Jon Favreau, the director of The Mandalorian, has revealed the moment he realised the character Grogu, affectionately known as Baby Yoda, had become a cultural phenomenon. The little green creature was introduced in the first episode of the Disney+ series in 2019, but Favreau admitted he did not anticipate the level of popularity it would achieve.
Speaking to CBS News, Favreau, 59, said: 'We didn't realise quite what a phenomenon it would be. And then when we saw the balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, that's when it kind of – as a New Yorker – it really hit me. Like, 'Wow! This has really hit another level.' The whole thing's surreal.'
Favreau is now bringing the character to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu, set for release on 22 May. The film, based on the TV series, follows Pedro Pascal's bounty hunter as he teams up with Grogu to rescue Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White. The cast also includes Sigourney Weaver and Steve Blum, with a cameo from Martin Scorsese.
The film carries a reported budget of $165 million (£121m) before marketing, the lowest for any Star Wars movie. However, early predictions suggest it may open to a historic low, potentially below 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is widely considered the franchise's financial low point. The film has received mixed reactions from fans, with some criticising its TV-like aesthetic.
