Latest news with #Mando
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The 75 best 'Star Wars' characters, definitively ranked for Star Wars Day
The 75 best 'Star Wars' characters, definitively ranked for Star Wars Day Show Caption Hide Caption Here's why Diego Luna feels 'Andor' is so relevant today 'Andor' star Diego Luna tells USA TODAY's Brian Truitt why he feels this series is so relevant today. Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids. Over the course of nearly 50 years, the "Star Wars" galaxy has spawned 11 movies, seven live-action TV shows and endless characters, be they Jedi or Sith, Rebels or Imperials, twisted bounty hunters or adorable porgs. In honor of Star Wars Day and the 20th anniversary of "Revenge of the Sith" (released May 19, 2005), we're ranking the 75 best live-action characters in "Star Wars" history, from the original heroes of 1977 to the fresh faces of Disney+ shows like "Andor" and "The Mandalorian." Some personalities, though, just will never make the cut – sorry, Jar Jar. Here's our rundown, from the good to the very, very bad: 75. Admiral Motti Some Imperial officers like Admiral Ozzel get Force-choked by Darth Vader and die. Motti actually survived such a deadly encounter (before eventually perishing in the explosion of the Death Star), and for that he makes this illustrious list. 74. Captain Phasma The First Order's supreme female Stormtrooper had a super-neat suit of armor and so much wasted potential, being thrown into a trash compactor in "Force Awakens" and falling to her apparent death in "Last Jedi." 73. Carson Teva Other than Luke Skywalker and Poe Dameron, we haven't gotten to know many X-wing pilots but Teva, a buddy of the Mando, is the kind of dude you have a beer with at a New Republic watering hole or ask to cut some bureaucratic red tape. 72. Supreme Leader Snoke He led the nefarious First Order for two movies in the new trilogy and ... well, that's pretty much all we ever knew. Snoke's on here solely because of the couple of years he gave "Star Wars" fans fits online theorizing about his origins and for taking a supremely nasty lightsaber slice like a champ. 71. Cobb Vanth The old-fashioned cowboy wore Boba Fett's armor and weapons as the marshal of Mos Pelgo on Tatooine and was an loyal ally of the Mando – until Cad Bane gunned him down in cold blood. 70. R5-D4 The droid has low-key been with us the whole time. R5 was in the first film when Luke Skywalker's uncle buys R2-D2 and C-3PO from some Jawas on Tatooine and decades later is around to help the Mando and Grogu whenever they're in a pickle. Where's his Disney+ spinoff, guys? 69. Sy Snootles The intergalactic version of Stevie Nicks (but kind of better, honestly), Sy belted all the hits as lead singer and dancer of the Max Rebo Band. And it takes some serious talent to keep Jabba the Hutt from throwing you to the Rancor. 68. Oma Tres While his name isn't Luke, Han or Leia, he's still a GOAT: Legendary "Star Wars" composer John Williams had a quick cameo as the one-eyed Kijimi City bartender in "The Rise of Skywalker." 67. The porg on the Millennium Falcon It takes a brave soul to fly into battle as the unofficial mascot of a famous starship after its furry pilot – in this case, Chewbacca – tried to roast you for dinner. 66. Black Krrsantan Unlike Chewbacca, this Wookiee warrior would have downed that porg raw. Krrsantan first made his appearance in comic books and then made his presence felt in "The Book of Boba Fett," first as a bounty hunter working for Jabba's cousins and then alongside the Mando as muscle for Fett's crew. 65. Jod Na Nawood Shiver me timbers: A galactic pirate who can use the Force! Jod (aka Crimson Jack, aka Captain Silvo) is a treasure-hunting rogue with a mysterious backstory and a way of ticking off everyone. That said, the dude would be a lot cooler if he didn't get taken down by a bunch of space kids. 64. Bail Organa Listen, politicians may not have the best reputation in the Milky Way, but in the galaxy far, far away, the senator from Alderaan not only took in Baby Leia and kept her hidden from the Empire but was also integral in the formation of the Rebel Alliance. He's got our vote. 63. Qi'ra Before Han Solo hooked up with Princess Leia, Qi'ra was his childhood sweetheart on Corellia. They went their separate ways but both ended up in their own corners of the underworld, with Qi'ra choosing the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate over her love. It's OK, Chewie turned out to be a better bestie in the long run. 62. Babu Frik "Rise of Skywalker" didn't give us many highlights yet at least we got this little droidsmith out of the deal. Cute, feisty and adorably unintelligible, Babu snagged some Sith secrets out of C-3PO's memory banks and stole our heart in the process. 