It's being reported that Shameless and The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is set to join the Star Wars galaxy. Currently, Lucasfilm intends to release The Mandalorian & Grogu in 2026 from director Jon Favreau, a theatrical movie release, rather than a fourth season of The Mandalorian on Disney+. Now, reports have revealed that Jeremy Allen White has been cast in a very surprising role with connections to one of Star Wars' most popular animated series.
Having first been confirmed by insider Jeff Sneider and later independently reported by The Hollywood Reporter, it's been revealed that Jeremy Allen White is set to voice Rotta the Hutt. The son of Jabba the Hutt, Rotta first appeared in 2008's Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie which kicked off George Lucas and Dave Filoni's Clone Wars animated series which ran for seven seasons. Beyond Pedro Pascal's confirmed return as Din Djarin and his adopted son Grogu, White also joins Sigourney Weaver who's also confirmed to have a role in the upcoming Star Wars movie.
Who Is Rotta The Hutt & What Do You Need To Watch To Know His Story?
Rotta Debuted in 2008's Star Wars: The Clone Wars Movie
In the 2008 Clone Wars movie, the Republic and Separatists are vying for control over hyperspace lanes early, and both are seeking favor with the Hutt Clans who control many of the routes offering access to the Outer Rim. To that end, Count Dooku secretly has Jabba's son Rotta kidnapped as a means to frame the Jedi and have the Republic blacklisted by the Hutts. However, Anakin Skywalker and his brand-new Padawan Ahsoka Tano rescue the child, returning the infant Rotta safely to his father and gaining Jabba's favor as a result.
Aside from a brief cameo in the third season of The Clone Wars, Rotta only ever had a full role in the original Clone Wars movie. As such, his fate is largely unknown during the rest of the Star Wars timeline. This includes where he was when his father was killed in Return of the Jedi, nor when Bib Fortuna (and later Boba Fett) took over Jabba's palace and empire as seen in New Republic Era where The Mandalorian & Grogu will be taking place.
Sigourney Weaver recently confirmed her involvement in The Mandalorian & Grogu, and I know exactly which Legends villain she'd be perfect for.
It's also worth noting that Rotta should still be quite young given the long life spans of Hutts. After all, Jabba was around 600 years old before he was killed by Leia Organa in Return of the Jedi. This is not unlike Grogu who's still a child despite being over 50 years old.
Our Take On Jeremy Allen White's Star Wars Future
Rotta May Just Be The Beginning
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon.
It's worth noting that the role of Rotta the Hutt is simply a voice role for Jeremy Allen White. To that end, it's quite possible that White could end up playing another, more high-profile character later on down the line in the Star Wars galaxyif he and Lucasfilm were so inclined, like his fellow Shameless star Cameron Monaghan who plays Jedi survivor Cal Kestis of The Bear's Ebon Moss-Bachrach who played Arvel Skeen in Andor. Nevertheless, it's exciting to see that White has a role in The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, especially with a character whose full history has never been revealed in the canon.
The Mandalorian & Grogu is a Star Wars movie directed by Jon Favreau that continues Disney+'s immensely popular TV Show, The Mandalorian. The film will replace The Mandalorian season 4 to bring the franchise back to the big screen and follow Din Djarin and his adventures with Grogu. The Mandalorian & Grogu is the first Star Wars film to be released since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
Release Date May 22, 2026
Studio(s) Lucasfilm
Upcoming Star Wars Movies
Release Date
The Mandalorian & Grogu
May 22, 2026
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Custom Image by Kevin Erdmann
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon. 
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