The High Magistrate Arrives

Host Anthony Carboni welcomes the legendary Carl Weathers to the Star Wars Celebration LIVE! stage [00:20]. Carboni introduces him by referencing his iconic past roles, stating he has fought off creatures in the jungle, monsters in the ring, and an alligator on a golf course. Now, Weathers is not only the High Magistrate of Nevarro but also an accomplished director on The Mandalorian. Weathers sits down to massive cheers and immediately hits Carboni with his famous predator handshake [00:47].

A Childlike Imagination

Carboni asks Weathers about the process of directing for The Mandalorian, noting the difficulty of working with puppets and elements that aren’t physically on set [02:45]. Weathers explains that a director must tap into a childlike imagination [03:49]. He compares it to a child playing with toy characters on a landscape or using an Easy-Bake Oven. He credits the incredible crew, advanced technology, strong writing, and the presence of Grogu for making the job easier. “You have all this wonderful technology, you start with really good writing and then you have Grogu, how can you go wrong?” he asks the crowd [04:17].

The Ego of Greef Karga

The conversation shifts to the growth of Weathers’ character, Greef Karga [04:28]. Carboni highlights Karga’s hilarious entrance in the new season, where tiny droids carry his incredibly long cape. Weathers laughs, calling it “so disgusting,” and marvels at “what an ego a man has to have to have little droids following him around holding the ends of his cape” [04:55]. He notes that every detail of the character highlights exactly who he is, someone who demands deference but still wants to be seen as a pal, as long as you remember he is the High Magistrate [05:17].

Giving Props to Kelleran Beq

Carboni brings up a past interview where Weathers claimed Greef Karga would win in a fight against Din Djarin [06:57]. Weathers admits he was exaggerating back then, especially considering the Mandalorian’s skills and his powerful companion, Grogu [08:00].

This leads Weathers to praise actor Ahmed Best, who wielded lightsabers in the recent episode Weathers directed [08:24]. Weathers commends Best’s martial arts background, emphasizing that it was Best performing the action, not a stuntman. Speaking as a director, Weathers humbly states, “You know when you’re really great when you can let someone who’s great do their thing because they make you look good. Ahmed made me look good” [09:52].

A Manifestation of Support

Before concluding, Carboni gives Weathers the floor to speak to the fans [10:25]. Overwhelmed by the cheering, Weathers takes the opportunity to express his deep gratitude. He thanks the fans not just for supporting The Mandalorian, but for their continuous support throughout his entire career. “This kind of reception to me is manifest all of that stuff,” he says earnestly, “so I thank you, I thank you, I thank you” [11:11].