61. Galen Erso Sort of the J. Robert Oppenheimer of the "Star Wars" universe, the scientist hatched the technology that was used to power the Death Star's uber-destructive laser, was betrayed by friends and lost his family, but – knowing its violent capability – purposely built a weakness in the deadly space station. 60. Max Rebo Jabba the Hutt's house band leader is what happens when you combine Paul Shaffer, Dumbo and Blue Man Group. 59. Greef Karga He's the kind of politician you'd want in a firefight. He had his run-ins with the Mando as leader of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, became a key fighter against the Imperial Remnant, and took on the role of Head Magistrate of the planet Navarro, always going to bat for his people. 58. Peli Motto Tatooine's quirkiest space mechanic is also its coolest, with a bunch of jittery repair droids and tons of warm personality. When the Mando's Razor Crest went boom, she outfitted him with a sweet and super-speedy N-1 Starfighter and is always down to babysit her favorite boy, Grogu. 57. Luthen Rael By day, he runs a high-end antiques shop and deals with wealthy power players on Coruscant in a bad wig in "Andor." But on the side, Luthen recruits folks like Cassian Andor as key cog in a spy network and works against the Empire in a growing rebellion. 56. Nien Nunb The Sullustan pilot doesn't say a whole lot yet he co-starred in several important "Star Wars" moments: He rolled with Lando Calrissian in the Millennium Falcon when the Rebellion blew up the second Death Star, flew an X-wing in the assault on Starkiller Base and was part of the ragtag crew that took on an overwhelming First Order force during the Battle of Crait. 55. Reva Sevander/Third Sister A former Jedi youngling when the Empire came to power, Reva eventually joined the Dark Side of the Force as one of Darth Vader's vicious inquisitors. She harbored a mean streak when it came to Obi-Wan Kenobi yet refused to kill kid Luke Skywalker, showing there was still some light in her. 54. Jek Porkins He died as a hero during the Battle of Yavin. More importantly, he was a role model for dudes with dad bods who wanted to squeeze into the cockpit of an X-wing. 53. L3-37 The clever droid had equal parts strength and sass as confidante and co-pilot for Lando Calrissian during his gambling days and was also all about robot rights, even sparking the occasional mechanical revolution. Although her body was fatally damaged, she lives on in the circuits of the navigational computer aboard the Millennium Falcon. 52. Director Orson Krennic Anybody in middle management can relate to this Imperial officer who's saddled with getting a big project up and running (in his case, the first Death Star), forced to deal with uncaring bosses and winds up having some rebellious types screw the whole thing up. 51. Salacious B. Crumb In some galactic circles, Kowakian monkey-lizards are sold as street meat. Salacious avoided being cooked on a spit, and as Jabba the Hutt's resident court jester, got a front-row seat to laugh mockingly at those who crossed his boss. 50. Migs Mayfeld A former Imperial sniper turned mercenary, Migs is usually getting into trouble and palling around with criminals. The guy's got an honorable side, though, and helped the Mando take down an Imperial refinery – plus gave an old commanding officer a piece of his mind, to boot. 49. Count Dooku Christopher Lee with an awesome cape and a lightsaber. How do you not love that combination? 48. Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo The Resistance leader with the purple hair was hard to read: She went way back with Leia, but didn't appreciate Poe Dameron's trigger-happy attitude. But she made the ultimate sacrifice for her fellow rebels in a strategic ploy against the First Order forever after named the "Holdo Manuever." 