“Star Wars: The Mandalorian” will be a totally new and original “Star Wars” project. But it will apparently reference some older “Star Wars” content meant for super fans.
What happened: Showrunner Jon Favreau told MTV News in a recent interview that the show will introduce new worlds, character and stories previously unseen in the “Star Wars” canon.
Still: Favreau said the project will include nods to older and rare “Star Wars” content, including moments from the “Star Wars Holiday Special” — which first introduced Boba Fett, a bounty hunter in his own right — or some of the non-canon “Star Wars Legends” books.
- He said, “whether it’s humorously, like making a reference to Life Day, or a reference to a prop that has been appreciated by a core group over time, just putting those little Easter eggs in; or big movements in the story that reflect storylines in either the ‘Legends’ or in canon that people have known and had.”
- “No matter where you’re coming from or what your background in ‘Star Wars,’ you know that what we’re doing ... we’ve really deliberated over it and discussed it and thought it through,” Favreau said. “And so, if we depart in any way, we know we are — but it’s with a plan.”
Flashback: Favreau told Entertainment Weekly in September that the new show could include characters from the old “Star Wars” expanded universe, which was rebranded as “Star Wars Legends” after Disney purchased Lucasfilm.
- “I don’t want to talk about anything that might be fun for people to discover,” Favreau told Entertainment Weekly. “We do have conversations. Part of what’s fun to see if we could merge the worlds of the original trilogy, the prequels, the sequels, ‘The Clones Wars,’ and what’s been considered canon up to this point and what’s been considered part of ‘Legends.’ I think this show offers an opportunity to bring in all those elements so no matter what your flavor of ‘Star Wars’ ice cream you like there will be something to enjoy. But you’re asking the right questions.”
Expanded universe: The “Star Wars Legends” books included an entirely different timeline of events in the post-“Return of the Jedi” world, including Han and Leia getting married and having twins, the formation of the New Republic and new characters like Mara Jade.
- Interesting note: A character named Thrawn from the Expanded Universe eventually became canon in the “Star Wars Rebels” animated show, according to the Deseret News.