During day 4 of Star Wars Celebration, attendees were treated to The Mandalorian panel, giving insight and sneak peeks of this new series on upcoming streaming platform, Disney+. To be in the room during this panel was to feel an electricity like no other.
What Is The Mandalorian Series?
For those that aren’t familiar with news about this new show, The Mandalorian will be the first live-action Star Wars series. Ever. The Mandalorian takes place 5 years after The Return of the Jedi, but will contain new characters, stories, creatures and worlds.
But, Executive Producer and writer Jon Favreau says the series will still feel familiar. According to Favreau”a lot of care has gone into the details.”
Mandalorian Culture
The most amazing part of experiencing this panel live was the Mandalorian culture we witnessed. Seas of Mandalorian helmets filled the arena, while we all chanted “MANDO!” before the full panel arrived. It was almost like they knew what The Mandalorian character enveloped before we even saw him in action.
When asked what inspiration he pulled from when becoming The Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal mentioned Clint Eastwood. Both Executive Producer and Director Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau said Mando’s development was in line with some of our best westerns of the past. “He’s a badass” said Pascal, of this new and instantly loved character.
We also learned about The Mandalorian’s ship — Razor Crest — and how the model of the ship was filmed more than the actual set. It’s a gun ship created to fit a bounty hunter’s demanding, yet exciting, occupation.
The Mandalorian Cast
Actors Carl Weathers, Gina Carano, and Pedro Pascal joined the panel to talk about their characters in the film.
Gina’s character — Kara Doon – is an ex-rebel shocktrooper. Gina says she’s a bit of a loner, and has trouble re-introducing herself into society. Because of that mentality, we’ll see a tough, yet strong, side to Kara throughout the series.
Passion For The Fandom
Gina says Jon would well up with tears while explaining how important a scene would be before shooting it. That passion trickled down to the cast and crew, which made the filming experience so intimate and memorable. There were many 17 hour days during filming, and the cast would take it in stride because, as Gina, shared “this is Star Wars!”
Related: The 2015 to 2019 Star Wars Line-Up from Lucasfilm
The Mandalorian Trailer reaction
While most of the panel was live-streamed, the footage from the series was not. We were able to see exclusive scenes and featurettes in the panel room, and you guys, it was beautiful. The cinematography reminded me very much of Rogue One, and the western/samurai feel was prevalent in each scene.
Included in the trailer was IG-88 (from Return Of The Jedi, and voiced by TaikaWaititi), a roasting Kowakian monkey-lizard (remember him from ROTJ?), and lots of Star Wars easter eggs. We were able to see Gina Carano in action, since her MMA background will come into play during her scenes.
To hear more about our reaction to The Mandalorian trailer, check out this quick video:
Are you excited about The Mandalorian? What other series are you hoping to see in the Disney+ Star Wars lineup?
