A brand new rumor claims that Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr. is in discussions for a possible recurring Star Wars villain role in the timeline of The Mandalorian.
The initial rumor about Downey being in discussion with Iron Man director Jon Favreau and Lucasfilm to play a role in The Mandalorian came from scooper Daniel Ricthman as reported by We Got This Covered.
Richtman allegedly claims that Downey Jr. and Favreau are in discussions to work on a new project together and that project more than likely is The Mandalorian.
Following Richtman’s scoop, another rumor, this one from WDW Pro at Pirates and Princesses, claims the discussions with Downey Jr. are indeed for a Star Wars project set during The Mandalorian timeline. WDW Pro refers to this as the “Favreau-Filoni Star Wars cinematic universe.”
WDW Pro believes the discussions are for a significant recurring role and are not “of a cameo nature.” In fact, he claims they “may involve a long-term contract.”
As to what character Downey Jr. might be playing WDW Pro revealed they are still chasing leads, but did indicate that “the potential role may be very different than the Iron Man/ Tony Stark role that RDJ played for so long.”
He even details “that it might involve a serious change in appearance.”
As for who that character might be WDW Pro did speculate that it could be someone like Grand Admiral Thrawn.
They wrote, “It would not shock us at this point if RDJ takes a role like Grand Admiral Thrawn or some other major piece.”
Related: The Mandalorian Reportedly To Build To Grand Admiral Thrawn And Heir To The Empire
What’s really interesting about this rumor is that comes off a recent rumor that The Mandalorian executive producers Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau are looking to build up to a possible live-action adaptation of Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire novel.
In that novel, Grand Admiral Thrawn is first introduced as a cunning and formidable foe who has united the scattered Imperial forces and begun to implement his master plan to utterly crush and defeat the Rebel Alliance once and for all, a feat even the Emperor was unable to do.
Not only does the novel showcase Thrawn’s plans to crush the Rebel Alliance and reclaim the galaxy for the Galactic Empire, but it continues the stories of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Lando Calrissian as they not only get caught up in Thrawn’s web, but actively work to thwart him.
The book also introduces a number of other fan favorite Star Wars characters like Mara Jade, Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth, Imperial Captain Gilad Pellaeon, Thrawn’s personal bodyguard Rukh, the smuggler Talon Karrde, and the fearsome alien species known as the Noghri.
What do you make of this latest rumor? Who do you think Robert Downey Jr. could play? Who do you want him to play if anyone?