The Mandalorian & Grogu’s Rotta The Hutt Can Be The Next Baby Yoda

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Summary

  • Jeremy Allen White joins Star Wars as Rotta the Hutt, potentially the next Baby Yoda in the franchise.
  • The introduction of Rotta the Hutt brings back a character from The Clone Wars, expanding the Hutts’ involvement in the galaxy.
  • The return of Rotta could lead to the creation of “Baby Jabba,” adding a new cute addition to Star Wars marketing efforts.

As a long-time Star Wars enthusiast who has watched the galaxy far, far away unfold across multiple decades and generations of characters, I must say that the prospect of a young Rotta the Hutt making an appearance in The Mandalorian & Grogu is both thrilling and intriguing.

There’s a persistent trend of high-profile actors getting involved with the Star Wars universe, and now Jeremy Allen White from The Bear is part of it. White will be playing Rotta the Hutt in an upcoming live-action Star Wars movie, potentially following in the footsteps of Grogu (from The Mandalorian) as the next big breakout character in this galaxy far, far away.

After Laura Dern (“The Last Jedi”), Richard E. Grant (“The Rise of Skywalker”), Rosario Dawson (“The Mandalorian”), and Jude Law (“Skeleton Crew”), Jeremy Allen White is the newest high-profile actor to join the sci-fi series. Unlike these stars who will be playing entirely new characters for Jon Favreau’s production, White is reprising an infrequently seen character from 2008’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and its subsequent TV series.

Who Is Rotta the Hutt?

The series “The Mandalorian” has introduced popular characters from “Clone Wars,” such as Bo-Katan Kryze and Ahsoka Tano, and incorporated elements from the expanded universe or “Legends canon,” like the survival of Cobb Vanth and Boba Fett. Additionally, it has delved deeper into the Hutt empire through “The Book of Boba Fett.” Although we barely saw Jabba the Hutt’s twin cousins in “The Book of Boba Fett,” their influence in the Outer Rim is evidently strong.

It’s been confirmed that Jeremy Allen White will portray Rotta the Hutt, who is Jabba the Hutt’s son and was last seen in season 3 of The Clone Wars. Originally introduced in the The Clone Wars movie, Rotta was abducted following orders from Count Dooku with assistance from Ziro the Hutt – Rotta’s great uncle. It was later revealed that Asajj Ventress, a Sith apprentice of Dooku, orchestrated the kidnapping. This led to a rescue mission by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano. Rotta was saved on the planet Teth, but his condition deteriorated during the journey back to Tatooine. Ahsoka managed to save him, and a bond formed between them, with Ahsoka affectionately calling him ‘Stinky.’

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I must confess that young Rotta, Jabba’s son, hasn’t had the leading part we’d expect. In the third season of “The Clone Wars,” during the episode “Sphere of Influence,” he made a brief cameo. Later, his name was mentioned in “Hunt for Ziro” and received a fleeting recognition in “The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark.” Since then, there’s been no sight of him in the canon storyline, which has left fans like me wondering about where he might have disappeared to. We’ve been speculating on his whereabouts, especially considering he missed out on significant events such as Jabba’s demise.

After the reappearance of Boba Fett on The Mandalorian, Star Wars utilized its position following the events of Return of the Jedi to delve into the post-Jabba’s death narrative. The Book of Boba Fett didn’t escape its share of criticism. Among the various unresolved storylines, some viewers felt let down by the depiction of the powerful Hutts yielding control to Boba, allowing him to take over Jabba’s Palace. However, if the heir to the throne of the Hutts were introduced, this could potentially change that scenario. Despite Temuera Morrison hinting that Boba Fett may not feature in The Mandalorian & Grogu, this could pave the way for the return of Rotta instead.

Star Wars Needs Another Baby Yoda

The duo of The Mandalorian and Grogu (also known as Baby Yoda) has announced that Zeb Orrelios from the TV series Star Wars Rebels will return, Jonny Coyne is coming back as an Imperial Warlord who was seen in season 3 of The Mandalorian, and Babu Frik is also joining the cast. Additionally, legendary actress Sigourney Weaver has a secret role. Characters from the Mandoverse are expected to appear too, with Rotta needing to differentiate himself just like Grogu did as ‘Baby Yoda.’ Disney could potentially make a lot of money from miniature Jabba plushies if Rotta becomes popular like Baby Yoda.

As a devoted Star Wars fan, I’ve been excitedly anticipating the appearance of Rotta in “The Mandalorian & Grogu.” Contrary to some speculations that he might resemble Bokku, Jabba’s muscular Hutt cousin, it seems Rotta could be portrayed as a young Hutt. Given that Jabba was 600 when he perished in “Return of the Jedi,” and Rotta was 55 during “The Clone Wars,” we can assume Hutts have a long lifespan similar to Yoda and Grogu’s species. With “The Mandalorian & Grogu” taking place around five years after “Return of the Jedi,” it puts Rotta at approximately 23 years younger than Jabba was at his death, suggesting he may still be quite young in this timeline.

Star Wars continues to introduce charming characters such as Porgs, Neel from Skeleton Crew, and Gungi’s return for The Bad Batch; however, none have matched the popularity of Baby Yoda. The concept of a Baby Jabba isn’t novel, as 3D artist Leonardo Viti had designed a small version of the criminal mastermind back in 2020. The idea gained traction and Baby Jabba became an instant hit, but it soon faded from memory. Despite potential accusations that Disney is simply repeating the Baby Yoda formula if a young Rotta appears, there’s no denying the allure of profits.

A young Rotta also fits narratively, instead of moody teen version. Ahsoka has already shown affection for Grogu, and given her history with Rotta, she could be forming her own crèche for wayward kids. Then again, casting White in the role of Rotta suggests he’ll be more than a babbling bundle of joy. Star Wars canon has never made the most of the Hutt empire, but Sigourney Weaver’s casting could be a hint as to this aspect of the movie’s direction. Star Wars Outlaws’ Kay Vess, who has her own history with Jabba, looks like she was modeled on Weaver’s Ellen Ripley. The Alien star could be playing an older version of Vess, which would be another easy way to bring Rotta back into the fold.

With Star Wars steadily refining its storyline and potentially resolving old enigmas, the reappearance of Rotta the Hutt could mark the culmination of a narrative that began 16 years ago. Given Din Djarin’s history of rescuing endangered alien infants, and considering the decline of the Hutt Clan by the era of the New Republic, Favreau holds the opportunity to significantly reintroduce them in the storyline. However, as the plot of The Mandalorian & Grogu is yet to be fully revealed, set for cinematic release on May 22, 2026, much remains a mystery.

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2024-12-19 06:04