The Mandalorian: 6 years since the first look at this new era for Star Wars

This week in Star Wars history, The Mandalorian, Star Wars' first live-action series, went into production, with an official image of the titular hero being shared with fans.

It's remarkable to look back on a simple tweet announcing the start of production on the show, which was considered a gamble due to the state of the fandom at the time and the uncertainty of making a successful live-action Star Wars series. The character pictured in the still was unknown to fans, and the show was set in an era Star Wars shows had yet to really explore in the new canon.

As the show promised the story of a lone bounty hunter, many fans wondered what would set it apart from previous stories. Bounty hunters are nothing new to the franchise, with animated shows like The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and the entire Skywalker saga giving importance to these crafty characters, who all had distinct personalities. The Mandalorian instantly reminded fans of Boba Fett and Jango Fett, so it's remarkable to see how the show would go on to deliver a unique story and make Din different from others like Jango and Boba. Above all, the first still from the show, and all promotional content from Season 1, gave no hint of the tiny green surprise in store for fans.

Amazingly, Mando went into production this week, six years ago, and The Mandalorian & Grogu, Star Wars' first theatrical release since The Rise of Skywalker (2019), is currently in production. From launching Disney+ to being the first Star Wars movie to go into production without any delays, The Mandalorian has always had luck and the element of mystery on its side. No one knew if this series would be a hit, but its success paved the way for everything that's come along since. Similarly, no one knows whether this show can make the same impact on the big screen, but The Mandalorian has become a brand over the past 5 years, so you'd be a fool to bet against it.

For now, we can all stare at the first still from the series and take part in a harmless debate over whether Din Djarin's original brown armor was better than his shiny, Knight-like Beskar. Hopefully, Jon Favreau isn't too busy filming the movie to forget that production on the show started this week. On November 12, when Mando celebrates its 5th anniversary, perhaps Star Wars should update fans on where filming stands and give us that all-important shot of Pedro Pascal in the Mando suit.

The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney+.