The former MMA fighter previously played Cara Dune in the series (Picture: Getty/Disney)

Star Wars director Rick Famuyiwa has spoken out for the first time about how The Mandalorian will move the plot forward in season 3 without Gina Carano’s character Cara Dune.

The 40-year-old actress was let go from the series in 2021 after expressing ‘abhorrent’ views in a social media post.

The former MMA fighter starred in the first two seasons of the series, and has also appeared in other action films, from Fast and Furious 6 to Deadpool.

But in February 2021, after making a statement in which she reportedly compared being under Republican rule to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, the actor received a backlash as the hashtag #FireGinaCarano swept Twitter.

At the time, Lucasfilm released a statement, which read: ‘Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future.

‘Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.’

Gina starred in the first two seasons of the series (Picture: Reuters)

The Deadpool star had made controversial comments on numerous other occasions. 

The flagship Disney Plus show will go ahead for season three in March without the character who was, as executive producer Dave Filoni put it, ‘vital to Din Djarin’s beginnings’. 

Now, fellow series helmer Rick, has spoken to Deadline about how the plot is going to develop in her absence.

‘Cara was a big part and continues as a character to be part of the world. It had to be addressed in the creative and [Jon Favreau] took the time to think about that,’ explained Rick, who helms episode one, seven and eight of season three.

‘It was something that was discussed as we knew it was going to have impact on the show, but at the same time, what has been at the heart of the show are the two characters – Din Djarin and Grogu – so ultimately it felt like a servicing of that, and around the Mandalorians.’

Dave Filoni says lots of characters in the universe are fighting for screen time (Picture: Getty Images for Disney)

Rick revealed Cara will still be part of the world off camera (Picture: Getty Images)

When asked whether Cara – who Dave called a ‘great character’ – is just ‘out there bounty hunting’ in the universe, he revealed there are ‘many characters’ who are ‘fighting for screen time’.

Fans are apparently constantly requesting this screen time for loads of different characters in the universe.

Dave added that this series will ‘mainly’ deal with ‘Mandalorians and the Mandalorian saga’, and there are different characters which will take a lot more prominence, which fits in with Din’s story with Grogu. 

Gina has since spoken out about being ‘bullied’ by the company, and said she’s ‘not the only one’.

Speaking in a sit-down on The Ben Shapiro Show in late February 2021, she said: ‘I could share a story which would turn things around in the media but I can’t because it would sell out a friend… everyone is afraid of losing their job.’

More: Trending

The company faced accusations of hypocrisy after Pedro Pascal kept his job when he made similar comments comparing Republicans to Nazis following Joe Biden’s win over Donald Trump in September 2020. 

The Mandalorian season 3 will premiere on Disney Plus on Wednesday March 1.

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