Everything We Know About Pedro Pascal’s ‘The Mandalorian’ Role

Five years after the Empire has fallen, a lone Mandalorian gets into an altercation in a bar on Maldo Kreis. He ends up with a fugitive – a small fugitive – and returns with him to Nevarro in his ship. Inside a helmet for virtually the entire two seasons on The Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal fleshed out a complicated character.

While some Star Wars castings have caused controversy, the choice of Pascal seems to have been the ideal one. He was able to deliver a believable action hero with a soft spot for Grogu that became the show’s emotional center.

Between the Star Wars lore and Pascal’s interpretation of Din Djarin, also called Mando, there are a lot of details to take into account.

10 Din Djarin Is Not Like Boba Fett

Until The Mandalorian, Star Wars fans who only saw the movies and TV shows would probably have picked Boba Fett as a Mandalorian – but according to show creators, they’re not the same. Director Dave Filoni explained in an interview with EW. “Boba Fett is a clone, according to Attack of the Clones, and by asking [creator George Lucas], he would say Boba Fett is not Mandalorian, not born on Mandalore. He’s more of a person indoctrinated into it, into the way of life, and gets a hold of the armor.”

9 Mando Hates Droids – But Why?

It’s not the first time Star Wars fans have seen anti-droid discrimination – the famous bar scene in A New Hope set that tone with the very first movie. That sentiment comes back with a vengeance in The Mandalorian, where Mando himself displays his aversion to droids on multiple occasions. That stems from his background. As a child, he was orphaned when Super Battle Droids working for the Separatists destroyed his homeland and killed his parents. Din himself was almost killed in the incident.

8 Despite The Empire’s Collapse, It’s An Unforgiving World

Mando operates in a region that is remote from the center of the fallen Empire. “Our guy is operating in a much more unforgiving landscape,” showrunner Jon Favreau said in an interview. “A place where survival is difficult enough, let alone flourishing in that atmosphere and the politics have dissolved. It’s ‘might is right.’ And how does somebody earn a living when there’s no structure to society anymore and everything is collapsing in on itself? How do you work your way through the world?”

7 Din Djarin Is A Man With An Inner Conflict

Mando subscribes to the Mandalorian code, described by an armorer in the show. “When one chooses to walk the Way of the Mandalore, you are both hunter and prey. How can one be a coward if one chooses this way of life?”

His growing affection for Grogu gets in the way. “Ultimately he wants to do the right thing,” Pascal said in an interview. “But his duties could very much be in conflict with his destiny and doing the right thing has many faces. It can be a very windy road.”

6 The Mandalorians Have A Long History

The Mandalorians originate on the planet Mandalore, which is located in the Outer Rim Territories. Throughout history, they have played key roles throughout the galaxy, usually fighting against the Jedi in one way or another. Mandalorians have colonized some worlds, including Kalevala and Concord Dawn. There have been rebellions and different factions within the Mandalorians, including those who want to retain their warlike traditions, and others who want peace. The Galactic Empire occupied Mandaore for a time, and executed a purge. Some went into hiding on Nevarro, where Mando is from.

5 Mandalorians Aren’t Necessarily Human

Just who are the Mandalorians? Most of them are human, but not all. Star Wars Legends, which includes the books, video games and more, delves further into Mandalorian culture, including non-humans members of the group. Mandalorians are bound by culture, creed, and the code – The Way, as Mando puts it. It’s a way of life, and a strict adherence to that code that make someone a Mandalorian. The fact that it originated on a human-led planet is probably why its members are largely human.

4 Mandalorian Armor Is Legendary

Mandalorian armor is often hundreds of years old. It is made of beskar, also called Mandalorian iron. It’s an alloy that is known for its extreme durability – including being able to withstand lightsaber strikes from their enemies, the Jedi.

The armor is sacred to Mandalorians, and that’s why Mando made sure to make a deal with Cob Vanth to regain Boba Fett’s armor. The armor can incorporate several additions such as a comlink, and weapons like a flame thrower.

3 Pedro Pascal Says His Stage Experience Helped Him Interpret The Role

It’s the first of many planned Star Wars TV shows, and Pascal has received wide praise for his nuanced performance despite having a helmet on. He credits his stage experience. “I’m not even sure if I would be able to do it if it weren’t for the amount of direct experience that I’ve had with being on stage to understand how to posture yourself, how to physically frame yourself into something and to tell a story with a gesture, with a stance, or with very, very specific vocal intonation,” he said.

2 Jon Favreau Knew He Wanted Pedro Pascal From The Beginning

There was no audition for Pascal – showrunner Jon Favreau had him in mind from the beginning. Favreau knew he’d have to persuade him to take on a role that included wearing the stiff armor and helmet, so he brought him into their storyboard room. “When he walked in, it must have felt a little surreal,” Favreau said to Variety. “You know, most of your experiences as an actor, people are kicking the tires to see if it’s a good fit. But in this case, everything was locked and loaded.”

1 Pascal Says He’s Keeping The Helmet On

After the second season, there were social media rumors that Pedro Pascal was pressuring the show to go helmet-free more often. He talked about it on The One Show in December 2020. “That is not true, actually,” he said when asked about the rumors. “It’s a really wonderful way of telling the story. It’s always been a very clear creed for the character and the collaborative process of the whole thing, we’ve all been on the same page with this.”