Gina Carano Celebrates After Disney Loses Effort To Stall Her Suit

Actress Gina Carano celebrated on Thursday after Disney lost an effort to delay discovery in her wrongful termination lawsuit while appealing a previous decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett denied Disney’s request for a stay of proceedings and interlocutory appeal, Deadline reported. In a post on X, Carano — who filed a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm three years after she was fired from the “Star Wars” spinoff series “The Mandalorian” — said that she was pleased her case against them could move forward after Disney’s appeal to delay the trial was denied. 

The star of the DailyWire+ film “Terror on the Prairie” filed a lawsuit against the entertainment giant after it cut ties with her over what it deemed “offensive” social media posts. Carano’s lawsuit was prompted in part by an offer from Elon Musk, who said in August of 2023 that X would fund the legal bill of anyone who was “unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform.”

“After the Judge DENIED Disney’s request to DISMISS my case, Disney requested permission to immediately appeal that decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and delay all discovery while that appeal takes place,” Carano wrote. “Yesterday, October 16th, 2024 we learned that the Judge DENIED Disney’s unusual request.”

“I am obviously very pleased with the opportunity to keep moving forward with the judicial process and into discovery,” she added. “While I wish this was not necessary as it is not my desire to be in this battle in court. I will not shrink away from it because it is hard or uncomfortable.”

UPDATE:

After the Judge DENIED Disneys request to DISMISS my case, Disney requested permission to immediately appeal that decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and delay all discovery while that appeal takes place.

Yesterday, October 16th, 2024 we learned that the… https://t.co/zEcR4pZcFw pic.twitter.com/v7xHVTCw8l

— Gina Carano ???? (@ginacarano) October 17, 2024

“Again, a huge thanks to ALL of you who have shown me support daily, to my incredible lawyers and to Elon Musk @elonmusk and the people at @X for the opportunity in continuing this lawsuit and seeking justice,” Carano continued, noting the financial assistance from the CEO. “Onward.”

The trial is scheduled to begin on September 29, 2025.

In July, Judge  Garnett ruled that Carano’s case against the company could move forward despite Disney’s attorney’s request to have the case dismissed on the basis of First Amendment rights. 

Disney had argued it has a “right not to associate with a high-profile performer on a high-profile show who’s imbuing” the “Star Wars” series with “views it disagrees with” that could turn fans away from the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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According to Bloomberg, Carano’s claim is that her termination, while mostly about her political views, was also in relation to Disney attempting to “deflect from criticisms” of Disney+ and the leadership of then-CEO Bob Chapek. Regarding Disney’s claims clashing with Carano’s, Judge Garnett asked, “Wouldn’t that suggest there’s a factual dispute as to why Disney actually terminated her?”

The lawsuit alleges that Carano was wrongfully terminated, losing millions of dollars in income, and seeks to force Lucasfilm to recast her.