David Farnor | On 30, Oct 2019

“Look outside. They’re waiting for you.” That’s the sound of the new trailer for The Mandalorian landing online, but it could just as easily be Disney talking about UK Star Wars fans who will not be able to watch the series online until early next year.

The live-action Star Wars series is the flagship title for Disney’s new subscription streaming platform, Disney+, which launches in the US on 12th November. It is set after the fall of the Empire in Episode VI. After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, it follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) will play the lead, a bounty hunter on a mission to collect a particularly difficult prize. The series will also unveil new insights into how the First Order cane to be. When we met them in Episode VII, they were headed up by Supreme Leader Snoke, But there has never been an explanation on screen of how he – and the movement – came to be.

We know that this will include characters played by Werner Herzog, Nick Nolte and Gina Carano, as well as Carl Weathers and Giancarlo Esposito. (The latter is Moff Gideon, a “former Imperial governor set adrift in the wake of the Emperor’s downfall”.)

US Star Wars fans can see all of them in action on 12th November, when Disney+ launches. In the UK, you’ll be able to stream them in the spring, unless the House of Mouse announces something surprising before then.

Here’s the trailer:

 

The Mandalorian to explore origins of the First Order

5th September 2019

The Mandalorian will explore some of the early origins of the First Order, its creators have revealed.

The live-action Star Wars series is set after the fall of the Empire in Episode VI. After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, we follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) will play the lead, a bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal) on a mission to collect a particularly difficult prize. Last month, we got our first proper glimpse of him in action on a teaser trailer for the show. Now, with its US release only weeks away, more details are dropping – including how the show will tie into the wider saga.

The First Order, when we met them in Episode VII, are headed up by Supreme Leader Snoke, But there has never been an explanation on screen of how he – and the movement – came to be.

“This doesn’t turn into a good guy universe because you blew up two Death Stars,” director Dave Filoni told EW in a recent interview. “You get that the Rebels won and they’re trying to establish a Republic, but there’s no way that could have set in for everybody all at once. You have in a Western where you’re out on the frontier and there might be Washington and they might have some marshals, but sometimes good luck finding one.”

“Also, what could happen in the 30 years between celebrating the defeat of the Empire and then the First Order?” showrunner Jon Favreau added. “You come in on Episode VII, [the First Order are] not just starting out. They’re pretty far along… So somehow, things weren’t necessarily managed as well as they could have been.”

Pascal is joined by a cast that includes Werner Herzog, Nick Nolte and Gina Carano, as well as Carl Weathers and Giancarlo Esposito. The latter will play Moff Gideon, a “former Imperial governor set adrift in the wake of the Emperor’s downfall”.

 

Watch: First teaser trailer for The Mandalorian

23rd August 2019

“Bounty hunting is a complicated profession… don’t you agree?” That’s the sound of Werner Herzog in the new trailer for The Mandalorian.

Unveiled at D23 Expo to an excited crowd, the teaser gives us a new look at the Star Wars series, which will be a flagship title for Disney+ when it launches in November. The subscription platform, which will initially be available in the US but not the UK, is building upon Disney’s existing brands, such as Star Wars and Marvel.

The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, we follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) will play the lead, with a supporting cast that includes Herzog, Nick Nolte and Gina Carano, as well as Giancarlo Esposito and Carl Weathers. Behind the camera is an equally starry affair, with creator Jon Favreau joined at the helm by a slew of guest directors that includes Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).

Carano plays Cara Dune, an ex-trooper who is “having some trouble reintegrating” into society. Weathers, meanwhile, plays Greef Karga, who hires The Mandalorian for his mission.

Catch a glimpse of the above cast with the teaser trailer, which is suitably brooding and cinematic:

 

Disney unveils new images of The Mandalorian (but no trailer)

14th April 2019

Disney has unveiled new images of The Mandalorian, the upcoming Star Wars series.

