Warning: Spoilers ahead for “The Mandalorian and Grogu”
Before diving into “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” it’s wise to refresh your memory with a recap of all three seasons of “The Mandalorian.” Even then, expect some surprises. Right from the start, the movie’s opening credits reveal a surprising addition – Martin Scorsese. Fans won’t have to wait long to see him, as Scorsese’s character makes an appearance within the first 25 minutes of the film.
As Din Djarin, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, and Grogu land on Shakari in search of Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White, they encounter a food truck vendor. The vendor may be an alien, but his voice unmistakably belongs to the legendary filmmaker, Martin Scorsese. The character’s bushy eyebrows, similar to Scorsese’s own, are a clear clue. Although not mentioned in the film, the alien is named Hugo, a reference to Scorsese’s 2011 directorial work.
Recently, Scorsese has embraced acting in other creators’ projects. He appeared in the movie “Outcome” and had a memorable role in the debut episode of Apple TV’s “The Studio,” where he played himself. Director Evan Goldberg expressed to Variety how impressed everyone was with Scorsese’s performance, noting, “Unanimously we would say Martin Scorsese as an actor was unbelievable.”
Jon Favreau, known for his work on films like “Elf” and “Iron Man,” is a respected filmmaker. However, directing the iconic Martin Scorsese posed a unique challenge. Favreau shared with SFX Magazine (via GamesRadar) that despite knowing Scorsese and being friendly, he still found himself starstruck, especially around filmmakers from Scorsese’s influential generation.
The Shakari scenes stand out with their homage to Scorsese’s early works. The neon-lit, gangster-filled atmosphere brings to mind classics like “Taxi Driver,” “Mean Streets,” and “After Hours.” Additionally, Hugo’s food truck business parallels Favreau’s film “Chef,” where the director plays a chef seeking creative independence by launching his own food truck.
Scorsese’s character is related to Rio from Solo: A Star Wars Story
Lucasfilm
Jon Favreau is a fantastic filmmaker in his own right, having helmed the likes of “Elf” and “Iron Man” in the past. But few directors working today are anywhere near the level of Martin Scorsese’s pedigree, and, as one might expect, it was daunting directing such an influential figure. Favreau told SFX Magazine (via GamesRadar), “I know him, and I’m friendly with him when I see him. But also I’m a fan, so I get a little tongue-tied, to be honest with you, when I’m around him and his generation of filmmakers that were so influential on me.”
It’s notable that the entire Shakari sequence feels inspired by many of Scorsese’s early films. The neon lights and emphasis on gangsters calls to mind Scorsese’s early filmography, like “Taxi Driver,” “Mean Streets,” and “After Hours.” But Hugo, and the fact that he’s running a food truck, also feels like a nod to one of Favreau’s films — 2014’s “Chef.” In that film, Favreau plays a restaurant cook who ventures out on his own to run a food truck and have more creative freedom.
There’s another connection that even hardcore Star Wars fans might’ve missed. Hugo is an Ardennian, and we’ve seen that alien species before in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” Rio Durant is an Ardennian pilot who’s part of Han Solo’s (Alden Ehrenreich) crew early on in the film, and Rio is voiced by none other than Favreau. While speaking with Fandango, Favreau said he intentionally connected the two Ardennians: “I gave our characters the same last name. So, our characters are related in theory.” Hey, when you’re the director, you can make yourself related to whoever you want.
