The Future of Star Wars: Pedro Pascal's Role in The Mandalorian & Grogu

The Rise of Pascal and The Mandalorian

Din Djarin actor Pedro Pascal's importance to Star Wars has only been emphasized further by the announcement of The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, which has also increased the weight of his commitment to the franchise. The Mandalorian TV show helped to catapult Pascal headlong into Hollywood fame, and in return, Pascal's role as the Mandalorian Din Djarin helped The Mandalorian to revitalize Star Wars in a brand-new medium. Now, Star Wars' announcement of The Mandalorian & Grogu proves Pascal will once again take the lead in ushering a new age for the franchise, bringing the galaxy back to movie theaters for the first time since 2019.

Pedro Pascal poses as Din Djarin behind the scenes of The Mandalorian season 2 episode 1 in Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian

Pascal, however, has made it clear that his role in The Mandalorian TV show has mostly been defined by his voiceover work, due to both the difficulty of portraying Din Djarin's physicality and the flexibility to allow him to work on other projects, such as The Last of Us. This arrangement has worked out well, with Din Djarin actors Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder often stepping in to take on the physicality to allow Pascal's voice acting to shine. Now that The Mandalorian is shifting from the TV screen to the big screen, however, Star Wars needs as much participation from Pascal as possible to make Din Djarin work - but there's one major factor that may keep this from happening.

Pedro Pascal crying as Din Djarin in The Mandalorian

Much of the reason why the Din Djarin arrangement was made for Pascal in the first place was due to scheduling conflicts the actor had during The Mandalorian season 1. This set a precedent that continued for both Din's major role in the latter half of The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian season 3, with Pascal taking the time to be in the beskar more for The Mandalorian season 2 out of curiosity and a desire to experience Din's physicality. With each new installment that's passed, Pascal has seemed to be less and less available for filming, which has caused him to be nearly entirely absent from the set of The Mandalorian as a whole - even to the point of The Mandalorian season 3 omitting a helmet-less scene for his character.

Grogu and Din Djarin kneel in front of a crashed Razor Crest in The Mandalorian season 2, episode 2

The Dilemma of Pascal's Presence

While the ending of The Mandalorian season 3 has proven Din Djarin is going to be sticking to the helmet rule of his Mandalorian Creed as strictly as possible, there's no doubt Star Wars will be eager to show Pascal's face as Din somehow in The Mandalorian & Grogu. Pascal himself has become an icon, and as Star Wars continues to make Din Djarin and his adorable companion Grogu icons as well, it will be vital for Star Wars to remind the audience who exactly is beneath the Mandalorian's helmet. Even if Pascal cannot commit to being in the suit the entire time for this movie, he and his face will have to be a key part of it in order to make this movie work.

Din Djarin defeats the krayt dragon in The Mandalorian season 2 episode 1

There are a variety of ways Pascal's face can be seen in this story, even with Din's redemption in The Mandalorian season 3. For one, Star Wars has yet to specify the rules of the helmet when family is involved, and now that Grogu is officially Din Djarin's son, they may be able to establish a rule that family members can see each other's faces. The Armorer's willingness to let Bo-Katan Kryze walk both worlds could also be foreshadowing the Armorer allowing her entire tribe to do the same, which - in both cases - would allow Pascal's face to be shown for the first time in the role since 2020.

Din Djarin and Grogu arrive to the Jedi seeing stone on Tython in The Mandalorian season 2, episode 6

Din Djarin's face has only been shown 3 times in Star Wars so far, once in The Mandalorian season 1 and twice in The Mandalorian season 2.

Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin helmet-less in the Imperial mess hall on Morak

The Challenge of Pascal's Commitment

Star Wars movies are on another level above Star Wars TV, and the same will be true for The Mandalorian & Grogu. What The Mandalorian got away with in their TV show may not be applicable in their movie, and one of those major factors is Pascal's absence from the set. Viewers have already shared their longing for Pascal to step into the suit more, as he's extremely recognizable even under his helmet - no matter how seamless the Din Djarin acting team really is.

Din Djarin And Grogu Say Goodbye In The Mandalorian Chapter 16

The Mandalorian & Grogu, then, cannot afford to have an absence of Pascal as heavy as it has been for The Mandalorian TV show as of late. His voice acting alone impacts Din Djarin and his story in incredible ways, and this movie will need even more of that incredible magic he works on his projects to breathe life into Din on the big screen. While this doesn't mean Pascal will have to be in the suit for every single scene, it does mean his physical participation in The Mandalorian & Grogu should look more similar to his participation in The Mandalorian season 2 - a more equal contribution from Pascal, Wayne, and Crowder combined.

Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin shows his pain as he begins healing from his wounds in The Mandalorian season 1 finale

With all of this on Pascal's plate, the question becomes whether he can fully commit to The Mandalorian & Grogu or not. His passion for Din Djarin, Grogu, and Star Wars is undeniable; the actor has never been shy in admitting how much he loves his contribution to the galaxy, even saying on one occasion that he'll play Din Djarin forever if Star Wars lets him. This, however, may be an issue that's out of his hands. Still, The Mandalorian & Grogu will need Pascal to fight for its story, as viewers are aching to see Pascal take even more of an active role in the next chapter of Din Djarin's and Grogu's story.