| “ | We're gonna turn things around here. It might not look like it, but there is progress. Now, unless you wanna help, I suggest you leave. | „ |
| ~ Niro to Cad Bane. |
| “ | You got your revenge. I hope it was worth it. | „ |
| ~ Niro to Bane after the latter is arrested for killing the marshal. |
Niro is the main antagonist of the second half of the 2025 Disney+ animated anthology series Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld. He is a Duros lawman and the former childhood friend turned enemy of Cad Bane.
As a child, he was voiced by Eric Lopez, who also voiced Blue Beetle in Young Justice. As an adult, he was voiced by Artt Butler, who also voiced Captain Ackbar in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rafael Diaz in Star vs. the Forces of Evil.
Biography[]
Niro grew up in a crime-ridden city on Duro with his friend Colby as orphans and street children. They found food by scavenging from trash cans and stealing from civilians. One day, as they were looking for food, Niro briefly watched a television news report about gang warfare in the city and they were approached by another child, whose parents told him to stay away from them. After Niro and Colby found a fruit from a garbage can in an alleyway next to the grocery store they wanted to visit, they saw a Rodian debtor getting kicked out of the store's secret casino, before the casino owner shooed them away. The kids ran past the gangster Lazlo, who started watching them.
Colby and Niro stole fruit from a protocol droid by causing him to spill his bag of food and pretending to help while confusing and robbing him. As they were enjoying the fruit, they were approached by Lazlo, who complimented their trick and tossed them a coin. With it, Colby and Niro bought candy from the grocery store, where Niro also saw a man entering the casino. They celebrated with their candy on a rooftop. Niro shared a piece with Colby. He asked Colby if he ever missed his parents, but Colby said he never knew them. They then saw police landspeeders chasing another speeder through the streets of the city, from the rooftops.
The next morning, Lazlo woke up the boys and offered an opportunity to make more money, taking them to the grocery store. As Colby and Niro were following Lazlo in the streets, Niro asked about his limping leg. Lazlo told him the "first rule of business" was not to ask questions, and was annoyed when Niro used these words against him. Lazlo offered to pay them five times the money he gave them yesterday if they helped him with his heist on the store's secret business. Niro had qualms about working with him, but Colby was willing to take part and convinced Lazlo to pay them ten times the amount.
Colby and Niro made a racket by the casino's door, distracting the owner while Lazlo and his gang snuck into the shop. After robbing the casino, Lazlo killed the owner as Colby and Niro were running away from him. Niro stared at his corpse, before Colby grabbed him and they fled through the streets. Niro was caught by police droids, while Colby escaped with Lazlo and his gang.
Many years later, Niro became a deputy in the local police force, serving under a human marshal. When Colby, now known as Cad Bane, returned to Duro with his girlfriend Arin to avenge Lazlo's death, he ran into Niro in the neighborhood where they grew up and they embraced. After Bane made his intentions clear, Niro responded that he was now a deputy and did not want any harm to come to Bane. The news angered Bane, who asked if he had killed Lazlo. Niro replied it was the marshal, and the authorities had made progress in improving living conditions and fighting crime, suggesting Bane to leave if he didn't want to help.
During that night, the marshal asked Niro if he managed to persuade Bane. Niro was unsure and afraid that Bane wouldn't listen and start causing trouble. The marshal encouraged him to be ready, as Niro sat in contemplation. When Bane started a fire to lure out the marshal, Niro rushed to get his blaster from his locker but the marshal suggested him to not get involved. Niro told him he didn't have to kill Bane and began waiting anxiously at his desk. When he was alerted that the situation was becoming more dangerous, Niro ran out of the station and found Bane and the marshal in a standoff. He called out for Bane to stop, but this only distracted the marshal, allowing Bane to draw his blaster sooner and kill the marshal. As more police were coming, Niro picked up the marshal's blaster, told Bane he had no way to escape and asked if he will go quietly. Arin, who was wounded in the crossfire of the duel, pleaded for Niro not to kill Bane. Niro said it was up to Bane, and Arin tossed Bane's gun toward Niro. As police droids took Bane away, Niro asked if his revenge was worth it. Bane replied that it would be.
In the following years, Niro was promoted to marshal. He married Arin and together they raised her son Isaac, whom she had with Bane, before Arin eventually died. Two years later, a port worker reported to Niro and his deputy Vance that two members of Bane's crew, Vak Lako and Tay Grutty, had banded together. Although Bane was imprisoned on Torano and originally had five more years left to serve, he was released early. Niro expressed annoyance with the legal system but thought Bane might not necessarily return. Vance was certain that Bane was coming to settle a score with Niro, which was additionally reinforced by the fact that a shuttle from Torano was arriving at noon, though Niro still said they should not overreact until they know for sure.
As Niro was preparing for a meeting with the mayor and town council, Vance suggested he take leave, but Niro was unwilling to let the community regress into a lawless state. Niro spotted Isaac in his office, and said to Vance that Isaac didn't know the whole story and intended not to tell him for now. Before leaving for the town hall, Niro told Vance to look after Isaac. At the meeting, Niro was advised to safely respond to Bane's impending arrival, like sending police droids after him or killing him before he could strike, but Niro was determined to deal with Bane without letting anyone die.
Niro later went to a bar, where he was confronted by Tay Grutty, who taunted him about his relationship with Arin. Grutty reached for his pistol, prompting Niro to reach for his, before revealing he was bluffing and telling the bartender to serve Niro a drink that would be his last. Niro rejected it, tipping the glass upside down on the table and spilling the drink.
Niro visited the derelict candy shop where he and Colby used to frequent, as Bane was arriving. When he returned to the police station, Niro learned that Vance had turned in his badge and told a police droid to take Isaac home and keep watch on him. Bane faced Niro in front of the station. He asked Niro about Arin and was furious to hear about her death. Isaac ran toward Niro in the middle of the confrontation. Niro told him to leave and hugged him. Shortly after, Bane gave the signal for Vak Lako and Tay Grutty, who were acting as snipers, to open fire. Niro protected Isaac as he and several police droids fought them. The gangsters killed the droids, but one of them shot down Lako while Niro killed Grutty. Niro tried to tell Bane that Arin wanted him to know about their child, but Bane didn't want to talk anymore. Niro had Isaac stay where he was, before facing Bane in one final showdown. They drew their blasters, and Bane shot Niro with both of his pistols. Isaac ran to the dying Niro. Bane accused Niro of taking everything from him, but with his last breath Niro revealed that Isaac was Bane's biological son, touching his face before dying.
