Lucasfilm has begun production of the new “Star Wars” live-action series slated to debut with the Disney direct-to-consumer streaming service that is expected to launch near the end of 2019.
Executive producer Jon Favreau took to Instagram Oct. 3 to reveal the working title of the series is “The Mandalorian” in a graphic that resembles the style and coloring of a “Star Wars” film’s title crawl:
“After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another warrior emerges in the Star Wars universe. ‘The Mandalorian’ is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. We follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.”
The show would thus take place within the 30-year period after the events of Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens.
Mandalorians in the “Star Wars” canon are a race of warriors that have been heavily featured on the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars: Rebels,” where it was revealed they once lost a war to the Jedi of the Old Republic. By the time of the Clone Wars, the people of Mandalore had largely moved beyond their aggressive history, though splinter groups were trying to revive the ancient ways.
They are best known for their distinctive armor, usually consisting of helmets with T-shaped eye slits, as well as jet packs. Mandalorian armor was worn by the characters of Boba Fett and Jango Fett in the films. The first production photo for the series, posted Oct. 4 by Favreau, shows an individual wearing traditional Mandalorian armor.
Favreau, who is also writing the series, voiced the Mandalorian revivalist Pre Vizsla during a prominent story arc on “The Clone Wars.” He later voiced the multi-armed pilot Rio Durant in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
According to StarWars.com, longtime “Star Wars” animation producer Dave Filoni will make the jump to live action to direct the first episode of “The Mandalorian.” The announced line-up of additional episodic directors includes Deborah Chow (“Jessica Jones”), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates) and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).
The team of executive producers, in addition to Favreau, will include Filoni, Colin Wilson and Kathleen Kennedy, who was recently given a three-year extension as president of Lucasfilm. Karen Gilchrist will serve as co-executive producer.