Pedro Pascal Not The Mandalorian? 'Star Wars' Legend Confirms Alternate Character Route

Pedro Pascal has become synonymous with the armored Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin, a character that launched not just a massively successful Disney Plus series but essentially revitalized Star Wars television and turned Pascal into one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors.

The Mandalorian premiered in 2019 as the flagship show for Disney Plus, introducing audiences to a lone bounty hunter traveling the galaxy with an adorable Force-sensitive child who quickly became known as Baby Yoda or Grogu.

The series became a cultural phenomenon, spawning memes, merchandise, and establishing Pascal as a leading man capable of carrying a major franchise despite spending most of his screen time behind a helmet.

What many fans might not realize is that when Pascal first walked into Jon Favreau’s office to discuss the role that would define his career, he had no idea he was being offered an original character.

Looking at the concept art covering Favreau’s walls, Pascal saw a Mandalorian warrior in distinctive armor and immediately assumed he was finally getting the chance to play one of Star Wars’ most iconic characters: Boba Fett. The confusion is completely understandable given that Boba Fett had been the only recognizable Mandalorian in Star Wars for decades, and the armor designs share obvious similarities.

When Favreau revealed that Pascal would indeed be playing the Mandalorian shown in all that artwork, Pascal’s excitement about portraying Boba Fett quickly transformed into the realization that he was actually being handed something potentially even better: the opportunity to create an entirely new character in the Star Wars universe who could become just as legendary as the bounty hunter he initially thought he was playing.

The Meeting That Changed Everything

Speaking to Disney’s Twenty-Three Magazine, Pascal recalled his first meeting with Jon Favreau about The Mandalorian project. Entering Favreau’s office, Pascal immediately noticed the walls covered with story illustrations and concept art for the upcoming show.

Among all the artwork, one figure stood out: a Mandalorian warrior whose armor bore striking similarities to Boba Fett’s iconic look. Pascal’s first thought was excitement about Star Wars finally diving deep into Boba Fett’s character, a bounty hunter who had captured fan imagination despite minimal screen time in the original trilogy.

As Favreau walked Pascal through the project, discussing the story, visuals, and tone they were aiming for, Pascal found himself increasingly intrigued by what he was hearing. The concept sounded amazing, but Pascal still hadn’t clarified which role he was being offered among all the characters, creatures, and aliens depicted in the concept art surrounding them. Finally, Pascal asked the obvious question: “Well, who am I?”

He started pointing at different characters in the artwork, trying to figure out which one Favreau wanted him to portray. That’s when Favreau delivered the news: “You’re the Mandalorian.” For Pascal, this confirmation meant only one thing. He was being offered the role of Boba Fett, the legendary bounty hunter who had become a cult favorite despite appearing in relatively few scenes across the original Star Wars trilogy.

The Boba Fett Mix-Up

Pascal’s excitement reached new heights with what he thought was confirmation that he’d be stepping into Boba Fett’s armor. “I was like, ‘WHAT? I get to play Boba Fett?'” Pascal recalled.

For any actor, the opportunity to portray such an iconic Star Wars character would represent a major career milestone. Boba Fett had achieved legendary status among fans, his distinctive armor and mysterious demeanor making him one of the franchise’s most recognizable figures despite limited dialogue and screen time in the original films.

But Favreau quickly corrected Pascal’s assumption. “No, he’s not Boba Fett. He’s the Mandalorian.” This revelation shifted Pascal’s understanding entirely. He wasn’t being asked to portray an established character with decades of fan expectations and backstory. Instead, he was being handed the keys to create an entirely new character in the Star Wars universe, one who happened to wear similar armor to Boba Fett but would forge his own distinct identity and story.

Looking back on that moment, Pascal described it as something he “couldn’t have imagined a better moment.” The confusion had transformed into an opportunity that was potentially even more exciting than playing Boba Fett. Rather than stepping into an existing character’s boots, Pascal would help bring to life someone completely new who could become just as iconic as the character he initially thought he was playing.

Building Din Djarin Into a Star Wars Icon

From that somewhat confusing beginning, Pascal’s performance as Din Djarin quickly won over Star Wars fans and established the character as a new favorite in the franchise.

The Mandalorian presented a bounty hunter with a code of honor and, surprisingly, a caring and fatherly streak that emerged through his relationship with Grogu. This paternal protagonist approach became Pascal’s signature, something he would later replicate in another critically acclaimed series, The Last of Us, where he played Joel, another protective father figure in a dangerous world.

