A Mandalorian Jedi? Lucasfilm’s Dave Filoni Explains The Difference Between Grogu & Sabine
In recent years, Star Wars has introduced us to more non-traditional Jedi, including two potential Mandalorian Jedi but Dave Filoni has a great explanation about the difference between Grogu and Sabine Wren. Co-creator of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Filoni has a deep understanding of both the Mandalorians and the Jedi. In titles like The Mandalorian and more recently in Ahsoka, Dave Filoni has helped introduce two Jedi who are anything but typical in Grogu and Sabine Wren.
Star Wars Rebels suggested that the only Mandalorian Jedi had been the original wielder of the Darksaber, Tarre Vizsla. Things have changed of late, though, with hints they were more common, and no less than two Force-users crossing the boundaries between Jedi and Mandalorian: Sabine Wren and Grogu. While speaking with ScreenRant’s Molly Brizzell at Star Wars Celebration 2025, Dave Filoni discussed the Mandalorian and potential Jedi journeys of Grogu and Sabine, addressing the possibility Grogu could return to the Jedi:
“The short answer is, sure, why not? Anything’s possible, true. They’re both very different, and their paths are very different. They’re arguably going in slightly different directions.
With Sabine, it’s a special case because I really wanted to talk about the fact that, by definition of the Force that Obi-Wan gives, we all have it. It’s within everybody, but we don’t all tap into it. And then there are people with talent. The talent furthers them in certain things, just like it does in our own world. But the idea is [that] if you train and study, you can access the ability. But as Qui-Gon reminds us, it’s very difficult. It’s a very hard life to be a [Jedi], so most people don’t do it.
There are many things we could do in our own lives that would make our lives better. Why don’t we just do those things? Because they’re very difficult and they’re challenging. And so when I’m attacking the idea with Sabine, it’s that she will never be a Jedi like Ezra or like Ahsoka. Maybe she trains very hard, but she’s different. So is that bad? What is the training doing for her? These are the kind of questions that we have to ask ourselves, but everybody just thinks, oh, you’re trained to be used. Of course. And now you’re going to be a Jedi. But it’s not that easy.”
Filoni acknowledges that Sabine isn’t as attuned with the Force as other Jedi we’ve seen, but that doesn’t mean she’ll quit just because it’s hard. Meanwhile, Grogu is naturally more attuned to the Force but chooses not to be a Jedi, maybe because it’s hard, but also because it just may not be the life he wants. Filoni’s comments make us question what’s really in store for Grogu in The Mandalorian and Grogu and Sabine in Ahsoka season 2.
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Sabine’s Story Isn’t Really About Being A Mandalorian Jedi
Filoni Wants Us to Think About Sabine From a Certain Point of View
From Filoni’s comments, we can gather that Sabine’s story arc in Ahsoka isn’t really about her journey to becoming a Mandalorian Jedi. Rather, Filoni is telling a very different story, using Sabine as a character who explores the nature of the Force. In turn, though, that shines a light on Sabine in a way we haven’t seen before. Sabine is an incredibly skilled and intelligent fighter, and that’s helped her as a Jedi, but as her abilities grow and she continues to struggle with them, we may see Sabine and the Jedi from a different perspective.
Grogu Could Still Become The Mandalorian Jedi We Long To See
Don’t Count Him Out Just Yet
As a member of Yoda’s species, which canonically lives hundreds of years, Grogu has a long time to decide whether or not he wants to become a Jedi. While audiences yearn to see Grogu become a Mandalorian Jedi, it may be a matter of waiting longer to see that idea realized onscreen. As Filoni pointed out, the life of a Jedi is hard, so Grogu may not be ready for that. Based on Filoni’s comments, it’s clear that there’s an interesting future ahead for Mandalorian Jedi like Sabine Wren and Grogu in Star Wars.
Check out more of our Star Wars Celebration coverage:
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
