Mandalorian & Grogu Movie Will Officially Bring Back 1 Prequels Villain (With a Twist)

by

On May 22nd, Din Djarin and Grogu return to the big screen in The Mandalorian & Grogu. This new installment from Jon Favreau continues the story from the Disney+ series, and promises their most exciting adventure yet as they assist the newly formed New Republic in battling remaining Imperial forces.

Toy Fair 2026 revealed new Star Wars toys, including action figures and Funko Pops! One standout is a battle droid character wearing worn Mandalorian armor and operating technology from the prequel films. Hasbro’s Star Wars ActionVerse Guard Droid & Mercenary STAP will be available at the event, and its packaging highlights the character’s unique orange helmet, which features two antenna-like projections.

The robot is equipped with battle-worn Mandalorian armor, complete with a unique burgundy shoulder cape lined with fur. Its chest plate is a mix of orange, yellow, and silver. The armor is clearly old and damaged, showing it’s been used in many fights.

The character has uniquely colored legs. The upper part of their left leg is mustard yellow, fading into a weathered metallic silver for the rest of the leg, from knee to foot. Their right leg is mostly metallic silver, with a noticeable splash of bright light blue paint on the lower shin.

This detail highlights the character’s past as a droid built from various, mismatched parts over time. The helmet’s design is clearly inspired by the battle droids and BX-series commando droids seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

The collection features a bright orange STAP speeder bike, designed to match the armor of the Guard Droid. STAPs were first seen in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, where they were used by the Trade Federation for scouting.

Single Trooper Aerial Platforms were fast vehicles that let battle droids patrol all kinds of landscapes. They were frequently seen in the animated series The Clone Wars, mostly used by battle droids fighting for the Separatists.

Finding a STAP almost three decades after the Clone Wars is really interesting. Did the Mercenary Guard Droid find this one on an old battlefield, or are these vehicles still commonly used throughout the galaxy because they’re affordable and dependable?

The orange paint job indicates this vehicle isn’t standard military equipment; it’s been personalized. The Guard Droid clearly altered the STAP for its own use, matching the paint to the worn look of its armor.

What makes the Mercenary Guard Droid so interesting is its Mandalorian armor. During the Clone Wars, battle droids were used by the Separatists as expendable troops. So, seeing one equipped with the strong beskar armor of the Mandalorians immediately raises questions about its story.

It’s strange to see a battle droid wearing Mandalorian armor. The armor seems authentic, not just a painted-on imitation. Details like the fur cape and unique helmet shape are consistent with classic Mandalorian designs.

There are a few possible explanations for this strange sight. The droid might have won the armor in a fight against a Mandalorian. It’s also possible it’s a member of a Mandalorian clan who earned the armor through service. Another idea is that it simply found the armor while scavenging wreckage from the time the Empire hunted Mandalorians.

Funko’s Mandalorian & Grogu Pop! collection also prominently features a Guard Droid. 

This Funko Pop! figure is designed as a battle droid, featuring a big, worn reddish-orange helmet and tall, antenna-like ears. It’s dressed in a torn brown cloak and carries a large black blaster rifle slung across its body.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Brings Back Prequel Villain 

Since The Mandalorian & Grogu is set around 28 years after The Clone Wars, the appearance of the Guard Droid is noteworthy. Most battle droids were deactivated following the Separatists’ loss, though some did survive in isolated locations.

We’ve seen battle droids before in The Mandalorian, often as background characters. Season 3 included a reworked B1 battle droid working in Mos Espa, proving that these droids from the Clone Wars still exist and function throughout the galaxy, even years after the war ended.

Although battle droids were rarely seen after the Separatists lost the Clone Wars, the series The Mandalorian revealed that working Clone Wars-era units were still around during the time of the New Republic.

Initially, Din Djarin’s memories of his childhood appeared as frightening nightmares. However, newer episodes, like Season 3, Episode 6 (“Guns for Hire”), reveal those same memories to be surprisingly ordinary and focused on everyday life.

This episode featured a memorable reprogrammed battle droid supervisor and a whole town of droids who had retired to the planet Plazir-15, showing that these robots were still widespread long after the war.

The Guard Droid appears to be built like a BX-series commando droid, not the more common B1 battle droid. Commando droids were tougher and had better fighting skills, which explains why this one has lasted for 28 years – they were made to be more durable.

The appearance of STAP vehicles strengthens the links between The Mandalorian & Grogu and the broader Star Wars universe. Jon Favreau has consistently included elements from the prequel era in The Mandalorian, and bringing back vehicles and droids from The Clone Wars continues this pattern.

Read More

2026-02-14 23:06