THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Revives the Legendary Clone Wars Bounty Hunter Embo
After 16 years, a fan-favorite Star Wars bounty hunter is finally stepping into live-action, and it’s happening in The Mandalorian and Grogu. For longtime fans, this is the kind of deep-cut payoff that makes the galaxy feel connected in all the right ways.
At New York Toy Fair, Jon Favreau talked about what it’s like crafting stories in George Lucas’ universe, comparing the experience of writing Star Wars to getting the chance to play with his favorite toys. That mindset shows.
The new trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu feels like a playground of legacy elements and unexpected returns, from reprogrammed Clone Wars battle droids to creatures that once lived only on Chewbacca’s Dejarik board.
But one of the the real surprises is the arrival of Embo.
Introduced 16 years ago in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Embo is a Kyuzo bounty hunter who quickly became a standout. In the new footage, he’s seen launching a direct attack on Din Djarin’s homestead on Nevarro.
The film’s central conflict revolves around preventing a war between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant. Din Djarin is on the hunt for Imperial warlords, crime bosses, and other underworld players, which likely explains his renewed dealings with the Hutts. And if the Hutts are involved, hiring someone like Embo makes a lot of sense.
Embo originally worked for the Hutts and built a reputation as one of the most dangerous hunters in the galaxy. Created for The Clone Wars Season 2, he was initially meant to die in his first appearance.
Lucasfilm reportedly planned to kill him off, but the creative team felt he was far too cool to lose so quickly. The story was rewritten so he survived, and fans have been waiting ever since to see him again.
What makes his return even more surprising is that, in the current timeline, Embo was believed to have retired and taken up farming. Clearly, something has pulled him back into the game. The Hutts must have offered a offer he couldn’t ignore. And if they’re aiming him at Din and Grogu, things are about to get messy.
By this point in the timeline, there aren’t many top-tier bounty hunters left. Din Djarin is considered a “class one” operative, one of the best in the galaxy.
Boba Fett has shifted gears and now runs his own criminal empire. Fennec Shand works alongside him. Cad Bane took a serious hit on Tatooine and likely isn’t in fighting shape. If the Hutts want someone capable of matching Din, Embo is one of the few names that fits.
And he’s earned that reputation. During The Clone Wars, Embo didn’t hesitate to target Jedi and even senators. At a time when the Jedi Order had over 10,000 Force-sensitives, he had zero fear of crossing them.
He once went after Padmé Amidala while she was under Anakin Skywalker’s protection and nearly succeeded. He forced the Chosen One to retreat at the height of his powers. That’s not something many can claim.
There’s also his anooba. Embo’s hunting companion isn’t just a pet. Anoobas are carnivorous creatures with vicious tusks and teeth, known for their lethal instincts. Embo once trained an anooba named Marrok to track targets using its powerful sense of smell.
Marrok is said to have died before the events of The Mandalorian and Grogu, but the trailer clearly shows Embo with another anooba at his side. For Grogu, that’s a terrifying development. One well-placed strike from those tusks could be fatal.
The rivalry between Jedi and Mandalorians is legendary, but Embo has shown he can stand up to Force users without flinching. If he can push a Jedi to the brink, he won’t hesitate to go head-to-head with a Mandalorian.
It’s still unclear how large a role Embo will play in the film. He’s been assigned to hunt Din and his adopted son, but whether he captures them or ends up regretting the assignment remains to be seen.
Fans of The Clone Wars are finally getting to see one of the series’ coolest bounty hunters in live-action, and if the trailer is any indication, Embo didn’t come back to farm. He came back to hunt.
We’ll find out how it all shakes out when The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters in May.