It’s not very often you see a side character get as much love and devotion as Star Wars’ Boba Fett. The mysterious bounty hunter made his debut in the Empire Strikes Back, where he captivated the audience with his presence alone. Gaining a cult following, the Mandalorian bounty hunter became one of the main staples of the space saga. The character was tied to the franchise so much, it was only a matter of time until he got his own TV series. Disney + appealed to the fans, and in early 2019 the series was announced simple titled The Mandalorian. Here is a quick look at all we know from the upcoming show.
The Lore of The Hunter
Okay, if you don’t know your Star Wars lore by now, dust off your old textbook and sit down. The Mandalorians are human cultural groups originating from the planet Mandalore. Distinct from their warrior-like heritage, the individuals from Mandalore were trained in combat from birth. Becoming one of the most feared warriors across the galaxy, they date far back in galactic history. One of the most notable conflicts in Mandalore history was during the Old Republic.
Gaining a reputation for being the best bounty hunters and mercenaries, they were well known even before the formation of the Republic. However, they became greedy. Wanting to prove themselves in combat, they launched a galactic crusade. This would eventually catch the attention of the Jedi and spark into a full-on war. The Mandalorians lost, their pride broken, and their honor tainted. After countless changes within their community, they aimed for a more peaceful approach to galactic affairs, while upholding their traditions.
The Show’s Plot
So, where does the TV series fit into this continuity? The story takes place after the fall of the Empire, aka Return of the Jedi. It follows a Mandalorian bounty hunter, played by Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), on his numerous adventures and contracts. Among his various bounties, he comes across other characters who were present during the civil war. Described by the directors as a character with questionable morals, he leans more towards protagonists such as those found in Clint Eastwood’s western movies. Cold, calculating, and with no empathy for life, strictly professional, is all we want from the Mandalorian.
The cast of other characters includes Gina Carano (Deadpool), who will portray a former rebel-shock trooper turned ally. Besides that, we have Carl Weathers (Predator), who will play a pivotal role as a guild leader, and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), as a former Imperial governor. Even Taika Waititi landed the role as the voice of the droid known only as IG-11. While the cast already seems pretty solid, there is one character that caught the eyes of many old school fans, IG-88B. An assassin droid that was featured in past movies, who will unquestionably play a great part in the series.
In The Background
One thing that is worth a mention is the creator of the show, Jon Favreau, who was previously associated with Marvel. After countless successful runs on the big screen, Favreau has expressed a desire to work on the Star Wars license. As the series fits between episodes VI and VII, it won’t be directly linked to the movies. Instead, it will be a separate story set in the continuity. Fans of the franchise need not worry when it comes to the show, as Favreau is fully aware of the lore from which he adapts. On top of that, he is also backed up by Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Kathleen Kennedy (The Last Jedi).
There is a lot to be expected from the series, but from what we gathered, there is a lot of good material, and it is on the right path to success. The Star Wars license didn’t manage to catch a break, Han Solo’s box office failure, and the departure of Game of Thrones writers from a new licensed trilogy. However, there has also been some good news. A new mini-series based on Obi-Wan Kenobi is in the works, and the second season of The Mandalorian is already being made. So not all is bad for Star Wars, especially with the Rise of Skywalker conclusion. Be sure to catch The Mandalorian on Disney’s streaming service, starting November 12. 2019. Also, follow Fictional Talk for a review article in the near future.
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