A Legendary Introduction

Host Anthony Carboni welcomes director Jon Favreau and sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver to the stage. Weaver expresses her excitement about the warm reception from the fans and how thrilled she is to now be part of the Star Wars family.

Sigourney Weaver’s Star Wars Journey

When asked what drew her to the franchise, Weaver shares her longtime admiration for Star Wars and the importance of science fiction as a genre that allows people to explore the human experience through other worlds. She reveals that Favreau originally approached her out of the blue for a Zoom meeting. Weaver admits she had not actually seen The Mandalorian before that call, but after Favreau suggested she start watching, she quickly fell in love with the characters and the world.

Working with Grogu

Carboni asks Weaver about her reaction to meeting the Grogu puppet for the first time. Weaver admits she was fascinated by him, but had to actively fight her own instincts and stay aloof on set because her character views him as a troublemaker who tries to take advantage of her. She jokes that she could not express her true feelings of adoration for Grogu until the director called cut.

Weaver’s New Character

Favreau playfully puts Weaver on the spot to see if she passes her mandatory Star Wars media training by asking about her character. Weaver shares that she plays a fighter pilot who came up during the Rebellion and is now dedicated to protecting the New Republic. Her character has the good sense to hire the Mandalorian and his sidekick, though she plans to find out if they are truly as good as their reputation suggests.

Transitioning to the Big Screen

Favreau details the differences between making an episodic series versus a feature film. He explains that having years instead of months to work allows the team to build more practical sets, refine costumes, and utilize more virtual rehearsal time. He also mentions the challenge of filling the massive IMAX screen, noting that while Star Wars traditionally uses a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, certain sequences in the film will open up fully to a taller format.

The Essence of the Story

Favreau notes that while creating the film, the team is keeping a few key things in mind: maintaining a sense of play and adventure reminiscent of Flash Gordon, while also honoring the mid-century war films, Westerns, and samurai films that originally inspired George Lucas. When asked for final words on what the movie is about, Weaver sums it up as action, adventure, and adorableness.