47. Syril Karn "Andor" gave fans something they hadn't seen in a while: a complex yet weaselly guy you love to hate. Syril is a cockroach of a civil servant in the Empire, desperately trying to move his way up the ranks, though he's been a little more relatable since getting himself an Imperial girlfriend. 46. Greedo Forever famous for being an integral part of the decades-old "Did Han Solo shoot first?" debate. Sadly for this shady green dude, he ends up facedown and dead no matter how many times they edit the original "Star Wars" film. 45. Wedge Antilles The Tom Cruise of the Rebel Alliance. The X-wing flyboy was a top gun taking on AT-ATs in the Battle of Hoth and being an integral member of Red Squadron during the attacks on both Death Stars. 44. Cad Bane Don't let the space fedora fool you. The ruthless gun-for-hire was a deadly shot with a blaster and as nasty an hombre as they come. A final showdown with his old pal Boba Fett didn't go his way, though. 43. Mon Mothma The Rebels' primary mover and shaker behind the scenes, she first opposed the evil Palpatine in the Galactic Republic – putting her personal and professional lives in jeopardy – and then was integral in the growing resistance against the Empire. 42. Darth Maul The Sith apprentice never got much to do in "The Phantom Menace" before getting sliced in half, falling down a shaft and being left for dead. (Spoiler alert: He got better.) Still, from his horns and tattoos to the double-bladed lightsaber, Maul's bad-guy chic was hard to beat. 41. Wicket W. Warrick Arguably the cutest Ewok, Wicket became the unofficial furry mascot of the Rebel Alliance and also has a cooler name than his buds Paploo, Logray and Chief Chirpa. 40. Qui-Gon Jinn Liam Neeson's wise Jedi master was the first one to figure out that Anakin Skywalker was something special. It's probably for the best he didn't see the very dark turn the kid would take. 39. Fennec Shand Equal parts major domo, bodyguard and partner, she's a former bounty hunter and loyal right hand for Boba Fett who plays bad cop to his good cop extraordinarily well. Fennec is the strong and silent type but can be counted on for the occasional deadpan zinger. 38. General Hux The embattled First Order military man was pretty much the most stressed-out guy in the galaxy, first watching as Starkiller Base was blown sky high and then having to chase various rapscallions in the Resistance before becoming a spy on the inside. 37. Maz Kanata She likes Wookiees, running a crazy space bar, looking into people's eyes to see their souls and collecting antique lightsabers. Folks back in the day had Yoda as their feisty oldster and the kids now have Maz. 36. Enfys Nest We're probably never getting a "Solo" sequel and the most tragic part of that is we only got one movie with this Cloud-Riders' leader, an enigmatic pirate and freedom fighter with an awesome look (and swoop bike!) years before being a Rebel was a thing. 35. Moff Gideon After the fall of the Empire, Gideon made a play for being the galaxy's No. 1 baddie. He wielded the Darksaber (before Luke Skywalker and Mando teamed up to defeat him), tried many times to kidnap Grogu, headed up the creation of robotic Dark Troopers and overall was a menace to society. 34. Mace Windu Giving Samuel L. Jackson an awesome tunic and a lightsaber is the easiest way to make sure you have the most groovy Jedi master ever. 33. K-2SO The most human of all the various "Star Wars" droids also is the snarkiest robot in the Rebel Alliance. And we adore him for it. 32. Padmé Amidala The queen of Naboo as well as Luke and Leia's mom, Padmé honestly wasn't the greatest at picking guys, and her friendship with Jar Jar was a head-scratcher, too, but she was quite the woman of action when needed. 31. Grand Moff Tarkin Even a guy like Darth Vader has to answer to somebody, and in the original "Star Wars" there was nobody more ruthless or cunning than Tarkin. Who ordered the blast that took out the planet Alderaan? Yep, that guy. Cold. Blooded. 30. C-3PO The protocol droid is always good for getting in the way and giving you odds of death during stressful space missions when you least want or need them. He's fluent in more than 7 million forms of communication and probably annoying with every single one. 29. Kuiil This helpful Ugnaught and Mando pal might be the most honorable guy in the galaxy. We have spoken. 