Sigourney Weaver was an enormous a part of The Mandalorian & Grogu panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 and IGN had the possibility to talk along with her about her new character, how she hadn’t watched an episode of The Mandalorian earlier than being forged, how Grogu stole her coronary heart, and even when she thinks Grogu is extra highly effective than a Xenomorph.
The Mandalorian & Grogu is about to be launched in theaters on May 22, 2026, and we hope this interview will assist with the wait and provide you with some perception into one of many latest characters to hitch that beloved galaxy far, far-off.
IGN: Sigourney, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us! We have been thrilled to see your character in The Mandalorian & Grogu panel, and it appears to be like like she was possibly sporting a Rebel pilot uniform? What are you able to inform us about your character at this level?
Sigourney Weaver: Well, she was sporting a insurgent pilot uniform, and that is how she got here up. And now, in fact, she’s nonetheless a pilot and is without doubt one of the folks working to guard the New Republic. She’s really out within the Outer Rim the place there are vestiges of the Empire, so she wants somebody just like the Mandalorian and his trustworthy companion.
IGN: We heard that your love of Grogu was one of many causes you determined to tackle this function, so what was it like to truly work with him?
Weaver: Grogu may be very mischievous. I’m positive that will not shock you. It’s humorous as a result of, in each scene with Grogu, there have been a number of puppeteers who every helped him do a special factor. However, regardless of what number of puppeteers have been round him, all I noticed was Grogu. I nonetheless suppose he is actual.
IGN: You’ve labored with a number of completely different sorts of aliens in your profession, from Xenomorphs to Na’vi. What was it like working with these compared to Grogu?
Weaver: He’s undoubtedly the cutest. I imply, if Xenomorphs are someplace right here and Slimer is over right here, Grogu is manner over the road. I believe the Japanese name it Kawaii!
IGN: So, you mentioned within the panel that you just hadn’t seen The Mandalorian earlier than you began engaged on this. That means I’ve to ask, what was it like lastly watching all these episodes?
Weaver: I really feel so fortunate as a result of Jon Favreau wasn’t like, ‘You’ve bought to begin watching this!’ I used to be simply thrilled to do it and work with Jon on a Star Wars challenge. And even from the primary episode, I felt that it was an important idea. It was a very good previous Western with a number of surprises, and I simply discovered it charming and a good way for me to form of re-enter the Star Wars world as a result of there’ve been completely different initiatives and I get confused about what goes the place.
So, this was an important kind of standalone story that stored constructing and constructing, and I discovered Din Djarin and the little fellow to be fantastic characters alongside nice dangerous guys like Werner Herzog. The entire time, I used to be like, ‘What was he going to do to the little creature?!’ We do not even need to give it some thought.
IGN: Love it. Now, trying ahead, you are actually within the footage that we noticed this morning. We noticed you sharing a scene with Grogu and him utilizing his Force powers to attempt to steal… was it like a dish of meals or one thing?
Weaver: Yes. It’s just a little bowl of snacks that have been mine, and he is doing his little Force gestures, and I’m simply fortunate I bought them again. I needed to be fairly forceful.
IGN: Speaking of which, do you get to see Grogu use his Force powers in all their glory on this film?
Weaver: Well, he is all the time attempting to do one thing. So, to the extent that I get to be with him, I get to kind of see what he does when he is extra relaxed on the dwelling base. However, I really feel like Grogu was kind of transitioning from just a little studying creature to somebody who has actual abilities. And certainly, he’s the apprentice now, and I felt that I may see an enormous distinction between that within the sequence.
IGN: I’m nonetheless very thinking about the way you got here to this challenge and your expertise with Star Wars typically, courting again to the very first film. Going by way of all of what we have seen thus far. Do you have got a favourite film from the sequence?
Weaver: Yeah. I believe Rogue One. I actually preferred Felicity Jones’s character, and I’m glad that was the one I noticed as a result of I consider my era as a member of The Rebellion. I noticed the opposite ones fairly some time in the past and, I imply, it was fantastic to observe them once more since you’re form of going again to your childhood. It exhibits there is a manner in for everyone again into Star Wars, and you’ll maintain it going. It goes in all instructions. It’s fairly a tremendous factor.
IGN: Last query. Who is probably the most highly effective being within the universe? Grogu or a Xenomorph?
Weaver: Well, it’s not that I don’t consider in him, however I’m afraid it’s a Xenomorph.
IGN: Why do you suppose that’s?
Weaver: Because he can’t assist himself. He simply has to take over and destroy and promote his group. And, what I do know and bear in mind of Yoda is that he’s too sensible to do all of that. He’s not a harmful being. He’s on the aspect of fine and I believe Grogu is simply too, clearly.
IGN: And he’s simply too cute to be all that threatening, proper?
Weaver: Well, pay attention, if he stayed with Werner Herzog, who is aware of what he would have turn into?
For extra, take a look at our recap of all the most important moments from The Mandalorian & Grogu panel, together with that Ryan Gosling has formally been forged in 2027’s Star Wars: Starfighter movie.
Adam Bankhurst is a author for IGN. You can observe him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
