Lucasfilm Podcast Discusses The Mandalorian, Star Wars Casting, and the Film Red Tails

The Mandalorian Season 2 and Casting

• 📅 The Mandalorian Season 2 is officially set to premiere on Disney Plus on October 30th.
• 🎨 The new logo features a crisp blue, suggesting a warmer atmosphere and highlighting the bond between the Mandalorian and The Child.
• 🎬 John Favreau drew inspiration from the 1973 film Paper Moon for the tone and relationship dynamics in The Mandalorian.
• 🌟 Jodie Foster was considered for the role of Princess Leia but was deemed too young due to child labor laws, leading to Carrie Fisher's casting.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Series and High Republic

• 🎬 The Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series will be directed by Deborah Chow, who helmed two episodes of The Mandalorian.
• ✍️ Writer Jose Amini aims to explore Obi-Wan's transition from the character seen in Revenge of the Sith to the elder Ben Kenobi.
• 🌟 The High Republic era will feature a younger, 700-year-old Grandmaster Yoda, presenting a unique design challenge for artists.
• 🎨 Concept art for Yoda in the High Republic, by Grant Griffin, showcases a visually appealing, slightly younger version of the iconic Jedi Master.

John Boyega and Daisy Ridley's Post-Star Wars Careers

• 😔 Daisy Ridley found a period of reflection beneficial after The Rise of Skywalker, leading to roles in Chaos Walking and a new Xbox game.
• 🗣️ John Boyega expressed frustration in a British GQ interview regarding the marketing and sidelining of Black characters, specifically Finn, in the sequel trilogy.
• ✊ Boyega also detailed the unique negative experiences, including death threats, he faced due to his race as a Black actor in the franchise.
• 🙏 The hosts expressed support for Boyega's candidness and hoped Lucasfilm would stand behind him.

Revisiting "Red Tails"

• 🎬 The hosts strongly recommend watching Red Tails, a 2012 film about the Tuskegee Airmen, available on Disney Plus.
• ✈️ George Lucas spent nearly 25 years developing the film, which honors the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.
• 💥 The aerial combat sequences are praised for their quality, leveraging expertise gained from modern Star Wars films.
• ✊ The film powerfully depicts the racism faced by the Tuskegee Airmen, even as they fought for their country.
• 🌟 The ensemble cast includes Cuba Gooding Jr. and a young Michael B. Jordan, with a poignant mention of the late Chadwick Boseman, who appeared with Harrison Ford in 42.