By DAIS JOHNSTON

The Mandalorian may be set decades before the sequel trilogy, yet it contains many references to future events. In fact, the Season 3 trailer features Boba Fett, signalling such callbacks are far from over, and more clever Easter eggs and cameos may be on the way. One exciting rumour suggests a major antagonist from The Last Jedi could finally make a return.

According to prolific Star Wars leaker MakingStarWars, the Praetorian Guards were set to appear in The Mandalorian Season 3. These red-armoured guards featured in one of The Last Jedi’s most iconic fight sequences, and they would serve a similarly menacing role in The Mandalorian, likely as followers of Moff Gideon.

While their role may remain unchanged, their appearance could differ. MakingStarWars released concept sketches of the guards for the Disney+ series. Their armour resembles Mandalorian gear rather than the sleek, seamless design of the original guards. Notably, the helmets bear the T-shaped visor we know and love from Mando’s helmet.

The Praetorian Guards posed a terrifying threat in the throne room scene of The Last Jedi. Lucasfilm

The Praetorian Guards’ presence in The Mandalorian hints at the return of an even more intriguing character: Snoke. After all, the last time we saw these guards, they were guarding him. This theory gains more credibility when looking back at The Mandalorian Season 2, which included a pivotal scene featuring a “Snoke prototype” floating inside a tank.

Could Snoke make a comeback? The villain never truly received the backstory he deserved in the sequel trilogy, and it would be fascinating to witness the origins of this antagonist. Still, several logical questions remain. Andy Serkis brought Snoke to life through motion capture. After starring in Andor, would he be willing to step back into a motion capture suit so soon?

Regardless of who they serve, the guards’ appearance in The Mandalorian marks a return of the visual aesthetic from the Star Wars sequel era. Recent rumours also suggest the kintsugi repair on Kylo Ren’s mask may be reflected in Ahsoka, so this may be further evidence of a new trend within Star Wars television.

There is plenty to criticise about the sequel trilogy, but its stylistic choices are memorable. Now that Star Wars has found its footing on Disney+, it can draw inspiration from the newer Star Wars films for fresh visuals, props and techniques to maintain visual consistency with the wider franchise.