- Primary Subject: Martin Scorsese's casting in The Mandalorian and Grogu
- Key Update: Director Jon Favreau revealed how they landed Martin Scorsese to join the cast.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 18, 2026
- Quick Answer: Martin Scorsese was cast as an Ardennian shopkeeper after producer Kathleen Kennedy made a quick phone call to the director, who immediately accepted the role.
The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau recently explained how Martin Scorsese was cast for a voice role in the upcoming Star Wars movie.
To the surprise of many fans, the legendary filmmaker is part of the cast of the highly anticipated Star Wars movie, albeit through a voice performance. There have been questions about how he was cast, especially with his infamous stance on blockbusters and superhero movies. As it turns out, it was a surprisingly easy process.
How Martin Scorsese's Casting in The Mandalorian and Grogu Came to Be
In an interview with ComicBook.com, Favreau shared that Martin Scorsese is one of the filmmakers who influenced his taste in movies and made him have a passion for the art of cinema.
"My taste in movies formed primarily through George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and I had no idea they were actually friends and showing each other their movies, which you’d think that they were in different worlds, but no, throughout that whole period they were part of the same cool little group," he said.
When he was casting the voice role of Ardennian shopkeeper Hugo, Scorsese was the dream choice. Fortunately, thanks to producer Kathleen Kennedy, it came into reality.
"So, when we reached out to him, it was a dream to have him. I wrote the part. ‘Who’s on the list?” said [casting director] Sarah Finn, ‘Oh yeah, sure, Martin Scorsese?!’ and Kathy’s like, ‘I’ll give him a call.’ She gave him a call, ‘Yeah, he’ll do it.’ And it was like, what?! So that’s what happened. So fast," Favreau revealed.
In terms of the character's design, which matches Scorsese's iconic eyebrows, The Mandalorian and Grogu director explained how they came up with that decision.
"That’s an interesting question. We took all of his performance, cut it together, and then we give it to the animators, and then they start," Favreau said.
"They loved it too, like they put more work into that Martin Scorsese stuff with the character design, and my point is that they get inspired by it as well, and everybody adds a little something, but it’s really some of the best animation."
What to Expect in The Mandalorian and Grogu
In The Mandalorian and Grogu, the evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.
The cast includes Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne, Martin Scorsese, and Steve Blum. The Clone Wars character Embo is expected to make an appearance.
It is slated for release exclusively in theaters and on IMAX on May 22. It is the first Star Wars theatrical release since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
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