28. Rose Tico The sister of a heroic Resistance bomber pilot, the mechanic tases traitors, gets her time in the spotlight on a death-defying mission with her idol Finn, and fights with the good guys in one last showdown with the First Order. 27. Figrin D'an On one hand, the frontman of the Modal Nodes from the original "Star Wars" was an intergalactic one-hit wonder. That said, just like "Puttin' on the Ritz," "One Night in Bangkok" and "99 Luftballoons," "The Cantina Band" theme is as tasty a jam as it ever was. 26. Chirrut Imwe He's one with the Force, and the Force is with him. The spiritual warrior gave us the most ethereal "Star Wars" quote since "May the Force be with you." 25. Bo-Katan Kryze A supporting player in the "Clone Wars" animated series finally got her spotlight in "The Mandalorian," teaming up with the Mando and rallying opposing factions of her people to bring Mandalore back in a big way. 24. BB-8 The little ball droid rolled into our hearts in "The Force Awakens" and is probably staying there for a while. BB-8 loves Poe, kinda digs Finn and is always available if you need a light or a thumbs up. 23. Jabba the Hutt So corpulent he didn't even move in "Return of the Jedi," Jabba was an intergalatic gangster with some serious swag. Owe him some money and you're likely to wind up in a carbonite frame and hung on the wall as cautionary-tale decor for the next poor soul. 22. Finn He's given a face to cannon-fodder Stormtroopers, plus has a penchant for flirting and a heroic streak. So, yeah, Finn's a "big deal" in the Resistance and in fans' hearts. 21. Jyn Erso She watched her mom die in front of her as a child, lost her dad to the Empire and was raised under the watchful eye of a Rebel extremist – so not the greatest upbringing. An ex-con, Jyn more than proved her worth as a hero stealing the plans to the Death Star. In short? She rules. 20. Kylo Ren Being the grandson of Darth Vader ain't easy: Do you embrace the light side of the Force like your parents and Uncle Luke, or is the dark side more your thing? With a lot of gravitas and some serious TIE fighter-flying skills, Ben Solo moved up the ranks after a memorable arc in "The Last Jedi" but we'd rather forget that final "Rise of Skywalker" kiss with Rey. 19. Cassian Andor The "Rogue One" spy gets quite the origin story with the prequel "Andor." After killing a couple of cops, Cassian goes on the run and winds up aligning himself with the Rebels, helps spark a prison riot, and resists fascist regimes like a champ, even though we know his ultimate fate is not a great one. 18. Admiral Ackbar Pop culture may know him for tossing one very memorable, meme-worthy line in a stressful situation ('It's a trap!') yet Ackbar goes bravely into battle against the second Death Star with the Rebel fleet, plus lives long enough to be an important part of the later Resistance. 17. Lando Calrissian The smoothest of operators, Lando was forgiven too easily after betraying Han Solo and friends and gifting them to Darth Vader for some political capital. He helped save Han from Jabba, became a Rebel general and took down a Death Star, so probably a win in the long run. 16. Poe Dameron The greatest pilot in the Resistance, if not the galaxy. So he's got that going for him. 15. Grogu So his name's not technically Baby Yoda, though he'll always be known as that in our hearts. And he's not exactly a baby, being 50 years old. But you can't dispute the pure heart-melting power of the little guy who's taken pop culture by storm hanging with his adopted dad, the Mando. 14. Boba Fett For a whole generation, he was the universe's most mysterious fan favorite, a bounty hunter who didn't say all that much and got eaten by a sand monster before we got to know him. "The Book of Boba Fett" however showed the man underneath that signature helmet and rocket pack and gave him an unexpected redemption arc. 13. The Emperor At one time the baddest man in the universe, no matter what name he goes by. As Senator Palpatine, he created a political situation perfect for the coming of a fascist Empire, and as Darth Sidious, led the fight to wipe out the Jedi. His "Rise of Skywalker" return took away much of that shine, and at the end he wasn't as scary as ... 