Trilogy, prelogy or postlogy, each generation has its own series of films Star Wars favourite. The Mandalorian, the first live-action serial offshoot of the George Lucas saga, has managed to be appreciated by everyone. A small feat. On the occasion of the third season of the intergalactic western which is unveiled with one episode every Wednesday on Disney + since March 1, Jon Favreau, creator and showrunner of the show, tells 20 minutes how he found the way to satisfy all generations.
A series on filiation that takes place in the family
The series revolves around Din Djarin, known as The Mandalorian or Mando, a sort of silent and solitary cowboy who will prove over the course of the episodes to be a very attentive adoptive father for a little creature, named Grogu and nicknamed Baby. Yoda. “Mando is a mix of two figures, the warrior and the protector, the father. Those who grew up with Star Wars are now relatives of the current audience. Parents and children… We have to hope that they watch the series together”, comments Jon Faveau. And to continue: “The series is about maturity and parenthood, in this sense, everyone can identify with the feeling they have when they see this baby. The children learn from Mando, but Mando changes and learns from this baby. For me, that’s the central plot that I keep coming back to. The energy revolves around this relationship. So we set out to find a way to take an unexpected path and bring these two characters together again” in Season 3.
A season on the transmission of traditions
The Mandalorian borrows a lot from the codes of the western, and in this third season, the mercenary seeks redemption because he betrayed the code of the Mandalorians by removing his helmet in season 2. “It’s an interesting backdrop in a harsh world. This makes it possible to tell stories that are the expression of conflicts in the souls of the characters. That’s why westerns have survived. It is also a theme of Japanese samurai films, ”analyzes the showrunner. And to explain: “Mando seeks to redeem himself. He exceeded the limits allowed by his culture. Because he felt responsible for this child, he crossed a line he thought he would never cross. Its culture is adamant about this. He will have to find the balance between tradition, dogma, rigidity and open-mindedness, future and flexibility”.
This third season features both a Mandalorian who fears “no longer being relevant and not flexible enough to face the challenges of the future, and a young generation who have no basis to face this future. “.
Fun with inheritance for the youngest
In this third season, Grogu who interrupted his Jedi training in The Boba Fett Book, will learn about the Mandalorian culture. “He had a very good teacher in Luke Skywalker. What is good in Star Wars, these are the rules we inherit and an understanding of tradition. Luke Skywalker didn’t train very long, neither with Yoda nor with Obi-Wan, but he acquired the basics and became a great Jedi, ”says Jon Favreau. The showrunner is delighted with a “very rich world” where “Jedi and Mandalorian culture” rub shoulders. “There’s something interesting about a Mandalorian holding a lightsaber or using the Force,” he smiles.
Fan service for the older ones
The Mandalorian knows how to play the nostalgia card, while serving the story it tells. “Luke Skywalker’s appearance made sense. By dint of talking about it, we understood that it was the only possible option, ”explains Jon Favreau, who realizes the dream of the fans of the first hour. “The story was compelling, but it also gave us the opportunity to show Luke Skywalker at the height of his powers as a Jedi. It was a lot of fun, for us as fans. Seeing R2D2 take the stage was a real pleasure. He was my favorite character when I was little… While I spend my days in the decor Star Wars, I got goosebumps seeing him in the scene. It’s very moving because you touch very deep strings from your childhood, ”says the showrunner. Young or old, parent or child, fan of the trilogy, prelogy or postlogy, The Mandalorian knows how to rely on the legacy of George Lucas while skilfully renewing the myth.