Mandalorian Director Clears Up Mace Windu Resurrection Rumors—Is Samuel L. Jackson Returning?

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Following her earlier hints, the director of The Mandalorian is now retracting her statements about Samuel L. Jackson’s potential return as Mace Windu. From 1999 to 2005, Jackson portrayed the powerful Jedi master, Mace Windu, in George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels before meeting his end at the hands of Emperor Palpatine, just prior to the infamous Order 66 that led to the elimination of many Jedi Council members. Since then, Mace Windu has not been seen or heard from outside of some roles in the animated Clone Wars series, which were not voiced by Jackson himself.

Despite fan requests for some limitations on Mace Windu in the Disney Star Wars era, director Bryce Dallas Howard, discussing her new film “Deep Cover”, spoke exclusively to TopMob about the possibility of bringing Samuel L. Jackson’s character Mace Windu back into the Star Wars universe.

Regarding speculation about the renowned actor possibly returning to his role in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Howard expressed a desire for collaboration with Samuel L. Jackson on the Star Wars series.

As a die-hard movie fan here, let me confess that collaborating with Samuel L. Jackson is an absolute dream of mine, come rain or shine, under any circumstances you can imagine. Plus, the opportunity to contribute to the magical world of Star Wars is simply exhilarating!

Howard often teases Dave Filoni about various topics, and bringing back Jackson is indeed one of them. Yet, despite our frequent discussions, nothing substantial has come from these exchanges so far.

By the way, I often tease Dave Filoni on various topics, and that’s just one example. However, our chat was enjoyable, though it didn’t lead to anything significant.

Back in April, the director of “The Mandalorian” casually mentioned that Jackson had informed her he’d act in a project she was directing. She then shared this information with Dave Filoni, who is the head of Lucasfilm’s creative department.

This ignited widespread conjecture within the Star Wars community, as fans pondered whether and how Samuel L. Jackson’s character Mace Windu might reappear in that distant galaxy.

Previously, Bryce Dallas Howard and Samuel L. Jackson teamed up in the action-comedy “Argylle” for Apple TV+ Plus, but they haven’t collaborated with each other as actor and director yet. Over time, Howard has directed five episodes of live-action Star Wars television shows, including three for the famous “Mandalorian” series, one for “The Book of Boba Fett,” and another for the 2024 space adventure titled “Skeleton Crew.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but it appears that the possibility of my favorite character from Star Wars gracing the screens of The Mandalorian in its hypothetical fourth season is highly improbable. Given the uncertainty surrounding The Mandalorian’s streaming future, it seems unlikely that her next project within this universe would be tied to this acclaimed Disney+ series.

Will Mace Windu Return to Star Wars?

20 years have passed since Samuel L. Jackson last appeared or was mentioned in the Star Wars universe, following his character’s dramatic departure in Episode III when Palpatine severed his arms. Since then, Jackson’s Jedi character has been largely absent from the Star Wars storyline as told by George Lucas. However, it’s important to note that this absence may not be permanent.

In March 2022, the actor who played Mace Windu hinted that he might reprise his role if given a chance. He suggested, “There’s a rich tradition of one-handed characters making comebacks in Star Wars,” and mentioned asking Bryce Dallas Howard to “slip me back into the role.

Absolutely! Characters with one hand have a notable presence in the Star Wars universe… The only individual I’ve ever hinted at returning was Bryce Dallas Howard because we recently worked together. She directs episodes for ‘The Mandalorian,’ so I jokingly asked, “Could you possibly help me out? I mean, you like me, right?” Her response was, “I adore you, you’re fantastic!” So, in essence, she said, “I’ll do my best to get you back… I’m ready when you are!” Essentially, I’d learn to wield a lightsaber with my left hand if given the chance. Can you help make it happen?

It’s evident that Jackson isn’t opposed to returning to the Star Wars universe; it’s simply a question of finding the right circumstances for it to occur.

Indeed, though Anakin Skywalker appears to have perished at the end of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, it’s important to note that no body was shown (some fans even speculate, based on Obi-Wan Kenobi theories, that he might be imprisoned by the Empire).

Star Wars has a rich tradition of characters seemingly defying death, as demonstrated by Darth Maul, Asajj Ventress, and even Emperor Palpatine. Could Mace Windu follow suit and make an unexpected comeback in the storyline sometime down the line?

In the timeline of the Mandalorian series, it could prove strategically wise for Dave Filoni and the creative team behind Star Wars to introduce an older version of Mace Windu, given that his reappearance seems fitting. This could be seamlessly integrated into the ongoing Star Wars narrative, perhaps even as a thrilling, crowd-pleasing cameo appearance.

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2025-06-14 16:04