12. Dedra Meero While the Empire had its share of fright-inducing folks, you didn't get more ambitious or sinister than this member of the Imperial Security Bureau. Cold, calculating and highly intelligent, Dedra saw the rebellion coming when none of her other peers did. And good luck to anybody who gets in her way. 11. Rey 'Star Wars' quiz: 'Skywalker' stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega face off John Boyega and Daisy Ridley get the same graduate-level quiz from USA TODAY to see who has better knowledge of the galaxy. USA TODAY The young heroine is fierce, smart, way strong in the Force and an ideal hero for little "Star Wars" fans, no matter their gender, and she doesn't suffer old Jedi masters (or hotheaded Sith lord wannabes she's got some chemistry with) who give her a hard time. 10. Chewbacca Perhaps the most egregious fail in "Star Wars" history was Chewbacca not getting a service medal after the Battle of Yavin. And don't even go there calling him a "sidekick" – Han Solo's hairy best friend is the Rebels' most loyal jack of all trades and also has an affinity for porgs. 9. Din Djarin The bounty-hunting gunslinging space dad travels the galaxy in a post-Empire world with a tragic backstory and son Grogu in tow. Mando got in trouble for taking off his helmet, although we need to know is he's got a big ol' heart underneath that valuable beskar armor. 8. R2-D2 He's best known as the other half of an iconic mechanical pairing with Threepio, and that's all well and good. But one of the neatest "Star Wars" friendships is between Luke Skywalker and Artoo, a duo that remained tight from the sands of Tatooine to the swamps of Dagobah. 7. Obi-Wan Kenobi The prequel trilogy isn't good for much, but what those films do is give old Ben a tragic backstory: Before protecting Luke for years and being killed by Vader, Obi-Wan was one of the Clone Wars' greatest heroes until he and the Jedi were betrayed by his talented apprentice and best friend. 6. Ahsoka Tano Originally a character in the animated "Clone Wars" series, Anakin Skywalker's young Padawan figured out that being a Jedi wasn't much of a career track way before Luke Skywalker also saw the heroic order's flaws. Now a grown-up with her own "Ahsoka" Disney+ show, she's a capable warrior with a pair of lightsabers and a bunch of fight left in her. 5. Yoda Don't underestimate the wizened little green guy putzing around with a laser sword. He acrobatically took on Palpatine in the prequels, but the Jedi master's best work came showing Luke the ways of the Force and preparing him to face Vader. 4. Luke Skywalker Remember when everybody freaked out that no one knew what he was up to as an old man in "Force Awakens"? That's just how integral he is to the original "Star Wars" trilogy and the overall saga. In terms of all-time hero's journeys, his is up there, from his humble beginnings on Tatooine to learning of his sinister dad to becoming a Jedi master to sacrificing himself to help the Resistance. 3. Princess Leia For the longest time, the late Carrie Fisher's iconic heroine was the only one around in George Lucas' movie universe, but she still redefined female characters in the sci-fi genre. She took no guff from anybody, particularly not slug-like villains who put her in metal bikinis, and will forever be the gold standard of "Star Wars" women. 2. Han Solo A protagonist armed with not only a blaster but a signature smirk and questionable morals, the Corellian smuggler flew into fans' hearts from the start and never let go. In many ways, Solo fueled the narrative as the Everyman caught up in a world of "hokey religions and ancient weapons" while just trying to make a buck. His return in "Force Awakens" – with the insta-classic line "Chewie, we're home" – meant we were, too. 1. Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker Much of the primary story of "Star Wars" is Anakin's, a tragically Shakespearean exploration of what happens when "the chosen one" isn't exactly that. From superhero to child killer to intergalactic enforcer, Vader's arc leads him to want to rule the galaxy with his son by his side, though Luke doesn't turn like his father when given the chance. Anakin does ultimately find redemption through sacrifice, and even after death his presence is still felt through Luke and his grandson, Kylo. This universe has no bigger or more important personality.
