A Wickedly Talented Entrance

Host Krystina Arielle enthusiastically welcomes actor Giancarlo Esposito to the Star Wars Celebration LIVE! stage, introducing him as the “wickedly talented Moff Gideon himself” [00:23]. Esposito arrives to massive cheers and immediately commands the room with his character’s famous line, “You have something I want,” before prompting anyone in the crowd with a Darksaber to raise it in the air [00:47].

The Magic of the Fandom

When asked about interacting with the fans, Esposito highlights the unique joy of the Star Wars community. He loves seeing people living out their truest fantasies in a state of wonder and enchantment [01:27]. He notes that the connectivity fans feel to The Mandalorian is indescribable, explaining that the series provides “space in time enough for us to feel the spiritual mythology of the heroine and heroes journey” [02:54].

Controlling the Chaos

Arielle asks Esposito how he gets into the headspace of such a menacing character when he is naturally a congenial person. Esposito explains his deep focus on his scene partners and the energetic current between them [03:30]. He believes in finding calm amidst the busy set environment to control the energy of the scene, stating, “I believe that you can’t lead until you can follow” [04:02]. He applies this philosophy to his life as well, noting that maintaining a good attitude and vision helps him stay calm and hold tightly to his dreams, even when things do not go as planned [05:17].

Family Reactions and Ad-libbed Lines

Esposito shares a hilarious story about his family’s reaction to his villainous turn. He reveals that his line about wanting to “squash that big-eared bastard” was entirely improvised [06:12]. Because he leaned so fully into what Moff Gideon wanted in that moment, the line made the final cut. However, his four daughters were not as thrilled, texting him, “Papa don’t you touch that child!” [06:36]. He also shares another playful, unscripted moment where he warned Grogu about the Darksaber, telling the child, “be careful you’re liable to lose an eye” [07:17].

The Depth of a Villain

Reflecting on his character’s potential fate and legacy, Esposito hopes the audience recognizes the depth of his portrayal. He wants fans to see that he honors the collaborative writing of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni by committing fully to Moff Gideon’s motivations [08:59]. He strives to avoid playing a one-sided stereotype, hoping audiences can even see a glimmer of hope that this nefarious villain truly believes his ideas might help people [09:35].

A Deep Honor

The interview concludes with Esposito delivering a heartfelt message to the fans in attendance and watching at home. Expressing his profound gratitude, he calls it a “deep honor and pleasure” to have the opportunity to do what he loves because of their support [11:08]. The segment ends with mutual adoration as Esposito tells the crowd, “Love you guys, really really love you” [11:30].