Despite only being shown on screen for the time it would take to drink a glass of blue milk, Giancarlo Esposito's Moff Gideon made a huge impact on The Mandalorian and the show's rabid fanbase. (Not to mention on Emmy voters, who granted the actor a nomination for Outstanding Guest Star in a Drama Series.) Seemingly as soon as the season finale ended, fans started amassing theories about the character's origins and his ownership of the Darksaber. As many have assumed, it appears Moff Gideon has some Force-related ties to classic Star Wars tales.
Obviously, anyone rocking a Moff title is going to be connected to other avenues in the Star Wars universe, but specifically, Giancarlo Esposito was asked about the possibility of Gideon being a Force-sensitive entity like Leia or Finn. Here's what the star told Syfy.com:
I say that’s a possibility. I can’t say for sure that that is completely the truth, but look, we’ve seen him come out of his TIE fighter, and we’ve seen him also with the Darksaber. I would have to say that there’s some surprises coming down the pike in regards to the connection he has to the Force. You don’t quite know where he fits in there, but he certainly has some information that we don’t that connects him to the old school.
With a career that also includes Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and The Boys, Giancarlo Esposito has become a pro at giving thoughtful answers without really giving any key details away. You have to appreciate the skill, since a lot of other people would just clam up and say "Wait for Season 2!" Still, though, I want to know what it all means!
Unlike a lot of people who watch The Mandalorian, Giancarlo Esposito does not claim to be an encyclopedia of Star Wars knowledge. But he keeps himself informed just enough to know how everything fits together, while holding some curiosities at bay. Here's what he had to say on that front:
I’m not fully versed. I don’t know everything. I’m not that Star Wars geek, which allows me to be even more excited to be running around in a cape and wielding a Darksaber. That to me is just so cool. I loved the earlier Star Wars movies. I loved Clone Wars, and that’s so specific in its connection to our show. People ask if I went back and looked up all the Moffs, and I have not. I did go back to see if Peter Cushing was a Moff. Sometimes, if you know everything, then that can be a blessing or a curse. I like to know enough to allow me to have my imagination soar.
It's not like the Darksaber-wielding villain is the only Mandalorian character that fans can't stop theorizing about. The impending live-action introduction of Ahsoka Tano is another big speculation rabbit hole, since her arrival could mean all kinds of things for Baby Yoda's story. But she might very well be a bit part of Moff Gideon's story, too, considering how he name-checked The Clone Wars. (He could have just been speaking generally, but it's more fun to pretend he wasn't.)
Just how Force-sensitive will Moff Gideon turn out to be, assuming he's proven to be part of that privileged group? How powerful are his own powers compared to The Child's? Does it all play into why he's hunting down The Child in the first place? Answers would be more than appreciated.
The Mandalorian Season 2 is set to debut in October, though Disney+ has yet to offer up any concrete information on that front, as well as any trailers or imagery. Something is coming, though, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more when it becomes available. In the meantime, head to our 2020 Fall TV premiere schedule to see what other shows are on the way soon.