The Star
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Star Wars fans lead the way to Malaysia's hidden gems
'Uncovering hidden gems of Malaysia' – so goes the bio on Mandalorians In Malaysia's Instagram profile (my_mandos). Scroll through the posts and it's immediately apparent that this is no ordinary travel account. Sure, it lives up to its declaration of uncovering the country's hidden gems, but it does so in quite an unconventional way. In every one of its photo or reel, there are two figures (sometimes more) dressed in armour, replete with helmet and cape. Those unfamiliar with the Star Wars franchise might be scratching their heads at this sight, but for fans, especially of The Mandalorian TV series, the figures are easily identifiable. That's its unique point: It showcases the hidden gems in Malaysia through the travels of these Star Wars characters. 'I've always liked the Mandalorian concept and 'culture', starting from when I was four or five years old through the original Mando, Boba Fett,' says Calvin Shoon, 24, the man behind the travel team. 'Fast forward to the end of 2020, 'Mandomania' was at an all-time high with the end of The Mandalorian Season 2. It was then that I decided to commission a Mandalorian cosplay to fulfil this childhood dream of mine.' The Malaysian Mandalorians In 2024, Shoon finally launches the travel platform. The first post, dated July 12, is captioned: 'It all started from our love of Malaysia, and how we wanted to share that love of our country and its many hidden gems with our friends and family. We hope to bring you that with this platform, but with a twist...' And what a twist it is – immediately garnering attention both online and in real life. It is quite the spectacle to witness Shoon and his team wandering around in their costumes, enthusiastically combing the country for places whose quiet beauty deserves a shoutout. 'In the beginning, when the team was smaller, I handled almost all the planning and execution,' says Shoon, adding that Google Maps was his go-to during the researching stage. 'I would pick a place and plot my journey from there. As I reviewed the routes, I would also check out any places of interest nearby.' Now, with a bigger team of eight including himself, '... more research is put in to give the team a further understanding of not just the production flow, but also the local history and culture, and the people.' Shoon (second from right) with his Mandalorians In Malaysia team. Some of the places they have highlighted are Pulau Mawar Sea Arch in Johor, Zi Xia Cave in Kelantan and Marang Wave Breaker in Terengganu. Aside from simply showcasing the beauty of each place, they also provide information on how to reach these off-the-beaten-path destinations. Take the sea arch for example. It is only accessible outside of the monsoon season because between October and March, the sandbar that connects the island to the beach (Pantai Mawar) will be submerged underwater. Getting to the arch requires a bit of hiking, but the team's documentation proves that the effort is well worth it. 'The journey there was such a unique experience,' Shoon recalls. 'We had to cross a temporary land bridge, followed by a hike through the jungle... only to come upon a majestic view of the South China Sea through Johor's best kept secret: The Sea Arch.' He cites the arch as one of the more memorable places they've visited. Another one, Pantai Mek Mas in Kelantan, also left a lasting impression on them as well as their fellow Star Wars fans. 'The journey there was an experience itself, but spotting the great sand dune upon arrival as it slowly got taller and taller really was... eye-opening,' he shares. Since the climb up the dune was challenging, due to the soft sands that gave way with each step, he adds, 'It really was like travelling through the desert. The overwhelming heat from the midday sun really helped sell the illusion too.' Interestingly, it looked so convincing that some fans don't just believe they're in a desert, these fans go so far as to think that the Kota Baru destination is, in fact, 'a blue screen of Tatooine'. That's how similar it appears to the fictional desert planet. Pantai Mek Mas is often mistaken by Star Wars fans as a blue screen of Tatooine. Shoon shares that this was among the comments they received when they had the chance to meet other Star Wars fans in person. 'Often, when we are 'boothing', we receive comments and questions asking if some of our work was Artificial Intelligence, CGI or a screenshot of the show,' he says. 