It seems that Gina Carano still might have some bad blood with Disney, even though they reached a settlement in August 2025 after she was fired from her role as Cara Dune in “The Mandalorian,” seemingly after controversial comments that she made during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Ahead of her MMA return against Ronda Rousey this May, Carano was asked to name a “Star Wars” actor who could survive a round in the octagon. Instead of naming one of her Mando-verse castmates, Carano decided to name a Marvel actor instead.
Gina Carano Seemingly Shades ‘Star Wars’ In Viral Exchange
TMZ caught up with Gina Carano outside of the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, where she was holding a press conference with Ronda Rousey to promote their May 16 MMA fight. When she was asked what actor in the “Star Wars” universe could last a round in the Octagon, she replied, “I don’t know anybody in the Star Wars universe that could, but I think Chris Hemsworth could.”
“I met him before, and he’s got a Muay Thai background,” Carano explained, before noting that Tom Hardy also does jiu-jitsu. It’s worth noting that although Chris Hemsworth is best known for his role as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tom Hardy actually has a secret link to a galaxy far, far away that Carano might not know about.
Tom Hardy filmed a cameo as a stormtrooper (FN-926) in 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” where he appeared in a scene where he recognizes Finn (John Boyega) in an elevator. However, this scene was cut from the final theatrical release. The deleted scene is available on the film’s home release, as per IMDb.
Inside Gina Carano’s ‘Star Wars’ Role
Although she has not appeared in any of the movies, Gina Carano played Cara Dune in the first two seasons of “The Mandalorian.” Cara Dune was from the planet Alderaan, which was famously destroyed by the Death Star in “A New Hope.”
She served as a Rebel shock trooper during the Galactic Civil War, but later became a mercenary who became a close ally of Din Djarin, the name of the titular Mandalorian. By the end of season 2, she was deputized as a Marshal of the New Republic of the planet Nevarro.
Lucasfilm originally planned a spinoff series called “Rangers of the New Republic” that was supposed to be set around Carano’s character; however, the series never materialized after Carano and Disney parted ways.
Disney Parted Ways With Carano Over Controversial Social Media Posts
In February 2021, Lucasfilm announced that they were no longer with Carano following a series of controversial social media posts. As NPR reported at the time, one photo featured a woman being chased through the streets. The comparison seemingly compared the suffering Jews faced during the Holocaust to the polarizing political climate. “How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?” the post asked.
After #FireGinaCarano began trending, Lucasfilm reportedly parted ways with the actress. “Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm, and there are no plans for her to be in the future,” a Lucasfilm spokesperson said. “Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”
She was also dropped from United Talent Agency, as reported by Deadline.
Gina Carano Sued Disney Over Her Firing
Carano argued that she was being targeted for her conservative views and argued that other costars, like Pedro Pascal, were not disciplined for their more liberal-leaning statements, but to no avail.
Years later, Elon Musk pledged to fund legal fees for users treated unfairly by their employers due to their posts on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. This prompted Carano to officially sue Disney and Lucasfilm in federal court in February 2024, alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. She sought at least $75,000 in compensatory damages and asked to be recast in her role as Cara Dune.
Disney tried to get a judge to dismiss the case, arguing that they had a First Amendment right to choose who represents their brand. However, in July 2024, a judge denied Disney’s motion and a trial date was scheduled for 2026.
Disney and Carano Reached A Settlement In August 2025
Months before their 2026 trial date, both Gina Carano and Disney reached a mutual settlement in August 2025. Although the financial details have not been released, both sides agreed to dismiss the case “with prejudice,” which means she cannot refile the lawsuit at a later date.
In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, a Lucasfilm spokesperson said, “With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”
“We have reached an agreement with Gina Carano to resolve the issues in her pending lawsuit against the companies,” it continued. “Ms. Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect.”
Despite claims that they “look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future,” she is not expected to reprise her role in “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” which hits theaters in May 2026.
