Mandalorian: Gideon's Secret Ship In Season 2 Could Be A Star Destroyer

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Mandalorian: Gideon's Secret Ship In Season 2 Could Be A Star Destroyer

Could Moff Gideon upgrade his TIE Fighter to a Star Destroyer in season 2 of The Mandalorian? Played by television's premier villain actor, Giancarlo Esposito, Moff Gideon was introduced in The Mandalorian season 1 as the story's overarching villain. Gideon leads a force of remnant Empire Stormtroopers, and is doggedly hunting down Baby Yoda for some unknown purpose, keeping the evil dream alive even after the Battle of Endor. A sinister and calculating figure, Gideon also has personal history with Din Djarin and the people of Mandalore, after he was involved in the mysterious Great Purge event that has yet to be fully explained.

In the climax of The Mandalorian's first season, Gideon implores Djarin to give up his small, green friend, but since it would take a heart of solid stone to let The Child come to any harm, his request is denied. The showdown begins between Gideon's Stormtroopers and the ragtag band of allies Din Djarin has managed to gather, culminating in a jetpack-wearing Mando taking down the Moff's custom TIE Fighter in an epic aerial clash. While the good guys won the battle, the war proved far from over, as Gideon emerged from the wreckage of his ship holding the Mandalorian Darksaber, ready to continue his hunt for Baby Yoda.

After an excruciating wait, The Mandalorian season 2 is set to premiere next month, and will kick the conflict between Djarin and Gideon up a few notches. Mando could find new allies in Ahsoka Tano, Bo-Katan Kryze and perhaps even Boba Fett, but Gideon is confirmed to be involved in at least one big lightsaber battle this season, with Esposito's character making full use of his fabled blade. However, it seems that Moff Gideon isn't just upgrading his weapon in The Mandalorian season 2, he's also trading in season 1's TIE Fighter for something far more deadly - potentially a Star Destroyer. In an interview with EW, Esposito revealed his character would be in possession of "a larger vehicle, hint-hint" in The Mandalorian season 2, and a fresh image from the same feature shows Gideon surrounded by what could be the classic black, white and red interior of an Empire Star Destroyer.

Moff Gideon commanding a Star Destroyer in The Mandalorian season 2 would certainly connect a few dots. When Esposito hints at a "larger vehicle," a Star Destroyer is the only option that's an improvement on his TIE Fighter and worth playing coy over in interviews. After all, if the new vehicle was completely original to the Star Wars world, there'd be no need for the knowing winks or cloak and dagger. Although the background is deliberately out of focus, the new Gideon image from The Mandalorian season 2 backs up the Star Destroyer theory. The villain is evidently on some type of spacecraft, and the color scheme is immediately reminiscent of the iconic original trilogy Star Destroyer consoles.

In its first season, The Mandalorian paid loving tribute to the past of Star Wars, reusing visual effects, screen displays and even props from the original trilogy. It would be very on-brand for Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni to recreate the stylish interior of a Star Destroyer for season 2. In another fun connection to Star Wars history, the Moff title was popularized by the Grand Moff Tarkin character, played by Peter Cushing. When he was first promoted to Moff, Tarkin was given command of his own Star Destroyer, so Moff Gideon also presiding over one of the Empire's signature ships would provide an element of continuity with regards to rank and hierarchy.

Moff Gideon riding a Star Destroyer in The Mandalorian season 2 will undoubtedly be a game-changer for the series. Previously, Din Djarin was attempting to elude the odd bounty hunter here and there, fighting off spaceships no bigger than his own Razor Crest. Being chased by a Star Destroyer is an entirely different game of dejarik. If the lovable pairing of Din Djarin and Baby Yoda weren't underdogs before, they certainly are now, and Mando won't be able to outmaneuver enemy ships like he did in season 1.