'We couldn't be prouder. Not just of our work but also of our beautiful country!' The 'boothing' he refers to are when he and his team set up booths at events – such as AsiaPopcon 2024 and the annual Star Wars gathering at Jaya One Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor – where they would 'try to spread the word of these places with a pop-up style of photo exhibition'. Other than the high quality of their work, another feedback they typically receive is from locals who are surprised that these otherworldly places exist in Malaysia. Leading the way Piquing fellow Malaysians' interest to travel more and discover what our country has to offer is precisely the goal Shoon had in mind. He even cheekily uses the tagline 'Ini arahnya' for the travel account. It is a play on the popular Mandalorian saying: 'This is the way'. via GIPHY 'It is a localisation of the famous catchphrase to give it that intimate and familiar touch. It also happens to be a tongue-in-cheek way of 'showing the way' to these exotic places,' Shoon explains. Setting up the platform was not without its challenges. Unfortunately, just like Din Djarin having to face many hurdles in The Mandalorian , Shoon too would have his to overcome. As he mentioned, 2020 was a good time for the Pedro Pascal-starring TV series, with the second season even outperforming the already successful first season (launched in 2019). So, for Shoon, it was a good time to be a fan. But let's not forget that, at the same time, there was a global pandemic wreaking havoc. Many lives were lost to the Covid-19 virus, and among them were Shoon's parents. 'They were the first people I wanted to show off my new costume to. Something they would, sadly, never get to see,' he shares. To deal with his grief and take his mind off the outbreak, Shoon spent his time scrolling through posts of places he wished to visit once lockdowns and travel bans were over. This was what truly sparked the idea of 'a travelling Mando exploring the limitless wonders of Malaysia'. The eventual formation of the travel account helped in lifting Shoon's spirits. Unbeknown to him, it will go on to touch other lives as well. Star Wars fans are often excited to spot them filming their content. The most memorable of these reactions, he mentions, was when they visited the last remaining match factory in Malaysia. The Mandos posing in front of Malaysia's last match factory. Initially appearing sans costumes at the factory in Kota Baru, the workers were later elated to see the team return with some of them decked up in their Mando gear. Grinning the widest was a man named 'Muharez'. 'We noticed a Mando helmet, hung on the wall at his desk!' Shoon enthuses. 'We got to know that he personally crafted the helmet via 3D printing, and got to learn more about the factory and life in Kota Baru through him personally. 'I like to think that we made his day. Connections like these are really what motivate us to do more, to do better,' he adds. So, in spite of the mosquito bites they endure when they traverse through forests, or risking heat stroke in their costumes while filming under the blazing sun, Shoon and his team continue to be passionate in sharing Malaysia's hidden beauty in their own Mando way.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Mandalorian & Grogu footage teases Rotta the Hutt, Baby Yoda using the Force, and classic Star Wars action, while a new photo shows a maskless Pedro Pascal
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. At this year's Star Wars Celebration, The Mandalorian & Grogu screened new footage behind closed doors for those in attendance. GamesRadar+ is on the ground for the convention in Japan, and Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and even Grogu were also in attendance to show off the film, which was announced back in January 2024. The footage opens with Mando blasting his way through some troopers on a ship. It's classic, season 1 style action. Then, we see Weaver's character telling Mando that "right now, you work for us." Grogu uses the Force to try and steal some food, which doesn't escape Weaver's notice. We also see Grogu using the Force to destroy a droid, while he also goes swimming at one point. Then, right at the end, we saw a brief tease of what appears to be Jeremy Allen White's Rotta the Hut, though he's all grown up now. The Hutt was cheering in a fighting ring, with Mando and Grogu seated in the audience (and Grogu was eating some snacks). Plus, it appears Mando will be going without his helmet at least once in the movie, as a new look at the film shows Pascal without his mask. Check out some pictures below. The movie is set to release in theaters on May 22, 2026. The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau is directing, with Lucasfilm's chief creative officer Dave Filoni and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy producing. Beyond The Mandalorian & Grogu, other Star Wars movies in the works include Shawn Levy's Star Wars movie starring Ryan Gosling, which will arrive in 2027 (as confirmed at Celebration). Next up for Star Wars is Andor season 2, which arrives in a triple episode premiere on Disney Plus this April 22 in the US and April 23 in the UK. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows – and see our roundup of what to expect from Star Wars Celebration 2025 through the link.
