At CinemaCon 2026, Jon Favreau unveiled a treasure trove of footage from The Mandalorian and Grogu, including the full opening action sequence and a first-act setup that reveals the new status quo for one of Disney's most beloved Star Wars characters. The Lasat warrior Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios, voiced by the incomparable Steven Blum, takes center stage. While his presence in the first theatrical Star Wars movie in seven years is exciting, it also raises a glaring issue: Zeb's absence from Ahsoka makes his role here feel like a missed opportunity.
Zeb's Role in the New Movie
After becoming a fan-favorite in Star Wars Rebels, Zeb made his live-action debut in The Mandalorian Season 3, where he was revealed to be a member of the New Republic military. In The Mandalorian and Grogu, Zeb returns as a partner to Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), who now works as a freelancer for Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver). Zeb acts as Mando's aide, representing the New Republic, and often disapproves of Mando's blunt methods. After Mando receives a new Razor Crest, Zeb joins him on a mission to see the Hutt Twins, who offer intel on a former Imperial admiral in exchange for freeing their nephew, Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White). Despite his reluctance, Mando accepts, and the trio blasts off into lightspeed.
The Problem with Zeb's Placement
Zeb's cameo in The Mandalorian Season 3 was a thrill for fans, but it felt out of place. The real issue is that Zeb was nowhere to be found in Ahsoka, a series that directly continues the story of Star Wars Rebels. Almost all the surviving Ghost crew members appear in Ahsoka—except Zeb. This is a huge problem because Rebels established the Ghost crew as a found family. Zeb and Ezra Bridger were not just comrades; they were brothers by choice. In the Rebels finale, Zeb vowed to protect Ezra's homeworld, Lothal, in his absence. So when Ahsoka Season 1 focused on the search for Ezra, Zeb's absence was glaring. He would have dropped everything to help Ahsoka, Hera, Sabine, and Chopper find their lost friend.
Why Zeb's Absence Hurts
Zeb is a CGI-heavy character, which likely explains his placement in a big-budget movie rather than a TV series. But fans didn't need him in multiple scenes—just one moment in the Ahsoka finale where Zeb cuts through the crowd and embraces Ezra. After five years of waiting to see Ezra reunite with his family, that moment was denied. As one fan might say, "That does not make sense!"
For more on the emotional stakes of Star Wars storytelling, check out our list of The Most Universally Beloved Animated Movies of All Time, Ranked.
What We Hope for Zeb
Despite this misstep, The Mandalorian and Grogu could still redeem Zeb's arc. If the movie includes a moment where Zeb reunites with Ezra—perhaps in a post-credits scene or a flash-forward—it would give fans the payoff they deserve. But as it stands, Zeb's role feels like a wasted opportunity to strengthen the emotional core of the Star Wars universe. For more on the franchise's future, read about how 'The French Connection' inspired key action in 'The Mandalorian & Grogu'.
