"The Mandalorian" Season 3 will begin. The Disney-plus hit "Star Wars" series will reportedly begin filming in April and is aiming for an early 2022 release.

Season 2 ended in spectacular and very surprising fashion with a shocking cameo and a new Mandalorian spin-off revealed during the end credits. The ending raises many questions about the future of "The Mandalorian" Season 3 and its central character, the bounty hunter and Force-controlling Baby Yoda.

Spoilers for all of "The Mandalorian" ahead.

In "Chapter 16: Rescue," Mando/Din Jarin succeeds in retrieving Grog (who turns out to be Baby Yoda's real name) from the clutches of the evil Moff Gideon. He enlisted the help of Bo-Katan Kreise and Kosta Reeves, but their team was in desperate danger before the powerful dark troopers. [until Luke Skywalker showed up.

Yes, Luke (played by Mark Hamill, but aged by CGI) arrived in an X-wing, boarded the ship, and destroyed the dark troopers with his lightsaber and the Force. He then appeared before Grog and Mando. The latter gently encouraged his adopted son to go with the Jedi. Before parting, however, Din took off his helmet to say goodbye (sob).

In other words, the bounty hunter father and the adopted son went their separate ways. Now what. Here's what we know so far about "The Mandalorian" Season 3.

A release date for "The Mandalorian" Season 3 has not yet been set.

At Disney Investor Day in December, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said that the "next chapter of The Mandalorian" would appear at Christmas 2021. However, during the end credits of the Season 2 finale, Boba Fett and Fenech Shand took over Jabba the Hutt's former syndicate headquarters. This was followed by a title card announcing that the spin-off "The Book of Boba Fett" would be released in December 2021.

In an interview with Good Morning America, showrunner Jon Favreau admitted that "The Book of Boba Fett" is its "next chapter" and is currently being filmed.

According to a new listing on the Production List, filming for season 3 of "The Mandalorian" will begin on April 5, 2021 Deseret News reporter Herb Scribner found this item in an entertainment trade publication and tweeted:

looks like it will take 2-3 months to shoot. The Mandalorian will take at least six months in post-production, possibly longer, due to the extensive use of special effects.

Therefore, the release date for Season 3 is early 2022, possibly immediately after "The Book of Boba Fett" is completed.

The cast of "The Mandalorian" Season 3 will almost certainly be Pedro Pascal as the main character Din Jarin. Pascal will be the voice of Mando and will perform without a helmet.

It is unclear if the puppet will appear next season, as Grog will be training with Luke. However, Gina Carano as Kara Duke and Carl Weathers as Gref Calga are likely to appear. Moff Gideon, played by Giancarlo Eposito, was not killed in the season 2 finale and may continue to be a threat.

Mando, now in possession of a dark saber, could be involved in Mandalore's war, which could mean the return of Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kreise and Mercedes Varnado as Kosta Reeves.

Other cast members who may return include Amy Sedaris as Peri Motto, Bill Burr as Miggs Meifeld, Horatio Sanz as Mysore, and Emily Swallow as the Weaponsman.

There may be a crossover with a spin-off of The Mandalorian. The Book of Boba Fett, Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett and Ming Na Wen as Fenech Shand. In Star Wars: Ahsoka, it is Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano.

If "The Mandalorian" checks in with Baby Yoda, we may see more cameos from Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. And let's not forget that young Ben Solo (later Kylo Ren) is about 4 years old at this point.

The "Mandalorian" season 2 finale opened with a giant can of sandworms. Mandalorian's first two seasons have revolved around Baby Yoda, which is now training under Luke, and the show and its main character are facing an existential crisis.

Will Mando go back to being a bounty hunter? Will he settle for policing the planet with Kara and Greff on Navarro? Or will he take full possession of his dark saber and join the fight to liberate Mandalore?

If the latter, Bo Katan might not be happy about it at all. She asked for his help, but more as a lowly/foot soldier. Bo Katan wants the dark saber, but does he want it enough to duel with Din Jarin for it?

Din has shown no interest in intergalactic politics, so I am curious if (and how) he will be involved in the great Mandalorian saga.