In conversation with Yahoo! Movies, Pedro Pascal talks about The Mandalorian, The Child and its impact on the Star Wars fandom, as well as some exciting behind the scenes information. Pascal plays the titular character in the acclaimed Disney+ series, and it seems he was just as enamoured with early concept art of The Child as we were on watching the series.
The Sensation That Became Baby Yoda
When The Mandalorian first debuted on Disney+ in the USA late last year, audiences were unprepared for the appearance of The Child. Indeed, Baby Yoda (as he has affectionately become known) became a sensation, spawning numerous memes and leaving those still waiting for Disney+ eagerly anticipating the series premiere.
I can’t bring myself to lie and be like “we had no idea of the sensation that he would be”. We never talked about it being a sure thing, but I unconsciously kept to myself that the very first time I saw the image in the illustration during that first meeting, I was like “oh my God, people are going to lose their mind over that”. So basically it was no surprise.
Effects company Legacy were charged with bringing the concept of The Child to life. The company behind Thor’s Avengers: Endgame weight gain and Amphibian Man from The Shape of Water, were entrusted with the task of bringing Baby Yoda from the page to the creature we see in The Mandalorian. Many of The Mandalorian’s scenes between The Child and Mando were with an animatronic doll created by Legacy Effects, and it would seem that Pedro Pascal cannot credit them for their hard work enough.
It was incredible just to see how talented the departments are. It was just unbelievable, from the production design to the company, Legacy Effects, that created the doll and so many of the props and creatures. There’s all the history they bring to it from the other films and from their experiences on other films. You’re among the best and so you just really have to make yourself a passenger to that.
What’s It Like Working with Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau?
Amongst all the Baby Yoda talk, Pascal also discussed his experiences of working on set with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. Apparently, the most secretive part of Pascal’s casting was the initial phone call, where he was asked to meet and discuss “something Star Wars.” The meeting took place in a room covered with illustrations from the first season and Pascal says it gave them a chance to hear his voice from within the mask for the character.
All on the same day, they took me to the set where they were doing camera tests. They introduced me to Kathleen Kennedy, they put the helmet on my head and then Jon sent me off with six scripts to look at and to get an idea. I might be getting him in trouble. The studio may not know this.
Despite the levels of secrecy surrounding most projects within the Star Wars franchise, Pedro Pascal believes that the fact they launched the first season whilst filming the second has helped ensure that nothing is given away too early. In fact, he is very keen for fans of the series to enjoy the second season as much as the first, and with the same sense of “Awe and Surprise.”
Let yourself be as empty a canvas as possible to just experience it.
