Gina Carano Reflects on Being Fired From Star Wars and Conflict With Disney

Actress Gina Carano arrives at Relativity Media's premiere of "Haywire" co-hosted by Playboy held at DGA Theater in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2012. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Relativity Media)

In November 2019, Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, premiered its flagship series “The Mandalorian,” created by Jon Favreau. The show garnered widespread acclaim, introducing memorable characters like Cara Dune, portrayed by Gina Carano. However, over a year later, Ms. Carano’s association with the series took a tumultuous turn due to controversies stemming from her social media activity.

Ms. Carano, who made waves for her candid views on various topics, including COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, transgenderism, and the 2020 presidential election, faced backlash for her online posts. Despite discussions about a potential spinoff series featuring her character, tensions arose between Ms. Carano’s personal views and the values upheld by Disney. A series of controversial social media posts, including one featuring a Holocaust-themed meme, sparked outrage and led to the hashtag #FireGinaCarano trending on Twitter. The post included an image depicting a frightened Jewish woman being pursued by a boy wielding a bat during the Holocaust. Accompanying the image was a caption that questioned, “How is this any different from hating someone for their political views?”Consequently, Lucasfilm terminated her contract.

Ms. Carano claims she wasn’t informed directly. Instead, she discovered her dismissal online, along with the rest of the world. A statement attributed to a Lucasfilm spokesperson read, “Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future.” The statement condemned her social media posts, citing them as “abhorrent and unacceptable.” Subsequently, she was dropped by her agency, UTA, and her Hollywood law firm, Ziffren Brittenham, effectively marking her as “canceled.”

Reflecting on her termination, Ms. Carano expressed her emotional response in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “I just laid down and cried and cried.” Learning about her termination online alongside the public, she sold her home in Hermosa Beach and embarked on a road trip.

Recently, Ms. Carano filed a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm for discrimination and wrongful termination, receiving financial support from Elon Musk. Referring to Mr. Musk as her “guardian angel,” Ms. Carano expressed admiration for the business tech giant, “I think it’s pretty incredible what he is doing. A lot of billionaires put their money into buying islands and building bunkers. Elon Musk is using his money to fight massive injustice battles.” Notably, Mr. Musk holds animosity towards Disney, stemming from their decision to cease advertising on his platform. She emphasized her focus on clearing her name rather than monetary compensation. “I know this might sound odd,” she said. “But I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about clearing my name. I’m thinking about finally being healthier and having this monkey off my back and telling my story and just getting on with my life. Finally.”

Ms. Carano’s career trajectory has been marked by challenges, from her journey as an MMA champion to her transition into Hollywood. The actress has been involved in competitive activities since her teenage years. Raised in Nevada, she hails from a prominent family with a significant presence in the casino industry. The family’s involvement dates back to the founding of the Eldorado in Reno by her grandfather, affectionately known as “Papa” Don Carano, in 1973. Their influence expanded over the years, culminating in the notable acquisition of Caesars Entertainment in 2020, a deal valued at $17 billion. Her father, Glenn Carano, also contributed to the family’s legacy. He notably played football for the Dallas Cowboys from 1977 to 1983 before later joining the family business, where he eventually retired. Meanwhile, Ms. Carano showcased her prowess in Muay Thai and swiftly transitioned to training for cage matches in grittier, male-dominated MMA gyms. “Then people started to point cameras at me,” she reflects. “I think at the time I was something new and interesting.” In 2006, she was invited to partake in the inaugural sanctioned female MMA bout. Despite her family’s concerns—they had urged her to pursue higher education and potentially pursue a law degree—Ms. Carano remained undeterred. “My dad and Papa Don called the Las Vegas Athletic Commission, who are their old buddies, and said, ‘Do not let Gina fight,’” she recounts. Nonetheless, the fight proceeded as planned, culminating in Carano’s victory over her opponent, Leiticia Pestova, in a swift 38 seconds.

Rise to Fame

With seven victories out of eight matches, her prowess in the ring caught the attention of Hollywood. Scott Karp, a manager, facilitated her introduction to Brett Norensberg, an agent at Gersh. However, it was filmmaker Steven Soderbergh who truly recognized her potential. “He and his wife were watching me fight on CBS one night. His wife simply said to him, ‘Why don’t you just make an action movie with her?’” Ms. Carano reminisces. This conversation led to her big-screen debut in “Haywire,” alongside an ensemble cast featuring Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, and Antonio Banderas.

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Two years later, Ms. Carano joined the cast of “Fast & Furious 6,” a stark departure from the world of “Haywire.” Reflecting on the transition, she remarks, “It was absolutely ridiculous. It was really strange going from a set filled with these out-of-this-world genius actors. And then I go to Fast & Furious 6 and it’s a whole different vibe of muscles, baby oil and attitude problems. Everybody’s got a mental health coach, a cook, a trainer. Each person had like six people around them and I’m just sitting alone.”

Despite her success in action films, Ms. Carano found herself concerned about being typecast as an athlete rather than an actress capable of performing her own stunts. However, her career took an unexpected turn when she received an invitation to meet with Jon Favreau. “And I said, ‘No clue, but I’m a huge fan and I brought you some wine,’” she recalls. Mr. Favreau revealed that he was developing a Star Wars TV series and had envisioned a role specifically for Ms. Carano. She became the first actor he met with for the project, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Ms. Carano’s future remains uncertain, yet she maintains optimism about potential opportunities. Expressing her resolve, she stated, “If the unforgivable sin in Hollywood is being a person who wouldn’t perfectly conform at a time when emotions were running wild in the world, then that’s probably not a Hollywood I’ll ever belong to.”

Social Media Controversies

After the police killing of George Floyd, Ms. Carano initially joined the wave of support by posting a black square on her Instagram. However, as the protests intensified, she grew uneasy. Witnessing the chaos unfold, she withdrew her post, concerned about the escalating violence amidst the ongoing pandemic. Her decision to remove the black square led to accusations of racism online.

Further controversy arose when she listed her pronouns as “boop/bop/beep” on Twitter, igniting what she describes as a “massive meltdown” behind the scenes.

She insists that it was not intended to mock the trans community but rather a playful reference. However, Lucasfilm and Disney HR viewed it differently, subjecting her to what she terms a “reeducation camp.”

The actress recounted a Zoom meeting with representatives from GLAAD, which she describes as both cordial and constructive. Despite her willingness to engage, tensions arose over the issue of an apology. After failed attempts to craft a satisfactory statement, Lucasfilm abandoned the effort and proceeded with media training for Ms. Carano.

According to Ms. Carano, the media training session led to an enlightening conversation about the interpretation of her statements versus their intent. Despite the training, tensions persisted, culminating in a request for her to attend a Zoom meeting with Disney and Lucasfilm’s LGBT affinity group. However, she declined, offering instead to meet with a select group for dinner, which was denied.

Ms. Carano also reflects on interactions with co-star Pedro Pascal, who advised her to include “#transrights” in her feed to quell backlash. However, Ms. Carano declined, citing her reluctance to conform to hashtags. Despite their differences, Carano emphasizes her close relationship with Pascal, highlighting their mutual respect and understanding.

Ms. Carano’s journey from “The Mandalorian” to her lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm underscores the challenges individuals face when their personal views clash with corporate values. Despite the uncertainty, Ms. Carano remains steadfast in her pursuit of justice.

The Epoch Times reached out to Ms. Carano’s attorneys for a statement.