Could We See The Mandalorian and Grogu in 'Skeleton Crew'?

WARNING! SPOILERS for Skeleton Crew 1x03.

It seems Star Wars is back on a winner with Skeleton Crew, with the first three episodes earning mostly positive reviews from fans and critics. Following a group of children struggling to make their way home to their mysterious planet, At Attin, after accidentally blasting themselves into space in an old pirate starship, Skeleton Crew is set in the era of the New Republic (not that the kids actually know this), around the same time as The Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. This era has come to be referred to as the 'Mando-verse' by some fans, as characters often crossed over between the three shows.

Skeleton Crew is said to be taking place sometime after season three of The Mandalorian, and now, thanks to a few events in the third episode, some fans are wondering whether The Mandalorian himself, Din Djarin, and his adorable little ward turned Apprentice, Grogu, could make an appearance in the new series.

Where we last saw Mando and Grogu

When we last saw Mando and Grogu at the end of the third season of The Mandalorian, they were fresh from helping Bo-Katan Kryze and the rest of the Mandalorian people reclaim their home planet of Mandalore. To ensure he can take on Grogu as his apprentice despite the foundling being too young to speak the Mandalorian Creed, Din officially adopts Grogu as his son. However, this means the newly minted Father-Son duo must depart Mandalore for Grogu to undertake his journeys.

They make a home base on the independent planet of Nevarro, where Mando had previously been promised a plot of land by his friend and ally, Magistrate Greef Karga. He also meets with Carson Teva, a New Republic X-Wing Captain with whom he had built a cordial relationship after various run-ins.

Prior to the events of The Mandalorian TV series, Din Djarin was a respected Bounty Hunter, and throughout the series, continues to take the occasional bounty to make ends meet. However, realizing that taking full and permanent responsibility for raising Grogu means he must be more selective about his work, Mando offers Carson a proposal that he will work as an unofficial Bounty Hunter for the New Republic.

Until recently, fans were not expecting to see Din and Grogu again until the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu movie, due to hit theatres in 2026. However, episode three of Skeleton Crew may have changed things.

Why Mando and Grogu could appear

The first half of episode three, 'Very Interesting, as an Astrogation Problem' depicts the kids escaping from Pirate port Borgo Prime with the help of Jod Na Nawood/Captain Silvo/Crimson Jack. Brutus, the wolf-like Pirate who appears to have taken control of Silvo's former crew, orders a bounty to be placed on Jod and the kids as they escape.

In the second half of the episode, the New Republic are made aware of the kids when Kh'ymm alerts them, initially believing they are kidnap victims needing to be rescued from Jod/Crimson Jack. The New Republic pilots that answer Kh'ymm's call ultimately give up the chase for fear of hurting the kids.

This is where Mando's agreement with Carson may come into play. Mando has shown talent in the past for bringing in targets without harming them. Therefore, it is possible that his unofficial role as a Bounty Hunter for the New Republic could see him and Grogu enlisted to rescue the kids, whether they actually need rescuing or not.

Whatever the case, Skeleton Crew has been a fun ride so far. We can't wait to see what happens next!