Jon Favreau himself found the parallel amusing, commenting to Empire magazine about his star’s ability to embody this archetype. “It’s amazing how much he’s really cornered the market on this dad, protective father archetype. But they’re different characters, though!” Despite the surface similarities between Din Djarin and Joel, Pascal brings distinct qualities to each role that make them feel unique even while sharing that protective, paternal core.

The success of The Mandalorian vindicated the decision to create an original Mandalorian character rather than centering the show around Boba Fett. Din Djarin has become as recognizable as Darth Vader to modern Star Wars fans, his T-shaped visor and beskar armor instantly identifiable. The character’s popularity spawned multiple seasons of the show, appearances in other Star Wars series like The Book of Boba Fett, and now an upcoming theatrical film.

The Mandalorian’s Big Screen Future

Din Djarin and Grogu will make the jump to theatrical release with The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, currently scheduled for 2026. The film will continue the duo’s adventures following the events of The Mandalorian season 3, which ended with Grogu being officially adopted by Din Djarin and the pair settling into a cabin on Nevarro while taking on work for the New Republic.

The theatrical move represents a significant shift for characters who found their success on Disney Plus. The Mandalorian launched as the flagship series for Disney’s streaming service and became one of the platform’s biggest success stories. Moving to theaters indicates Lucasfilm’s confidence in the characters’ appeal beyond streaming audiences and their ability to draw crowds to movie theaters.

What About Season 4?

The future of The Mandalorian as a television series remains uncertain nearly three years after season 3 concluded. Jon Favreau has confirmed that he wrote a fourth season, telling Empire in November 2025, “We were planning on doing a fourth season. I had actually written all of that. I still have season 4 sitting on my desk here.” However, the 2023 WGA writers’ strike and SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike disrupted those plans, leading Lucasfilm to pivot toward the theatrical film instead.

Whether The Mandalorian & Grogu movie will replace a potential fourth season or serve as a bridge to future seasons remains unclear. According to reports, the film’s box office performance and fan reaction could determine whether the story continues through movie sequels or returns to television. For now, fans will need to wait until after the film’s release for clarity about the show’s television future.

The series’ story could also factor into Dave Filoni’s upcoming Star Wars movie, announced at Star Wars Celebration, which is set to tie together the various Disney Plus Star Wars shows in a cinematic event. How Din Djarin and Grogu fit into that larger narrative remains to be seen.

Pascal’s Star Wars Legacy

Related: ‘Mandalorian’ Actor Speaks Out on Gina Carano’s ‘Star Wars’ Firing

What began with a case of mistaken identity in Jon Favreau’s office has transformed into one of modern Star Wars’ greatest success stories. Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin has earned his place among the franchise’s most beloved characters, proving that new heroes can capture audience hearts just as effectively as legacy characters like Boba Fett.

The initial confusion about which character Pascal was being offered to play adds an amusing footnote to The Mandalorian’s origin story. Had the show actually centered on Boba Fett from the beginning, we might never have gotten Din Djarin, a character who has carved out his own distinct identity in the Star Wars universe while wearing armor that initially made Pascal think he was playing someone else entirely.

As Din Djarin prepares to make his theatrical debut in 2026, it’s clear that Pascal’s portrayal of this protective, honorable bounty hunter has resonated with audiences in ways that justify creating an original Mandalorian character rather than relying on an established fan favorite. The character who confused Pascal when he first saw the concept art has become just as iconic as the bounty hunter he initially thought he was being asked to play.

This Is The Way Forward

The Mandalorian’s evolution from streaming series to theatrical film represents a significant vote of confidence in both the characters and Pascal’s performance. Whether audiences will see more of Din Djarin and Grogu on Disney Plus after the movie or if their adventures will continue exclusively on the big screen remains an open question. What’s certain is that the character Pascal initially mistook for Boba Fett has earned his own legendary status in the Star Wars galaxy.

Have you been following The Mandalorian since the beginning, or are you planning to jump in with the theatrical movie? What do you think about Din Djarin’s journey from a character Pedro Pascal initially confused with Boba Fett to becoming one of Star Wars’ most iconic heroes? Drop a comment and let us know whether you’re team streaming series or excited about the move to theaters, because honestly, the future of this show is still pretty unclear and it’ll be interesting to see how fans react to the format change.