No one in Star Wars had his contribution questioned more by fans than Pedro Pascal.
From the outset, Pascal's debut as The Mandalorian was marred by online rumors about him throwing tantrums, barely being in the suit, and doing little more than lending his voice to the masked hero. Time and time again, I've seen fans leaving the same comments online about Pedro - questioning whether he ever shows up on set. It's a strange thing when you consider that plenty of actors have body doubles who perform stunts, while they lend their voices to the role.
Pascal has been an integral part of making Mando the juggernaut it is, but there's no doubt, the show and the character, and even the bond between the character and his son, are all better when Pedro is there. The biggest example of this is Day 1 of Star Wars Celebration Japan. Pedro's connection with the fans drew the enthusiastic response needed. It's been over two years since The Mandalorian Season 3 ended, but what better way to get fans pumped for the movie than by having Pedro in the house?
Pedro spent most of his time filming the audience, and appeared genuinely thrilled to be there as much as his fans were to see him. Even though he's currently in several franchises, including Marvel and The Last of Us, it's great to see Pedro at Celebration again after he missed out on it in 2023.
After The Mandalorian and Grogu panel, Pascal took the Celebration stage with Dave Filoni, and the cheers refused to die down. Chants of Pedro's name continued long after the duo sat down, and I think this is the best example of why there's no movie without a star. Pedro has only been a part of Star Wars since 2019, but he received cheers comparable to those of legends like Hayden Christensen. It speaks volumes about Pedro's place in the hearts of fans. If the Mando movie is to succeed, Pascal needs to be present.
First look at Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin in ‘THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU’ pic.twitter.com/GbUE4xy0HN
— Pedro Pascal Daily (@pascalarchive) April 18, 2025
Disney and Lucasfilm wasted no time in erasing any possible doubt regarding Pedro's contribution to the upcoming movie by giving fans a look at the actor dressed as Din Djarin. He posed for a picture in the suit while holding his helmet in one hand. It's an obvious move, but one many fans weren't expecting due to his busy schedule. Everyone knows Pedro is a busy man these days, so fans had kept their expectations low. But Pedro delivered the biggest surprise of Star Wars Celebration so far and gave fans confidence that he'll be fully involved in the movie.
Having Grogu and his father interact on stage in front of fans was a brilliant idea. It reminds fans that Pedro continues to be the face of the character and understands how much Grogu means to Din. This relationship is what resonated most with fans. With Pascal mostly absent from Season 3, fans felt robbed of their favorite Clan of Two moments. This time, it appears Favreau and Pascal have no plans of repeating that mistake. Their interaction makes the possibility of Din removing his helmet for Grogu seem real, even though Season 3 seemed to hint at the opposite.
Thanks to Pedro's presence at Star Wars Celebration, the picture that proves his physical presence on set, and his adorable interaction with Grogu, Star Wars fans can dream again. The Mando movie has a real chance of doing well thanks to its leading man's star power.
The Mandalorian and Grogu premieres May 22, 2026. Stay tuned to Dork Side of the Force for more coverage of Star Wars Celebration 2025.