MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� could not contain his excitement and was moved to tears when visiting the CCXP pop culture convention for the second time to present his upcoming film 鈥淪tar Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.鈥�
The Chilean-American actor arrived accompanied by the cute Grogu and director, cowriter and producer Jon Favreau, who received a huge ovation from the 2,500 attendees on the Thunder Stage when they exclusively presented a preview of the film Sunday night.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been working in secret for years, but we wanted to show it to you and for us it鈥檚 a big treat too, it鈥檚 the first time we get to share this with the fans,鈥� said Favreau.
A year ago, Pascal visited the convention to present 鈥淭he Fantastic Four: First Steps鈥� and now he said he was excited to be part of the Star Wars legacy and make the leap to the big screen after the television series 鈥淭he Mandalorian,” released in 2019.
鈥淚 always had a dream in my heart that would be on a big screen. Because that鈥檚 how I developed as a child. I went to the movie theater so much with my family. And I saw the Star Wars movies on the big screen,鈥� said Pascal, who attributed the urge to cry to the fact that 鈥淚鈥檓 old, it happens very easily.鈥�
鈥淭hey are films … that really fostered all my dreams,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o now to be a part of that and share it with you who see it on a big screen. … It鈥檚 a dream I never imagined.鈥�
Filmed in IMAX, the movie starring Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White, opens on May 21 and is of 2026. It鈥檚 the first Star Wars film in seven years since 鈥淭he Rise of Skywalker,鈥� and Favreau highlighted the opportunity to attract new fans.
鈥淲e wanted to introduce these characters to a new audience,鈥� the director said. 鈥淏ut for the fans who鈥檝e been there forever, like these people, we wanted to evolve the relationship. So it鈥檚 no longer about the Mandalorian rescuing Grogu. Now Grogu has leveled up. He鈥檚 a Mandalorian apprentice.鈥�
Favreau also shared his own experience as a Star Wars fan to an audience full of Grogu鈥檚 green ears and lightsabers.
鈥淲hen I was in high school, I was a usher in the movie theater when 鈥楨mpire Strikes Back鈥� went out. Then 鈥楻eturn of the Jedi鈥� came out, so I鈥檝e been a fan since I was young, but never did I think I鈥檇 get to make Star Wars.鈥�
The director took the opportunity to highlight that the film had a more in-depth treatment than the series, since they had a lot of pre-production time.
鈥淲e had three years to do this. The choreography, the creatures, the stop motion, the CGI, all of it,鈥� said the director. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just been a tremendous ride. I鈥檓 so super grateful that the fans are trusting me with Star Wars.鈥�
Pascal, who was wearing a green Mexican national soccer team jersey in preparation for the World Cup to be held in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, noted that in the film the relationship between legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and Grogu has evolved.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e always been like a very powerful team, but everyone sees that the Mandalorian is protecting a baby. And now, in this movie, they鈥檙e more like a couple, on the same level,鈥� he said.
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