Musk-Backed Suit Over Disney Actor’s Firing Bets on State Law

An Elon Musk-funded lawsuit from former “The Mandalorian” actor Gina Carano filed against The Walt Disney Co. over her termination from the hit series will serve as a test case for the boundaries of California’s unusual protections for political speech.

The mixed-martial artist turned actor said in a recent Los Angeles federal court complaint that she was wrongfully fired for voicing her political views in social media posts—many of which were posted on X, formerly known as Twitter—that were deemed by some to be antisemitic and transphobic.

The actor’s suit against Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. also claimed sex discrimination, ...