Shocking the Star Wars fandom and the internet as a whole, this week saw Lucasfilm announce Gina Carano was fired from The Mandalorian for her offensive activity on social media, with the actress no longer connected to playing Cara Dune in any future production. Those who were outraged by his many controversial posts fully supported the studio’s decision, but Carano also had a lot of fans out there who are furious that it was removed from the franchise.
In response, a Change.org petition was set up requiring Lucasfilm to rehired the former MMA star, accusing them of severing relations with her just for “saying what she thinks” and for giving in to “culture cancellation” online. And the petition is also gaining momentum. At the current count, it has increased to more than 3,000 subscriptions, which means it is likely to reach its 5,000 goal soon.
See how the creator of the petition Logan Norfleet defends Carano in his description:
“This petition is for Disney executives. Please, why can’t you just leave politics outside the industry and go on? “The Mandalorian” is a fantastic show, and the representation of Cara Duna by Gina Carano is a joy to watch. The Mandalorian would not be the same without it. ,, For fans of “The Mandalorian,” please. Speaks. Disney needs to stop the trend of firing actors for controversial tweets and just keep treating fans with a great show. Rehire Gina Carano. Firing her is not justice. “
While it is true that this type of trigger can sometimes be reversed, as in the case of Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, it seems unlikely that Lucasfilm will change his mind on this occasion and re-hire Carano. Reports say the studio is becoming uneasy about the Twitter storms the actress has been preparing for months and her most recent alarming post was the last straw.
Not to mention that Hasbro is going ahead and canceling a Cara Dune action figure, and showrunner Jon Favreau apparently agrees with her dismissal as well. In addition, Carano quickly found a new job.
Yes, she has partnered with another controversial right-wing figure on social media, Ben Shapiro of The Daily Wire, to write, produce and star in a film for Shapiro’s website. The activist criticized Lucasfilm in a statement announcing the deal, comparing the studio to the Empire and him and Gina Carano for the rebellion. As such, it seems safe to say that the bridge has been completely burned.