You’re probably already in love with Pedro Pascal’s performance as the space Western mystery man on the Disney+ series, The Mandalorian. If you haven’t caught up on what’s happening in the series you can read our review. But while Pascal says he watched Clint Eastwood movies to prepare, you might be surprised to find out that he’s not exactly rocking that suit everyday.
In an interview for Vulture, actor Brenden Wayne, grandson of John Wayne, discussed being Pascal’s double and one of two actors actually in the Mandalorian suit in place of the star. The interview predominantly focuses on how Wayne got the job on The Mandalorian. He had a previous working relationship with the series creator Jon Favreau and was hired after trying on the suit in a very secretive set up.
Wayne wouldn’t reveal how much of season one he appears in, though the implication is it was a good portion because he admits he filmed scenes for every episode and that Pascal would ask him about how to perform certain things. “It was harder for him [Pascal],” Wayne says. “They really wanted a certain walk that came natural to me. And so Pedro had to ask me certain questions.” Wayne says it took him “about 10 or 15 minutes” to get used to hearing Pascal’s voice come out of the helmet and how the actor interpreted Wayne’s movements.
This isn’t as weird to hear as one might think. Pascal himself was incredibly busy last year, working on both this as well as Wonder Woman 1984 and other projects, so not having to be in the suit every day allows him the opportunity to pursue the other amazing things he has coming out. And from a dollars and cents perspective, it also works. Either way, Pascal is the Mandalorian whether you see him or not.
The Mandalorian is currently streaming on Disney+.