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Ming-Na Wen Reveals Origins of Fennec Shand’s Name


The latest trailer for The Mandalorian provides a quick look into actress Ming-Na Wen's character Fennec Shand, but who exactly is she and what's up with that unique name? In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the Mulan and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actress weighed in and also shared a few more details about her character.

"We got our inspiration really from the name. The idea of a fennec fox came to mind," Wen said in the exclusive interview. "She's tricky, and yet she's able to maneuver and survive, and be stealthy—so very graceful and agile. I just love that whole image with the name."

She further went into detail how Shand is set to cross paths with Pedro Pascual's masked bounty hunter sometime in the middle of the first season of the upcoming Disney+ series. The newly released teaser marks her character's first appearance.

As for whether Shan is good or bad, Wen had this to say: "Thinking that she's a mercenary, it can go either way," Wen said. "I think it remains to be seen." She further went on to liken her character to that of Han Solo and that ultimately, she is loyal to herself.

Wen also hinted at her character's weapon of choice and said, "She has quite a few weapons because she's a very skilled fighter. Just her body is a weapon in and of itself. And she does carry…a big, big gun. A big boy."

The Mandalorian is set sometime after the events of the Empire Strikes Back during a lawless time period in the galaxy far, far away. It stars Pedro Pascual, Werner Herzog, Gina Carano, Nick Nolte, Taika Waititi, Giancarlo Esposito, and Carl Weathers and is set to premiere on the launch of Disney+ on November 12.

Related: The Mandalorian: New Still of Ming-Na Wen's Fennec Shand

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