The Mandalorian on Disney+ brought the live action world of Star Wars to the small screen, but could the show's popularity bring the franchise full circle, with Pedro Pascal's character ever making it into movie theaters? Showrunner Jon Favreau says it's a possibility, but he's not in a hurry to make it happen.
"The line is blurring now," Favreau told Variety, regarding a longstanding traditional demarkation between entertainment at home versus in the theater. "Things that you would have only seen in the movie theater, you’re seeing on streaming, and I think it could go the other way as well."
Favreau didn't specify any definitive plans to make that expansion, but he's not ruling it out, either. "We’re definitely open to it," he said, "And excited to see where the story leads us and have that flexibility -- because there’s no rulebook now."
"Technology is always offering new opportunities to tell stories in a fresh way," Favreau added. “It’s a very exciting time to be doing this and I feel very grateful that we’re able to be able to work remotely, because of the nature of the technology that we’re dealing with. So we’re continuing to try to move forward and keep the ball rolling, even though it’s been a challenging time for everyone."
Season 2 production of The Mandalorian wrapped up shortly before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shut down the entertainment industry. Production and release schedules for other series and films have been delayed for the same reason.
Should it happen, The Mandalorian would be the first Star Wars property to jump from the small screen to theaters, although not the first to span the two. In 2008, the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars debuted in movie theaters, with the series of the same name premiering on The Cartoon Network several weeks later.
Notably, The Clone Wars introduced the infant son of Jabba the Hutt, Rotta, predating the introduction of The Mandalorian's The Child -- often referred to as Baby Yoda -- by over a decade.
Star Wars first bridged the two media not long after the first film, with characters from Star Wars: A New Hope appearing in 1978's infamous Star Wars Holiday Special on CBS. The Ewoks, the furry forest creatures featured in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, subsequently appeared in a pair of made-for-TV movies.
Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Taika Waititi and Emily Swallow. Season 1 is available now on Disney+, with Season 2 premiering Oct. 30.