The Mandalorian Star Weighs In on Din Djarin Credit Controversy (& It’s Important)

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In the role-play, Brendan Wayne, both actor and stuntman, has made his mark. Together with Lateef Crowder, he has stood in for Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin since the initial season of The Mandalorian in 2019. Frequently donning the beskar armor and helmet that usually hides Djarin’s face, he has become an integral part of the character. (As a member of the Children of the Watch, Djarin pledged: “I will follow the Way of the Mandalorian, and the creed’s words shall forever be etched in my heart. This is the way. From this moment forward, I will never take off my helmet.”)

However, when Djarin discarded the Mandalorian code by uncovering his helmet, it wasn’t Wayne’s visage beneath: it was Pascal who initially shaped the character’s physical features, yet during filming and post-production, Wayne and Crowder frequently stepped in to portray Djarin and lend their voices.

As Katee Sackhoff’s podcast guest, I, Wayne (John Wayne’s grandson), admitted that initially, it might have felt a tad more challenging for my family when people overlooked my contributions to the role.

In a later discussion, Wayne brought up James Earl Jones, the man behind the iconic voice of Darth Vader in the initial Star Wars series, and the physical actor David Prowse, who portrayed the role of Darth Vader on set, with Jones’ voice replacing Prowse’s performance.

He mentioned that not having recognition or credit for his role as the Mandalorian, shared with Pascal, was something he didn’t mind. However, it becomes an issue for him when potential employers label him as just a stunt performer during job interviews.

In the upcoming film titled “The Mandalorian and Grogu“, directed by Jon Favreau, Wayne takes on the role of Din Djarin. This movie also introduces Colonel Ward, a New Republic Adelphi Ranger, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, who is famously known for her roles in “Alien” and “Avatar“.

In another instance, you might find yourself encountering Sigourney Weaver, who approaches you and says, “Your work is impeccable, truly stunning.” To which you respond, “I’m Brendan. Who are you inquiring about?” With a chuckle. She replies, “James Cameron and I were discussing it.” Those instances, I can’t help but feel a touch of pride.

Gaining respect from his coworkers like Pascal, Sackhoff, and Weaver makes it all worthwhile for Wayne, he stated. He admitted that he wishes the financial aspects of his job were more advantageous, but he acknowledged, “[If I hadn’t survived my hospital stay during the second season], I wouldn’t have approached this role as I have. It would have mattered more to me to receive recognition, but now I don’t feel that way.

Pascal has often admitted to his Mandalorian counterparts, including Wayne and Crowder. He introduced them to the Star Wars Celebration audience in 2022, stating, “Before Celebration, they told me they would walk me out there. And that was a significant moment.” Wayne later shared, “I didn’t realize it at the time, but it turned out to be a big deal. That was cool.

Pascal explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2022 that working on The Mandalorian was a team effort since the beginning. He initially had a chance to define some physical aspects of his character, but he admitted to learning from Wayne and Crowder and passing many tasks onto them too. They were the ones doing most of the hard work.

Disney and Lucasfilm plan to release Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu in movie theaters on May 22, 2026.

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2025-05-27 20:10