After the first season of “The Mandalorian,” a lot of people were confused by one aspect of the show’s production. No, it wasn’t the use of The Volume or anything like that. Instead, it was the question of just how much time Pedro Pascal actually spent on set under the mask and armor of the title character. Disney/Lucasfilm doesn’t really like to talk about that too much, as they want fans to believe Pascal is always there under the mask. However, with the upcoming release of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” it’s clear that “The Mandalorian” is going to have to figure out how to explain how its lead actor was off making another show for a full year, while also making Season 3 of the “Star Wars” series.
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In a new interview with THR, while promoting his new series, “The Last of Us,” Pedro Pascal was asked that very same question. How can one man be the lead actor in two completely different, epic-scale shows that are releasing new seasons just a few months apart? While he doesn’t fully pull back the curtain, Pascal does imply that there might be a lot less of his face in Season 3.
Pascal started by saying “The Mandalorian” producers “very generously” allowed him to star in HBO’s “The Last of Us.”
He added, “[Producers] Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are creatively not limiting themselves to the way things are normally done. We’ve improvised making myself available for whatever they need. I hesitate revealing anything because I don’t want any plot surprises to be spoiled.”
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Over the first two seasons, it’s been revealed that “The Mandalorian” has multiple people put on the suit, with Pascal often just dubbing his lines in post-production. However, there are also moments when he does wear the suit and actually shows up without his mask. And with Season 3 seemingly focusing on the inner turmoil of Mando wanting to be a true Mandalorian (not taking off his mask), but also working with others who do regularly show their faces, it seemed as if we might actually see more of Pascal than ever before.
Well, judging by the actor’s own comments, it would appear that the opposite may be true. We might only briefly see Pascal under the mask when it is absolutely necessary. And we’re not fully sure how they will do it. Lucasfilm is not a company that is afraid to use CGI trickery to make actors appear in shows even if they don’t show up on set. Perhaps they can digitally add Pascal’s face using CGI? Or maybe, “The Mandalorian” Season 3 does really turn into a voice-acting role for the actor?
Regardless, 2023 is shaping up to be a huge year for Pascal, as “The Last of Us” is expected to be one of the biggest shows of the year, and “The Mandalorian” has a very loyal fanbase.
“The Last of Us” debuts on HBO on January 15. “The Mandalorian” Season 3 is expected to debut on Disney+ on March 1.
You can see trailers for both series below: