Lucasfilm has announced the cast of The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars series. Narcos star Pedro Pascal has earned the title role and will play “a lone Mandalorian gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy.”
Joining Pedro Pascal will be Gina Carano (Deadpool, Haywire), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), Emily Swallow (Supernatural, How to Get Away with Murder), Carl Weathers (Predator, the Rocky film franchise), Omid Abtahi (American Gods, Damien), Werner Herzog (Oscar nominated director of Encounters at the End of the World), and Nick Nolte (Affliction, A Walk in the Woods).
Commenting on the first live-action Star Wars series, executive producer Jon Favreau said, “We’re having a great time working with this incredibly talented group and excited for everyone to see what we’re up to.”
The Mandalorian is already in production. Jon Favreau is on board as a writer and Star Wars veteran Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) is confirmed to direct the first season’s first episode. Filoni is also executive producing the series with Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson.
Lucasfilm also confirmed Thor: Ragnarok‘s director Taika Waititi will helm an episode (or episodes) of The Mandalorian. Actress Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) is attached to direct, marking her first outing as a television series director. Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones) and Rick Famuyiwa (Dope) will also step behind the camera to direct episodes of season one.
According to Lucasfilm, the new Star Wars series will premiere sometime in late 2019 in the U.S. It will air only on Disney+, Walt Disney Company’s soon-to-launch direct-to-consumer streaming service.
The upcoming Star Wars series was officially announced earlier this year, and it was revealed in March 2018 that Jon Favreau had signed on as a writer. Back in March, Favreau commented on being a part of the project. “If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn’t have believed you. I can’t wait to embark upon this exciting adventure,” said Jon.
