Gina Carano and Disney Settle Lawsuit Following Controversial ‘The Mandalorian’ Firing

Gina Carano’s departure from Disney+’s hit series The Mandalorian in February 2021 sparked a whirlwind of controversy and legal battles that have only recently been resolved. The actress, who portrayed the beloved character Cara Dune for the first two seasons of the Star Wars spin-off, was dismissed amid widespread backlash over her social media posts. On August 2025, Carano and Disney announced they had reached a settlement to end her wrongful termination lawsuit, bringing a close to a tumultuous chapter in their professional relationship.

The Controversial Firing: What Led to Carano’s Exit?

In February 2021, Gina Carano faced immense criticism for her social media activity, which included posts comparing the treatment of conservatives in the United States to the persecution of Jewish people during the Holocaust. According to People, this post was deemed the “final straw” by Disney, which had already been monitoring Carano’s divisive online behavior. Earlier controversies included her mocking of pronouns in social media bios and sharing unfounded claims about voter fraud and COVID-19 mandates.

Lucasfilm, the production company behind The Mandalorian, released a statement at the time, calling Carano’s posts “abhorrent and unacceptable.” The statement clarified that she was “not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future.” Carano’s firing ignited a polarizing debate, with critics celebrating Disney’s decision while her supporters accused the company of political bias and censorship.

The Lawsuit: Allegations of Wrongful Termination

In 2024, nearly three years after her dismissal, Carano filed a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm, alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. According to Los Angeles Times, the lawsuit claimed that Carano had been “targeted, harassed, and publicly humiliated” for her conservative viewpoints, which she argued were unfairly mischaracterized. She sought over $75,000 in damages and even demanded reinstatement to her role as Cara Dune.

Carano’s legal filings painted a picture of a workplace hostile to dissenting political opinions, alleging that Disney selectively enforced its policies to silence her. She also publicly thanked Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), for financially supporting her lawsuit, describing his assistance as a “Good Samaritan deed.” Meanwhile, Disney defended its actions, asserting its First Amendment right to dissociate from employees whose public views could harm the company’s image.

Settlement Reached: A New Chapter

On August 7, 2025, Carano and Disney confirmed they had reached a settlement. While the terms of the agreement remain confidential, statements from both parties hinted at a conciliatory tone. A Lucasfilm spokesperson expressed optimism about “identifying opportunities to work together” with Carano in the future, while Carano herself described the outcome as the “best for all parties involved.”

“I hope this brings some healing to the force,” Carano wrote on X. She also expressed gratitude to her supporters, her legal team, and Musk for helping her navigate the legal ordeal. Carano’s statement concluded on a hopeful note, signaling her intent to move forward in her artistic career.

Carano’s Career Post-Disney

Following her firing, Carano aligned herself with conservative media, collaborating with Ben Shapiro’s The Daily Wire to produce and star in films such as Terror on the Prairie (2022). She also appeared in My Son Hunter, a film dramatizing the controversies surrounding Hunter Biden. Despite the professional setbacks, Carano maintained a loyal fanbase and continued to voice her opposition to “cancel culture.”

In her personal life, Carano has remained grounded, celebrating milestones with her long-time partner, former Muay Thai fighter Kevin “The Soul Assassin” Ross. On Instagram, she recently marked the anniversary of their first meeting, thanking him for his unwavering support.

The Legacy of the Cara Dune Character

Carano’s character, Cara Dune, was quietly written out of The Mandalorian in its third season. The show explained her absence by revealing that Dune had been promoted to the Special Forces of the New Republic. Executive producer Rick Famuyiwa told Deadline that the decision to address her character’s departure was carefully considered, emphasizing that Cara Dune remains a part of the show’s universe, albeit off-screen.

While some fans still hope for Cara Dune’s return, the settlement leaves the door open for future collaborations between Carano and Lucasfilm, though no specific plans have been announced.

As Gina Carano looks ahead to new opportunities, her story serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding free speech, corporate accountability, and the evolving dynamics of public opinion in the digital age.