The show, the first live-action scripted TV show within the Star Wars universe, is created by Jon Favreau and is one of flagship launch titles for Disney+, the House of Mouse’s new subscription service. That arrives this November in the USA, and hot on the heels of Disney’s investor event this week detailing that launch, Star Wars Celebration this weekend was perfectly timed to give fans a first proper look at The Mandalorian in action.

While fans present at the event got to see a trailer of the series, though, Disney is only releasing a bunch of new photos online publicly for the moment. Those pictures, however, are accompanied by a few new details.

The series is set after the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, following the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, and chronicles the travails of another warrior in the Star Wars universe: a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) will play the lead, with a supporting cast that includes Werner Herzog, Nick Nolte and Gina Carano, as well as Giancarlo Esposito and Carl Weathers. Behind the camera is an equally starry affair, with Favreau joined at the helm by a slew of guest directors that includes Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).

Carano plays Cara Dune, an ex-trooper who is “having some trouble reintegrating” into society. Weathers, meanwhile, plays Greef Karga, who hires The Mandalorian for his mission.

“He is a guy who is running this group of bounty hunters, he’s kind of the head of this guild of bounty hunters,” Weathers revealed at the show’s panel. “There seems to be a lot of nefarious people… He’s looking for someone to go after a product that he wants to bring to a client that’s worth a lot and that’s very valuable, and guess who he finds?”

“The Mandalorian is a mysterious, lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy,” Pascal said. ”Some might say he has questionable moral character, in line with some of our best Westerns, and some good samurai [films.] And he’s a badass.”

“He’s got a lot of Clint Eastwood in him,” he added.

Favreau, meanwhile, confirmed that it takes place five years after Return of the Jedi, making it a “never been told story during a never been seen timeframe”.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was also present to talk about how it all came to be.

“It was instantaneous. We were so excited there was an opportunity to bring this to the screen,” she said of Favreau pitching the programme.

She also spoke about Filoni: “I have a feeling that everybody in this room knows that this guy is a rock star. What could be more exciting than Dave Filoni directing live action?”

As well as the pictures of the cast in action, we also now have a first look at the show’s logo. With fans already calling for the trailer to be released online, expect to get that video very shortly too.

 

Werner Herzog, Giancarlo Esposito join Star Wars: The Mandalorian

13th December 2018

Werner Herzog has officially entered the Star Wars universe. The Aguirre, the Wrath of God director, who has appeared in Jack Reacher, Parks and Recreation and more, is leading a wave of surprising new additions to Star Wars series The Mandalorian.

The show, which will premiere on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, is set after the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, following the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, and chronicles the travails of another warrior in the Star Wars universe: a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

With Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) playing the lead, and with Jon Favreau creating the show, along with a slew of guest directors that include Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), the show is lining up to be Disney+’s flagship title.

Casting has been appropriately star-studded, with Nick Nolte and Gina Carano signing on last week. Now, three more names have joined the ensemble. First up is Herzog, who will also be joined by Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul’s Giancarlo Esposito and none other than Carl Weathers himself.

No details have been confirmed about the roles these actors will play, although the prospect of Herzog playing a villain in a Star Wars title is certainly one to relish.

Jon Favreau simply released a statement in response to the casting: “We’re having a great time working with this incredibly talented group and excited for everyone to see what we’re up to.”

 

Nick Nolte joins Star Wars series The Mandalorian

1st December 2018

Nike Nolte has reportedly joined the cast of the new Star Wars series, The Mandalorian.

The series, which is written and exec-produced by Jon Favreau, was the first major franchise title announced by Disney for its new online platform, Disney+, and is shaping up to be a flagship programme for when the service goes live in 2019. The show is set after the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, following the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, and chronicles the travails of another warrior in the Star Wars universe: a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

Bringing that series to life is Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), with equally impressive names behind the camera, including Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), who will exec-produce the show alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson and direct the first episode, Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).

Now, another heavyweight name has joined the show, with The Thin Red Line, The Price of Tides and Warrior veteran Nolte signing on to star, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He joins Haywire, Deadpool and Fast & Furious 6 star Gina Carano, who was also recently cast in the series.

