Disney+ launches next Tuesday, so we take a look at The Mandalorian – the show that gives us Baby Yoda

DISNEY+, TUESDAY 24 MARCH

Just when you thought you had enough streaming TV services in your life, along comes Disney+ and, in particular, this thrilling new flagship original series set in the Star Wars universe. Already a big hit in the US, where it launched last year, The Mandalorian is the show that gives us the pop cultural phenomenon that is Baby Yoda. You’ve almost certainly seen the memes featuring this mini version of the iconic creature, first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, and now we get to meet the character in context. Baby Yoda is, in fact, officially called “The Child” and is a 50-year-old toddler, part of the same species as Yoda, who was, let’s not forget, 900 years old when he first arrived on screen.

THE BOUNTY

The spectacularly cute Baby Yoda, sorry, The Child, turns out to be a key element in the opening eight-part season of The Mandalorian, which is written and created by Jon Favreau, of Iron Man and Swingers fame. The show is a bit like a Western spin-off of Star Wars. The central title character (played by Game Of Thrones’ Pedro Pascal with his face hidden under a mask), is a ruthless bounty hunter of few words – a classic Clint Eastwood-style figure. His new mission is set by an enigmatic dude known only as “The Client”, played magnificently by legendary German film director Werner Herzog, who’s guarded by old-school Star Wars stormtroopers. The Client wants The

Mandalorian to track down The Child. But we do not know why…

THE GEM

The Mandalorian is the gem at the heart of Disney+, a compelling, visually stunning show that’s recognisably very Star Wars while also feeling fresh and new. And it’s got Baby Yoda. As for the rest of the content available on launch day next Tuesday, Disney+ will house the Star Wars films – with The Rise Of Skywalker coming soon – all the Pixar movies and short films, up to and including Toy Story 4, Disney films and series, Marvel movies, National Geographic stuff and more, like The Simpsons. See our pick of its other new offerings, right. HHHH