Jon Favreau Teases THE MANDALORIAN Merging All The Worlds of The STAR WARS Franchise Including "Legends" Characters
I just want to watch The Mandalorian already! Every new bit of information and tease that comes out regarding it just get me even more excited about what it’s going to deliver. This series could very well end up being the best thing that Lucasfilm has made under Disney’s banner. If it’s as awesome as it looks, it could be a Star Wars project that is universally loved by the fans! Could you imagine all the Star Wars fans rejoicing together over the franchise again!?
According to writer and executive producer Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian will have something for everybody who’s a Star Wars fan. At least that was their goal when they set out to develop the series. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the filmmaker teased that they set out to merge all the worlds of the Star Wars franchise including the “Legends” characters.
As you know, Disney rebranded Expanded Universe as “Legends” and when specifically asked if we might see Thrawn, the blue-skinned Imperial commander; or Mara Jade, the smuggler and fighter who eventually marries Luke Skywalker, Favreau responded with:
“I don’t want to talk about anything that might be fun for people to discover. We do have conversations. Part of what’s fun to see if we could merge the worlds of the original trilogy, the prequels, the sequels, The Clones Wars, and what’s been considered canon up to this point and what’s been considered part of Legends. I think this show offers an opportunity to bring in all those elements so no matter what your flavor of Star Wars ice cream you like there will be something to enjoy. But you’re asking the right questions.”
While he doesn’t give any concrete answers, I still love his response! I love that they’ve made sure to load the series with elements and characters from the entire Star Wars universe for the fans to look out for and enjoy. I imagine that some of these things will also play a key roles in the story. I’m excited to see what those things are!
A lot of fans are wondering about the mysterious character that Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) plays in the series. Her identity is being kept a secret and when asked if she is playing a character we’re already familiar with or somebody new created for the series, all Favreau would say is:
“We take full advantage of her acting and her action ability.”
The series stars Pedro Pascal (Narcos) as “a lone Mandalorian gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy.” It also includes Gina Carano (Deadpool) as Cara Dune, Carl Weathers (Predator) as Greef Carga, Omid Abtahi (American Gods) as Dr. Pershing, Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man), as well as Nick Nolte, Giancarlo Esposito, and Emily Swallow in undisclosed roles, and Taika Waititi as the voice of the droid IG-11.
The plot of the show is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order and it will also explore the rise of the First Order in some ways. Here’s the synopsis:
After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another warrior emerges in the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. We follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.
Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) is directing the first episode and serving as executive producer alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. Additional directors include Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), and Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates).
The Mandalorian will debut on Disney+ on November 12th, 2019. What do you think about the comments that Favreau recently made about the series?