He thinks he’s dealing with a single pirate captain, comparable to Gorian Shard’s Pirate King in season 3, when in reality he’s up against the vast resources of the Empire. Coyne’s casting inThe Mandalorian & Grogusets up some tremendously exciting possibilities.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Cast
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a Star Wars movie directed by Jon Favreau that continues Disney+’s immensely popular TV Show, The Mandalorian.
