The Mandalorian has introduced audiences to an entirely new corner of the Star Wars universe, which includes plenty of fresh faces. However, eagle-eyed fans surely noticed some familiar beings if they looked closely enough. One species from the Original Trilogy also made a brief appearance and, while the cameo was somewhat grim, it actually could’ve been even darker.
In the series premiere of The Mandalorian, there’s a brief scene that shows a Kowakian monkey-lizard being roasted over a rotisserie. Not far from where the creature is being cooked, viewers can also see another monkey-lizard watching nervously. Some may find the idea of the animal watching his eventual fate a bit harsh, but producer Dave Filoni has now revealed that the live creature was initially going to mock the dead one:
You had decided that we were going to be cooking it, and then I said ’You know, it would be funny if we had a live one sitting there laughing at it.’ Originally he was laughing at the one being cooked. People thought that was too mean. ‘Cause eating them wasn’t too mean. So then they made him have sad sounds, like ‘uhhh’ and I’m like ‘Is that better? Is it better that he’s depressed that his friend is being eaten?’
Dave Filoni’s revelation on the latest episode of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian may come as a shock to those who aren’t familiar with Kowakian monkey-lizards. But those who know all about them shouldn’t be surprised at the idea of one of the creatures acting cruelly.
The monkey-lizard is known for having a sophisticated (and twisted) sense of humor, which is only amplified by its shrill laughter. The most notable creature from this species to appear in the franchise, is Salacious Crumb, who appeared in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. The character served as a jester in Jabba the Hutt’s palace and always remained by his master’s side. He also took delight in seeing his Jabba feed unfortunate souls to his rancor.
Taking all of this into account, Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau’s original idea for the monkey-lizard on The Mandalorian is understandable. It’s true that it would’ve come off as somewhat mean, but it is in the animal’s nature.
The inclusion of the Kowakian monkey-lizard is just one of the ways The Mandalorian has successfully integrated classic species, some of which have had smaller roles in the films. Nick Nolte’s ugnaught, Kuiil, is another example of this. As an ugnaught, Kuill represents an alien race that’s played a tertiary role in the Star Wars franchise, and this series marks the first time that one has played a major role.
Both the Kowakian monkey-lizard and ugnaughts won’t be the only classic Star Wars characters we see on The Mandalorian as, at least, one more is slated to appear in Season 2. Let’s hope Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and their collaborators have even more cool cameos in store for the next batch of episodes.
The Mandalorian Season 2 is slated to premiere on Disney+ sometime this fall.
