The Mandalorian: All you need to know

From Digital Spy

As if the current trilogy, two upcoming trilogies, animated shows and spin-off movies weren't enough, Star Wars fans will soon have a live-action TV show to enjoy.

Lucasfilm made the announcement in November 2017 that the new show will premiere on Disney's new streaming service, Disney+, set to launch in the US on 12 Nov 2019.

After a slow start, lots of details about the show have finally started to emerge, and there's loads to be excited about.

Here's everything you need to know about Star Wars: The Mandalorian.

Star Wars The Mandalorian TV show trailer: When can we see it?

Right up there above. Fill your boots.

Star Wars The Mandalorian TV show cast: Who's in it?

Narcos star Pedro Pascal plays "a lone Mandalorian gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy".

The rest of the gang includes: Gina Carano (Deadpool), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Nick Nolte, Werner Herzog, Carl Weathers (Rocky), Omid Abtahi (The Hunger Games), and Supernatural's Emily Swallow.

According to Making Star Wars, Nolte is said to be playing an ugnaught, an alien species that appears in The Empire Strikes Back (yeah, you heard right), but they're not using CGI – a person on set acted out the physical movements while wearing an animatronic mask which operated on voice command. Reports reveal that Nolte did the voice work but never actually appeared on set.

"We’re having a great time working with this incredibly talented group and excited for everyone to see what we’re up to," said executive producer Jon Favreau.

And some big fan favourites are returning.

Bounty hunter IG-88, first seen in The Empire Strikes Back, will feature.

And so will the red and white-striped droid R5-D4, originally referred to as "Red".

Favreau also shared a photo of a weapon, which a number of people identified as belonging to Boba Fett in the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special.

Star Wars The Mandalorian TV show creator: Who's in charge?

It was confirmed in March 2018 that Jon Favreau would write and executive produce the new live-action series, continuing his long association with Disney that stretches back to when he helped launch the MCU by directing Iron Man.

He also has Star Wars history as he played roles in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series and recent spin-off movie Solo: A Star Wars Story."If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn't have believed you. I can't wait to embark upon this exciting adventure," Favreau enthused.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy added: "Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base."

However, not everyone was impressed with Favreau's appointment, especially as it was announced on International Women's Day and all Star Wars movies to date have been directed by white men.

Another person who has been working on The Mandalorian is Taika Waititi, who directed the critically acclaimed Thor: Ragnarok.

At a Television Critics Association panel earlier this year, the New Zealand-born creative spoke about his Star Wars experience.

"It was amazing. Favreau is a genius," he said (via Deadline). "It’s fun doing something in the Star Wars universe. It’s strange to see a stormtrooper, and then when you’re doing a scene with 50 or 60 of them, it’s amazing."

Waititi was also asked if we can expect to see his own unique brand of filmmaking and style in there: "A little bit, but Star Wars is very different to the Marvel style. The tone of the first films really should be adhered to, it’s what the fans like. You can’t disrespect it. Definitely my tone is in there."

Other directors involved include Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels' Dave Filoni (who will helm the first three episodes), Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), and Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates).

Star Wars The Mandalorian TV show release date: When can we expect it?

It's 20 Nov in the US, Canada and the Netherlands, but the rest of the world will have to wait. Australia and New Zealand get it on 19 Nov, and the UK and other parts of Europe have to sit on their hands till March 31 2020.

Star Wars The Mandalorian TV show plot: When is it set?

Smartly, Favreau has decided to set his new show in a largely-untapped area of the Star Wars canon, confirming in May 2018 that it's set "about seven years after the Battle of Yavin".

That puts it around three years after Return of the Jedi and 27 years before The Force Awakens, so we wouldn't expect to see too many cameos or character crossovers, especially as Favreau has said it'll focus on "new characters, different planets" while definitely being part of the canon.

It's an area of the timeline that Star Wars Resistance, the new animated series from Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars' Dave Filoni, will also explore, although that will be set a bit later than Favreau's show, since it'll feature Poe Dameron and Captain Phasma.

Star Wars The Mandalorian TV show episodes: How many will there be?

There are eight episodes, all in the 40-45 minute mark.

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