Credit: Disney Gallery: The MandalorianFor two years running, the Star Wars series from masterminds Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian, has been recognized by the Emmy Awards with a coveted Best Drama Series nomination. All told, season 2 of The Mandalorian from Disney and Lucasfilm snagged 24 nominations at the 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards — equaling fellow Best Drama series nominee The Crown with the most nominations overall. However, once again series lead Pedro Pascal was snubbed — shut out of nominations in acting categories.
Related: ‘Mandalorian’ Star Gina Carano Snubbed In Emmy Award Nominations
In addition to the Best Drama Series nomination, The Mandalorian snagged several nominations in acting categories for outstanding performances. Giancarlo Esposito earned a nomination in the Best Supporting Actor Drama category for his portrayal of the conniving leader of the Galactic Empire’s remnants, Moff Gideon. Esposito was nominated last year in the Guest Actor Drama series category, having appeared in a more limited role during The Mandalorian season 1.
Moff Gideon conspired to capture Grogu in Season 1 and was successful in doing so in Season 2. The Mandalorian Season 2 became instantly iconic when a digitally de-aged Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker led a thrilling rescue of Grogu from Moff Gideon and his dark troopers.
Giancarlo Esposito, Timothy Olyphant, Carl Weathers snag acting nods at 2021 Emmys
This marks the fifth Emmy nomination overall for Giancarlo Esposito, who in previous years had been nominated for his dramatic portrayal of Gus Fring on both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
Related: Luke Skywalker ‘Mandalorian’ Cameo Surprised Jon Favreau, Too
Timothy Olyphant and Carl Weathers also scored nominations for their work on The Mandalorian for Disney+ as Guest Actors in a Drama Series. Timothy Olyphant played Star Wars fan-favorite sheriff of Mos Pelgo Cobb Vanth in the season 2 premiere, donning the legendary armor of Boba Fett. Carl Weathers returned to The Mandalorian in season 2 as Din Djarin’s Bounty Hunters’ Guild associate, Greef Karga.
The role of mostly masked Din Djarin, the titular Mandalorian himself, has yet to score an Emmy nomination for series star Pedro Pascal.
Related: Disney Pushes For Gina Carano Emmy Nomination After Firing Her
Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau was recognized for his work as director on The Mandalorian Season 2 premiere with “Chapter 9: The Marshal” which introduced Mando (Pedro Pascal) to Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant). The Luke Skywalker bombshell episode — season finale “Chapter 16: The Rescue,” — and the fan-favorite introduction of live-action Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) — “Chapter 13: The Jedi” — each scored multiple nominations for outstanding special visual effects, writing, and more.
Complete list of 2021 Emmy Nominations for The Mandalorian
- Outstanding Drama Series
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon
- Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Timothy Olyphant as Cobb Vanth
- Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Carl Weathers as Greef Karga
- Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series – “Chapter 11: The Heiress”
- Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – “Chapter 13: The Jedi”
- Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series – “Chapter 13: The Jedi”
- Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – “Chapter 16: The Rescue”
- Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series – “Chapter 15: The Believer”
- Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half Hour) – “Chapter 15: The Believer”
- Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series – “Chapter 16: The Rescue”
- Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes – “Chapter 13: The Jedi”
- Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling – “Chapter 16: The Rescue”
- Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup – “Chapter 13: The Jedi”
- Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) – “Chapter 16: The Rescue”
- Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) – “Chapter 13: The Jedi”
- Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) – “Chapter 13: The Jedi”
- Outstanding Sound Mixing for a COmedy or Drama Series (One Hour) – “Chapter 13: The Jedi”
- Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
- Outstanding Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie
- Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series (One Hour) – “Chapter 13: the Jedi”
- Outstanding Stunt Coordination
- Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – Jon Favreau for “Chapter 9: The Marshal”
- Outstanding Stunt Performance “Chapter 16: The Rescue”
Related: Pedro Pascal Confirms ‘The Mandalorian’ Will Jump Timelines
The Mandalorian was nominated for Best Drama Series in 2020 — the first such nomination for Disney’s streaming service, Disney+ — for the show’s inaugural season from Lucasfilm executive producers Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau, an honor that was awarded to the eventual winner, HBO’s Succession. The Star Wars series was nominated for 15 Emmys last year and won 7 — in Creative Arts below-the-line categories like Best VFX, and Original Dramatic Score.
Streamers dominate 2021 Emmy nominations
Disney+ execs have got to be pleased with their haul of nominations at this year’s Emmy Awards — with the Marvel Cinematic Universe also racking up 28 nominations between the popular Marvel entries, WandaVision (Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen), and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan).
The Best Drama category is dominated by nominees from streamers. Tying The Mandalorian for most nominations is the fourth season of The Crown from Netflix, joined by The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), Bridgerton (Netflix), The Boys (Amazon), Pose (FX), and Lovecraft County (HBO).
Season 3 of The Mandalorian is currently in the works, but we may see many favorite characters of Star Wars fans — potentially including Grogu — in the upcoming Mandalorian spinoff The Book of Boba Fett due out this fall.
Do you think The Mandalorian Season 2 will bring home the Best Drama Series title to Disney+ at the 2021 Emmy Awards? Was Pedro Pascal snubbed? Let us know in the comments!