Who Is Rotta the Hutt? Jabba’s Son in The Mandalorian & Grogu, Explained

by

A young Hutt character is coming back to the Star Wars universe. Rotta the Hutt will appear in the new movie, which is the first Star Wars film to be released in theaters since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. The movie, hitting theaters on May 22nd, continues the story of Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu after the events of their Disney+ show.

The new film offers a first look at several characters from the Hutt crime syndicate, suggesting a major underworld plot will be featured. Though at least three Hutts will be in the movie, Jabba the Hutt’s son, Rotta, is expected to play a key role. While dedicated Star Wars fans are already familiar with Rotta from previous stories, newcomers can easily find out everything they need to know about him.

Who Is Rotta the Hutt (and Why Is He So Important)?

Rotta the Hutt recently appeared in The Mandalorian and Grogu, but this isn’t his first time in the Star Wars universe. He previously appeared in an early animated Star Wars story. Rotta is the son of Jabba the Hutt, and as a baby, he was kidnapped by the villain Count Dooku and his forces.

During the peak of the Clone Wars, Count Dooku and his followers schemed to make it look like the Jedi had kidnapped Jabba the Hutt’s son, Rotta. Their goal was to pressure Jabba into joining the Separatists and allowing them to use his secret hyperspace routes. But Anakin Skywalker and his new apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, managed to rescue Rotta and bring him home safely, thwarting Dooku’s plan and securing Jabba’s support for the Republic.

Rotta hasn’t been seen since before the Clone Wars ended, but his appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu proves he survived the events of Return of the Jedi, where his father’s ship was destroyed. Considering Hutts, like Grogu’s species, live a long time and have extended childhoods, Rotta will likely be portrayed as a young adult when he returns.

Mando and Grogu will need to explain what happened to Rotta, Jabba the Hutt’s son, who has been missing for decades. As Jabba’s heir, Rotta should have taken over his father’s criminal empire on Tatooine. But The Book of Boba Fett suggests he never returned to claim his inheritance after Jabba died, and instead, Jabba’s advisor, Bib Fortuna, briefly ruled in his place.

Rotta may not have ever wanted to take over his father’s criminal organization, and instead hoped to build his own reputation somewhere else in the galaxy. The glimpses we’ve seen of him suggest he’s different from other Hutts, who generally aren’t known for being physically strong. Everything points to Star Wars wanting to make it clear that Rotta is not at all like Jabba.

Who Plays Rotta the Hutt in The Mandalorian and Grogu?

The newest Hutt character will be created using CGI and motion capture, but you might recognize the voice. Jeremy Allen White, known for his acting roles, will be voicing Jabba the Hutt’s son in The Mandalorian and Grogu, and this will be his first appearance in the Star Wars universe.

Jeremy Allen White is widely recognized for his role as Chef Carmy Berzatto in the popular Hulu series, The Bear, for which he’s won two Emmy Awards. He also portrayed Bruce Springsteen in the upcoming 2025 biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere, earning him a Golden Globe nomination. Many viewers may also remember him from his previous work on the show Shameless.

So, I was reading an interview with the actor who played Rotta the Hutt, and he let slip that he actually based some of his performance on certain people he knows – pretty cool, right? He also mentioned that Rotta won’t just be speaking Huttese, the language all the Hutts use. He’ll also be speaking Basic, which is basically the Star Wars version of English. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out on screen!

It’s unknown if Rotta will appear again after this, or if this was a single appearance. Still, it’s exciting to see a character previously only seen in animated form brought to life in live-action. After more than ten years, Star Wars fans are thrilled to see his return.

Rotta the Hutt Sets Up Big Things for Star Wars

Bringing back Rotta the Hutt after over ten years isn’t just a nod to fans. It hints at a bigger story arc that could unfold across several future Star Wars shows and movies, potentially focusing on the criminal side of the galaxy.

Rotta, as the son of the late crime boss Jabba, immediately poses a danger to the other criminals who divided up Jabba’s empire after his death. This includes Jabba’s cousins, a pair of Hutts who tried to profit from his family’s troubles during the events of The Book of Boba Fett. They likely won’t be happy about Rotta’s return, and it could lead to a power struggle within the already weakened Hutt Clan, potentially wiping them out before the events of the sequel trilogy.

Boba Fett recently took over Jabba the Hutt’s criminal organization after the events of Return of the Jedi. Because he’s been involved with Jabba’s network for a long time, Boba likely has the backing of many bounty hunters, including Embo, who will be a key enemy in The Mandalorian and Grogu. This could lead to a large-scale gang war across the Star Wars galaxy, with Din Djarin and Grogu caught in the middle.

Rotta the Hutt is set to play a significant role in the upcoming season of The Mandalorian and Grogu. It’s unclear if he’ll be an ally or an enemy. Voiced again by Jeremy Allen White, Rotta has the potential to become a popular character with fans as he returns to the Star Wars universe.

The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026.

5 Questions
Test Your Hutt Knowledge: Rotta’s Return to Star Wars!
Your Top Score
—
Attempts
—
0
0
Report Error

Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.

Read More

2026-03-08 03:07