On the movies

Wars. And in this one it’s like we’re way more at the centre,’’ Pascal says. ‘‘We’re past those borders and past those very, very linear, very specific lines of definition.’’

While Star Wars is no stranger to the small screen, those efforts have mostly been animated.

So when initial trailers debuted for The Mandalorian in glorious live-action, many observed how movie-like it seemed, as though it would fit right in on the big screen alongside Star Wars movie spinoffs like Rogue One or Solo.

A reported budget of US$15 million for each episode probably didn’t hurt.

It’s also a gesture of investment into a new phase of the Star Wars universe under Disney. The Skywalker saga is coming to an end with The Rise of Skywalker, which opens in

New Zealand cinemas on December 19, and the next cinematic trilogy is going through its own restructuring with the recent news that its overseers, Game of Thrones

showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss, have parted ways with Lucasfilm.

But The Mandalorian could help ease the gap as the future is plotted. And Favreau is already at work on a second season.

The involvement of Favreau and Filoni, who directed the pilot and has been behind Star Wars projects like The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, has everyone confident in the product.

‘‘They are the Star Wars

fans,’’ says Carano. ‘‘This is made for [fans] because two of their own are making it.’’ –AP

The Mandalorian debuts with the rest of the Disney+ streaming service on Tuesday.