Star Wars Is Officially Resurrecting a Forgotten Clone Wars Villain 12 Years Later

A familiar face is returning to a galaxy far, far, away--and it's about time. The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22, marking the first theatrically released Star Wars project since Episode IX -- The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Directed by Jon Favreau, the new film aims to conclude the saga that began with The Mandalorian on Disney+.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is more than a culmination of Star Wars' Disney+ projects; it is also a love letter to every era of the long-running sci-fi franchise. The latest trailer for the upcoming film confirms that a fan-favorite character from the animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, will finally make his live-action debut. Moreover, his return could set up a much bigger storyline for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Embo Will Return in The Mandalorian & Grogu

Appearing in the new trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu is fan-favorite bounty hunter, Embo. A Kyuzo mercenary known for his distinctive large-rimmed hat and hunting dog companion, Embo made a name for himself during the Clone Wars era of Star Wars. His character design earned him a cult following from Star Wars fans, even though the character only gets a limited amount of screentime.

Embo is considered one of the most elite bounty hunters in the galaxy, leading him to participate in a secret plot to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine during an address on Naboo (a precursor to Palpatine's later capture in Revenge of the Sith). However, he doesn't always fight for the bad guys. At other times during the Clone Wars, Embo teamed up with Jedi like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano to protect innocent lives on Felucia.

It's long past time that Star Wars brought Embo to live-action. So far, the character has only ever appeared in animated projects like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch. While it appears that Embo will be generated using CGI in The Mandalorian and Grogu, it will still be epic to see the bounty hunter fully realized in a live-action project.

Embo's return is also interesting, given the timeframe of The Mandalorian and Grogu. Very little is known about Embo's life and career after the Clone Wars. He was still active during the early years of the Empire, and some literature suggests that he survived the events of the Original Trilogy. Now, The Mandalorian and Grogu confirms that Embo is still a powerful bounty hunter in the years after the Empire's fall, though where his next mission may lead him remains a mystery.

How Embo Will Factor Into The Mandalorian & Grogu's Story

Embo appears to be a much bigger presence in The Mandalorian and Grogu than anyone would have guessed. Some reports even suggest that the bounty hunter could be the primary villain of the new film, or at least a leading adversary working for a much bigger antagonist lurking in the shadows.

Embo is most likely in league with the Hutts, who are also confirmed to return in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Rotta, the son of Jabba the Hutt, will play a pivotal role in the story and may use his father's connection in the underworld to hire Embo for his own purposes. This would suggest that The Mandalorian and Grogu will focus more heavily on lurking dangers in the galactic underworld than on the rise of an Imperial Remnant led by Grand Admiral Thrawn (though this will be the subject of Dave Filoni's upcoming crossover movie).

Interestingly, Embo is also known to have affiliations with Darth Sidious himself. After the Emperor's death during the events of Return of the Jedi, Embo may be part of the secret contingency plan to clone the Sith Lord. Recent Star Wars series, including The Mandalorian and The Bad Batch, seemingly build up to the Emperor's return in the Sequel Trilogy. Embo's appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu could set up more answers about how the Emperor's resurrection took place, leading up to the events of The Rise of Skywalker.

Embo's return should be very exciting for Star Wars fans. Not only will the iconic bounty hunter finally get the chance to appear on the big screen for his first live-action project, but his return could also set up much bigger storylines in the Skywalker Saga.

The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026