Disney and its subsidiary Lucasfilm have resolved a high-profile legal dispute with actress Gina Carano, who was fired from the Disney+ series The Mandalorian in 2021, according to a statement from Lucasfilm reported by The Guardian on August 8, 2025. Carano, who played Cara Dune, sued Disney and Lucasfilm in February 2024, alleging wrongful termination and discrimination after her dismissal for controversial social media posts. The lawsuit, funded by Elon Musk’s X platform, claimed Disney targeted Carano for her conservative views while sparing male co-stars for similar political expressions.
In her complaint, Carano stated Disney required her to meet with an LGBTQ+ rights group and, after her refusal, with LGBTQ+ Disney employees, which she also declined. The suit accused Disney of “bullying, discriminatory, and retaliatory actions” for her posts, including one comparing the treatment of Republicans to Jews during the Holocaust, per The Hollywood Reporter. Disney’s 2021 statement called her posts “abhorrent and unacceptable” for denigrating people based on cultural and religious identities. Carano sought $75,000 in damages and reinstatement on the show, per NBC News.
On August 7, 2025, both parties filed a joint request in California federal court to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled, pending a judge’s approval, per The New York Times. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Lucasfilm’s statement praised Carano’s professionalism, noting, “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.” The company expressed interest in future collaborations, stating, “We look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”
Carano celebrated the settlement on X, calling it “the best outcome for all parties involved” and adding, “I hope this brings some healing to the force.” She expressed gratitude to Musk, writing, “I want to extend my deepest most heartfelt gratitude to Elon Musk, a man I’ve never met, who did this Good Samaritan deed for me in funding my lawsuit.” Musk’s support stemmed from his 2023 pledge to cover legal costs for X users facing employer discrimination over their platform activity, per CNBC.
Key points of the settlement include:
- Resolution Reached: Disney and Carano settled before a planned February 2026 trial.
- Musk’s Role: X funded Carano’s lawsuit, reinforcing its free speech commitment.
- Future Prospects: Disney hinted at potential future work with Carano.
The settlement closes a chapter marked by heated debates over free speech and Hollywood’s handling of political views, with Carano stating, “I am excited to flip the page and move onto the next chapter,” per Business Insider.
