Gina Carano Resolves Lawsuit Against Disney and Lucasfilm Over ‘Mandalorian’ Firing

Download IPFS

On August 7, 2025, actress Gina Carano settled her federal lawsuit against Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company, alleging wrongful termination from the Disney+ series The Mandalorian in 2021 due to her conservative social media posts. The settlement, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, ends a high-profile dispute backed by Elon Musk, highlighting tensions between free speech and corporate accountability in Hollywood.

Carano, a 43-year-old former mixed martial artist who portrayed Cara Dune in The Mandalorian, was fired after a February 2021 Instagram post comparing the treatment of American conservatives to Jews during the Holocaust. The post stated, “Because history is edited, most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?” The comment sparked widespread online criticism, fueling the #FireGinaCarano hashtag, per USA Today. Lucasfilm condemned the post, stating, “Her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”

In February 2024, Carano filed a lawsuit in California federal court, claiming Disney and Lucasfilm discriminated against her for her right-wing views and violated her free speech rights. She sought at least $75,000 in damages and reinstatement in her role, arguing that male co-stars, like Pedro Pascal, faced no repercussions for similar political posts, such as a 2017 tweet comparing Donald Trump to Hitler, per The Hollywood Reporter. Disney’s April 2024 motion to dismiss, citing First Amendment rights to disassociate from Carano’s speech, was denied in July 2024 by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, setting a trial date for February 2026.

The settlement, dismissed with prejudice to prevent refiling, was announced via a joint court filing, though terms remain confidential, per CBS News. Carano expressed relief, stating on X, “I have come to an agreement with Disney/Lucasfilm which I believe is the best outcome for all parties involved. I hope this brings some healing to the force.” She thanked Musk and X Corporation for funding her legal battle, noting, “Elon Musk, a man I’ve never met, who did this Good Samaritan deed for me in funding my lawsuit.” X’s head of business operations, Linda Yaccarino, previously affirmed, “As a sign of X Corp.’s commitment to free speech, we’re proud to provide financial support for Gina Carano’s lawsuit,” per Newsweek.

Lucasfilm’s statement praised Carano’s professionalism, saying, “Ms. Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect. With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future,” per Variety. The prospect of future collaboration suggests a pragmatic resolution, despite Disney’s earlier stance. The case, which drew attention for its free speech implications, underscores the need for clear workplace policies as The Mandalorian and Grogu film, starring Pedro Pascal, nears release in summer 2026.