“The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka” are sure to please Star Wars fans soon. On May 28 at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California, series creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni talk about their successful Disney + Star Wars series, “The Mandalorian”: where it has been and its future, as well as some key details about the new “Ahsoka” show. PopSugar was present at the discussion, which hosted a host of surprise guests including Pedro Pascal, who plays The Mandalorian, Dean Garin, and Rosario Dawson, who will star in the first season of Ahsoka in 2023.
“For me it was a dream come true,” Favreau said of leading the new world of Star Wars TV on Disney+. He said his interest was in telling “personal stories” that fit the small screen, which would then be able to bring in people who don’t necessarily know everything about Star Wars already, but who have become interested in the world.
“When I first watched Star Wars, it was a continuation of a serialized story,” Favreau said, referring to George Lucas’ original idea for the series. For Favreau, making Star Wars TV, full of set pieces, creatures, and master cliffs, is exactly in the spirit of Lucas’ vision.
“It’s the closest I’ve come to being a dad — until now, anyway. You watch the show, you see a kid who loves a dad like that, you get it.”
The pair also talked about the pressures of keeping Baby Yoda – aka Grogu – a secret when they made the first season; Fans didn’t know the character ever existed until the first episode of the show aired. “I’m glad he was in the first episode,” Filoni said with a laugh. The pair agreed that the hardest secret to keep was Luke Skywalker’s appearance in the season two finale.
When Pascal entered, the crowd erupted. “My heart exploded inside my body,” Pascal said with a laugh as he sat down on his seat. “It’s the last good day of my life.”
Pascal thought about what it was like for Din and Grogu when they were apart in season two and most of the “Boba Fett book”. “It is very difficult for them to separate,” he explained. “It’s the closest I’ve come to being a dad — until now, anyway. You watch the show, you see a kid who loves a dad like that, you get it.”
Pascal introduced Brendan Wayne and Latif Crowder, who are Dean’s husbands. Since Din always wears a mask, Pascal is usually not in the suit, so bringing the character to life is a collaboration between the three men. “The way we work is so comprehensive and fun,” Wayne said. “I mean, we have to play a space cowboy.”
“They are some of the most talented people I’ve ever worked with,” Crowder said.
Subsequently, Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Withers, and Emily Swallow joined the commission. Esposito, who plays Mauve Gideon, joked about his character’s desire to “crush” Grogo, even though he personally loves the little guy. “I want the child in me to come back through the child in Grugo,” Esposito said. He explained that he made his own background for Gideon – even if it wasn’t actual Backstory canon. He gets “hints” from Favreau and Filoni, looks at the text, and lets his imagination run wild to fill the character.
Swallow, who plays the very mysterious Armorer, said she “loves” to inhabit her character’s space because she is smart, patient, and down-to-earth. “She really reminds us of those heart and soul themes, and I appreciate that about her,” she explained.
Weathers joined the cast as Greef Karga in season one and also directed an episode in season two. Withers seems to be confirming that he’ll be directing another episode in the new season, and he’s given great credit to the people behind the scenes for crafting “the magical world we go through.”
Then Teemoira Morrison, who plays Boba Fett, joined the group to another standing ovation from fans. Morrison revealed that while filming The Book of Boba Fett, he was watching The Godfather and trying to direct a little Marlon Brando Vito Corleone. It looks like Boba Fett and Ming-Na Wen’s Fennec Shand will be returning for the third season of “The Mandalorian.”
Next, Katee Sackhoff, who portrays Bo-Katan Kryze, and Rick Famuyiwa joined the panel to talk more about where “The Mandalorian” is going in Season 3. Famoiwa directed multiple episodes of the first two seasons and is an executive producer on the third season.
“It was an honor,” Famoiwa said after being asked to work on the show. When asked if he could reveal anything about the focus of season three, he simply answered, “No.” Sackhoff was also very outspoken about the role of Bo-Katan in Season 3.
Sackhoff originally voiced Bo-Katan in the “Clone Wars” animated series. She said, “To be able to start with her 10 years ago, and that [Favreau and Filoni] And trust me to take it to live action, I’m still hardening myself.”
Favreau and Filoni provided an extended teaser for the new season of “The Mandalorian,” longer than the one that premiered on a Lucasfilm panel on May 26. One of the characters who appears to be returning in the new stills is Babu Frik, a cute and funny little alien who appeared in “The Rise of Skywalker”. In the new footage, there was also footage of a Fallen Star Destroyer, new characters, and our first glimpse at Mandalore’s home planet, Mandalore.
Then the “Ahsoka” Dawson star suddenly appeared straight from the set of the series that is currently being filmed. “It is a pleasure and an honor to revive this character and to feel the energy of everyone who wants to see her,” she said. Dawson also directed Chopper, the robot from “Star Wars: Rebels,” who spun off on stage.
Filoni made a short teaser titled “Ahsoka”. The footage featured “Rebel” characters including Hera Sindola, Ezra Bridger, Sabine and Wren. Then Natasha Leo Bordizzo, who will play Sabine, joined the committee.
Filoni, who has worked extensively on “Clone Wars” and “Rebels,” thought about the experience of taking these characters to real life. “You write these stories and all of a sudden you look through a character and you see the environment and there it is,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve just been adopted into a new family,” Bordizzo said of joining Ahsoka. She said fans would be “really excited” for Sabine’s journey.
In the end, Favreau brought out the real star – Baby Yoda himself. He waved to the crowd and sat down at the table.
The third season of “The Mandalorian” is scheduled to premiere in February 2023. The first season of “Ahsoka” is also scheduled to arrive at Disney+ sometime next year.
