Although 2022 was stuffed with many fantastic Star Wars memories, only a few of these centered on the Mandalorian and Grogu. That adjustments this week with the season three premiere of The Mandalorian, which picks up each from the tip of its second season, which was over two years ago, in addition to The E book of Boba Fett, through which both characters appeared in vital roles.
The present’s return additionally marks the return of Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau. The Mandalorian writers-producers labored on 2021’s E book of Boba Fett however spent most of 2022 making not simply this season of The Mandalorian, however upcoming exhibits Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew, all of that are set in the identical time interval—after Return of the Jedi however earlier than The Power Awakens.
With a lot Star Wars taking place in and round The Mandalorian season three, when io9 sat down with Favreau and Filoni, we wished to find out about all of it. How did the alternatives made in season two of The Mandalorian and The E book of Boba Fett have an effect on this season—after which, most intriguingly, what’s the plan shifting forward with a number of new exhibits on the horizon?
Germain Lussier, io9: Season two [of The Mandalorian] ended by bringing in Luke Skywalker, and clearly that’s not a choice you guys got here to evenly. So discuss to me somewhat bit about balancing Pandora’s field of fan expectations in addition to the potential shrinking of the Star Wars universe, because the present was at all times about the Mandalorian till that second.
Jon Favreau: Proper. The entire first season … although there have been Easter eggs … we steered utterly clear [of direct reference]. However in season two, as a result of we had already established ourselves, we have been positively open to what might or ought to overlap. And like, for instance, there was a number of dialogue about that Mandalorians don’t take their helmets off, however but in The Clone Wars, clearly their helmets are off on a regular basis. And so as a substitute of working from that, we figured let’s go proper at it and have Bo-Katan. And since Katee Sackhoff is any individual who might play each roles. It appeared like a extremely enjoyable alternative for us. In order that was one thing that was meant to assist make clear issues.
And with Luke, that was one thing I keep in mind as we have been discussing who it might or ought to be, and also you rely who’s left and who’s on the market, and what we perceive that character to have been doing, Dave was like, “It doesn’t make sense for it to be anyone else however Luke.” And in order that’s why we introduced Mark Hamill in whereas we have been modifying season one earlier than it aired. We introduced him into to a droid voice and that was our solution to get him in so that folks weren’t going to be suspicious if we noticed him coming in or out.
We confirmed him episodes and the reveal of Grogu and all that, and he was up for it. After which it grew to become about how do you really obtain it, accomplish it, and preserve it a secret. But it surely was all story-driven is my level. It was all about what makes essentially the most sense at any given time. However that’s a shedding battle if we’re going to attempt to preserve outdoing surprises on that degree. We’re by no means going to get there. However what we are able to do is we are able to possibly have some sudden decisions occur and have fascinating reveals. However all of it must be in service of the story and the character improvement.
io9: One other shock was seeing the Mandalorian and Grogu in The E book of Boba Fett and season three of The Mandalorian clearly picks up after these occasions. What have been the positives of getting advised that portion of their story on that present? Since you really feel like, as a substitute of doing an eight-episode season three, it might have been 10 episodes and people are episodes one and two. So inform me about the advantage of doing these episodes and selecting up after that.
Favreau: It grew to become clear to me as we have been what their lives can be like aside … I suppose you could possibly do Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child as like Butch Cassidy a number of episodes and the Sundance Child individually. However they’re each bumming. They’re each not their greatest selves with out the opposite individual, however but you need to have time spent aside. And so I used to be considering extra how you’d do it in a novel. You’d be aside from them, however you’d verify in. The two years between when the final episode aired of season two and [now] allowed for time to go. But it surely did power us to create tales round them, every individually. It simply felt like that’s the place the dramatic momentum was. And but we felt that point needed to be spent aside and we needed to present development, in order that once we meet Grogu now we perceive why his skills are completely different. And likewise the truth that the Mandalorian has to find out about what he has to do, or can do, to be permitted again into the fold after committing the one sin that was very clear from the primary scene of the primary episode, that was a part of his identification.
io9: On the earnings call back in 2020, the place many of those exhibits have been introduced, [Lucasfilm president] Kathleen Kennedy mentioned that you simply guys have been constructing in the direction of a form of climactic occasion. Clearly, issues have modified since then. You added Skeleton Crew, you misplaced Rangers [of the New Republic], Ahsoka is tying in, Jon you said you already wrote season four [of The Mandalorian] to tie in. Are we nonetheless main in the direction of a climactic occasion, or what’s taking place there?
Favreau: I believe a number of it’s but to be decided. I do know that the story that we’re telling is unquestionably rising to decision in sure areas. I believe lots goes to key on issues that are actually being revealed as we’re coordinating in the identical timeframe. What’s taking place in Ahsoka, as you’ll be able to think about with Ahsoka, you’re coping with characters who’ve a much wider view of what’s taking place and a richer historical past. And so from the Mandalorian’s perspective, he’s solely seeing a sliver of what’s occurring. The viewers goes to expertise issues by way of different characters’ eyes, and I believe that’s going to talk to what’s taking place within the bigger context of what’s taking place within the galaxy.
We’ll have extra from Favreau and Filoni quickly, together with some fascinating perception on the Armorer in addition to Filoni’s foray into live-action with Ahsoka. Season three of The Mandalorian debuts March 1.
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