 

The Mandalorian: Pedro Pascal to star in Disney+ Star Wars series

14th November 2018

Pedro Pascal is in talks to star in The Mandalorian, the new Star Wars series for streaming service Disney+.

The series, which is written and exec-produced by Jon Favreau, was the first major franchise title announced by Disney for its new online platform, and is shaping up to be a launch flagship for when the service goes live in 2019. The show is set after the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, following the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, and chronicles the travails of another warrior in the Star Wars universe: a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

Pedro Pascal has been one of several names rumoured for the role, but Variety reports that he has been officially offered the role and details are now being finalised. Pascal needs no introduction to TV fans: he recently made an impression as Prince Oberyn in Game of Thrones, and has also played Javier Pena in Narcos. His feature film work has ranged from Kingsman: The Golden Circle and The Equalizer 2 to If Beale Street Could Talk and Wonder Woman 1984. He is no stranger to streamers, either: he has recently finished filming Netflix’s action movie Triple Frontier.

The Mandalorian has equally impressive names behind the camera, with Favreau joined by Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), who will exec-produce the show alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. Filoni will also direct the first episode, with other episodic directors including Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).

 

The Mandalorian: Taika Waititi, Deborah Chow, Bryce Dallas Howard to direct Star Wars series

5th October 2018

The Mandalorian, Disney’s new Star Wars series, has officially begun production, and the show’s already lining up an impressive list of directors.

The first details of the live-action series were revealed by Jon Favreau this week, and now, more information is pouring online, as Disney steps up the promotion of what will likely be a flagship launch title for its upcoming subscription streaming platform.

Set after the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, The Mandalorian follows another warrior in the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian takes place following the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, and charts the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

The series is written and executive produced by Favreau, as previously announced, and now, we know who else will be joining him behind the camera: Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) directing the first episode. Additional episodic directors include Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).

The series is exec produced by Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson, with Karen Gilchrist serving as co-executive producer. Here’s the first official picture from the set:

 

The Mandalorian: Jon Favreau reveals first details of Star Wars series

4th October 2018

Jon Favreau has released the first details of his upcoming Star Wars TV series.

The show, which will premiere on Disney’s soon-to-launch streaming service, is written and exec-produced by the Jungle Book and Iron Man director. The live-action show is one of the most anticipated shows on the way to Disney’s online platform, underscoring just how strong the brand appeal is for the franchise, as it looks to take on Netflix.

Details, though, have been kept under wraps – until now. Favreau has announced on Instagram that the series will be called The Mandalorian and will bring what appears to be a Western vibe to the Star Wars universe.

“After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another warrior emerges in the Star Wars universe,” reads Favreau’s synopsis. “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.”

The pitch puts the series firmly away from the original Star Wars saga, as Lucasfilm bids to build new stories taking place within the same world. It marks a reunion between not just Favreau and Marvel-owning Disney, but also Lucasfilm, with the actor and director previously voicing parts in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

 

Jon Favreau Star Wars series in works for Disney streaming service

8th March 2018

Jon Favreau has signed on to executive produce and write a live-action Star Wars series for Disney’s new streaming platform.

Favreau is no stranger to the Star Wars galaxy, having played roles in both the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series and in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story.

“I couldn’t be more excited about Jon coming on board to produce and write for the new direct-to-consumer platform,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base.”

Favreau is thrilled to be returning to the Star Wars galaxy: “If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn’t have believed you. I can’t wait to embark upon this exciting adventure.”

Disney’s collaborations with Favreau extend back a decade, when he helped launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe as director of Iron Man and Iron Man 2 and as an executive producer of the Iron Man and Avengers films for Marvel Studios. For Disney, he directed and produced the massively successful The Jungle Book, which won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects. He is currently in production on Disney’s highly anticipated reimagining of The Lion King, set for release in 2019.

The untitled Star Wars live-action series does not yet have a release date.

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