GamesRadar+ recently reported from a Q&A of a UK fan event for The Mandalorian and Grogu. The star of The Mandalorian series, Pedro Pascal, would make a personal appearance at the fan event and recounted the casting process for the popular Disney+ series. At first, Pascal was not aware that director Jon Favreau was considering him for the title role, who would eventually be given the name Din Djarin.
Pascal recalls, “The very first thing that happened was a call from my agent that said, ‘Jon Favreau wants to talk to you about something Star Wars.’ Because everything Star Wars was so secret. And I was like, ‘Okay.’ And I got there early, and so I sat on my phone for a bit, because I was embarrassed. I didn’t want to interrupt the writers’ room or anything like that. Jon comes out into the parking lot. He’s like, ‘Hey, come out of your car.'”
He continues to say,
And I got out of the car, they take me in. They show me this magical, magical, wall to wall, first season story illustration, this entire world of Star Wars. I see Grogu, like I said. And I asked, I said, ‘Okay, so, what am I? Like, who – am I a droid? What voice do you want?’ Then they were like, blinking back at me like they were confused. And then they were like, ‘You’re the Mandalorian.'”
Pascal would go on to say that Din Djarin and Grogu are truly on the journey together in this upcoming film. He explained, “They are real partners, at this point. Grogu is on every mission, on every adventure, they are side by side. And it’s sentimental, because Din Djarin knows that this creature will outlive him, and I think that, existentially, he’s very, very focused on making sure that he can survive in a world without him.”
The official synopsis from Disney reads,
“The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu. Directed by Jon Favreau, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu also stars Sigourney Weaver and is produced by Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, with music composed by Ludwig Göransson.”
Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, who were both instrumental in making the series on Disney+, return to bring the story to the big screen. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.” Fomer Lucasfilm head, Kathleen Kennedy, added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.”
The Madalorian and Grogu will be releasing in theaters on May 22.