A Joyous Welcome

Host Krystina Arielle welcomes actors Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Weathers, and Emily Swallow from The Mandalorian to the Star Wars Celebration LIVE! stage [00:14]. As they sit down, the crowd cheers enthusiastically. Esposito marvels at the warm reception, asking, “Why is it that I feel like I’ve come home?” [01:06]. Weathers then demands that the fans send him pictures, humorously insisting they are experiencing the “Carl Weathers and Giancarlo squeeze the moment” [01:50].

Home with the Armorer

Arielle notes that the set piece they are sitting around is specifically modeled after the Armorer’s forge, joking that they are filming a new show called Emily at Home with the Armorer [02:43]. Swallow leans into the bit, asking the crowd if everyone wants her to make them some armor [02:50]. Weathers chimes in, joking that the setup reminds him of his grill at home, suggesting the Armorer could come over and use her hammer as a meat tenderizer for his hamburgers and hot dogs [03:07].

The Quality of the Dream

Arielle asks Weathers about his transition into directing over the past few seasons, specifically praising his recent work on “The Foundling” [06:32]. Weathers humbly jokes that the episode was “all about Grogu,” and since Grogu puts money in his pocket, he made sure to make the child look good [06:46].

Reflecting on his decades-long directing journey, Weathers shares his philosophy. “It’s not just about the dream for me, it’s about the quality of the dream,” he explains, adding that how you dream dictates how you eventually deliver [07:17]. He considers the learning process to be an ongoing transition, stating he is just having a “damn good time” learning the craft, watching great directors, and working with fantastic actors [08:06].

The Star of the Show

Arielle turns to Esposito, noting that while his character, Moff Gideon, hates Grogu, she wants to know how Esposito feels about the puppet [10:24]. Esposito drops his villainous persona entirely, calling the child “absolutely enchanting” [10:32]. He recalls his very first conversation with creator Jon Favreau upon meeting the puppet for the first time. “I said, this is the star of the show and I want every scene with that child,” Esposito admits [10:58].

The Cultural Impact of the Way

Arielle asks Swallow if she ever anticipated that her simple line, “This is the way,” would take on such massive cultural significance within the Star Wars fandom [09:35]. Swallow firmly states she had no idea it would become so iconic. She laughs about how her co-stars now co-opt the phrase when signing autographs for fans [09:50]. She specifically calls out Weathers, joking, “How dare he take that from me,” to which Weathers playfully replies that he is simply copying the best [10:16].

A Visionary Message

To conclude the panel, Arielle asks the cast if they have any final words for the fans [14:09]. Esposito takes the lead, offering deep gratitude to the audience for joining them on an explosive journey [14:18]. He hopes the show serves as a reflection of their own lives, hopes, dreams, and self-confidence. “I really love that we have such loyal fans who watch the show and not only get the message of the show but are empowered by it,” Esposito says, noting that the visionary series builds courage and self-esteem [14:43].