Pedro Pascal lauds Baby Yoda as a “cooperative” scene partner as he sweats it out on Hot Ones
As he battled hot sauces alongside host Sean Evans, The Mandalorian star gushed over his cooing co-star, who he described as a regular scene stealer
Aux News Pedro Pascal
Anyone who spent time practicing kissing on a pillow as a pre-teen knows: there’s a difference between sharing an emotionally charged moment with a real person and a stand-in. But The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal faces a different struggle in acting opposite the cooing, toddling Grogu, colloquially known as “Baby Yoda:” attempting to thwart the apparently tear-jerking puppet from stealing every intense scene right out from under him.
While sharing the hottest of hot wings alongside Hot Ones host Sean Evans on Thursday morning, Pascal offered some insight into working with the two different puppets (and puppeteers) who bring Baby Yoda to life on set.
“There’s two [Grogu’s],” Pascal says. “One is remote, and you can carry him around, and his head will move around, ears, turn toward you as you’re holding him and stuff like that, and kind of be alive. And then, for a good close-up, he’s connected to you know… The Pentagon. It’s like these wires. That’s where you get the really detailed eyebrow movements and eyeballs kind of moving around and he’s a very cooperative and fulfilling scene partner, acting partner. It’s pretty crazy.”
According to Pascal, the detail and skill that go into maneuvering Grogu means performing alongside him is all-but-akin to the real deal. That experience is only heightened when the duo film emotionally charged scenes together, like Mando and Grogu’s poignant goodbye at the end of season 2.
“[I was] getting praise for ‘Oh my gosh, you have such subtle emotion and you’re dealing with a puppet,” Pascal recalls of the response to the scene. “And I’m like….’ This puppet is making me cry.’”
Pascal then provides his own (admittedly impressive) imitation of Baby Yoda’s ingeniously charming mannerisms: the wide eyes, the adorably garbled speech, the clumsily gripping hands, and the heartstring-tugging innocence.
“I’m like chill, you’re stealing it!” Pascal jokes. “It’s like the one time I have my helmet off…let me have the scene, bro.”
The Mandalorian releases new episodes on Disney+ weekly, on Wednesday nights.
14 Comments
Pedro Pascal is a national treasure.And an undefeated excellent role-chooser. I can’t remember a miss from him.GoT, Narcos, Unbearable Weight, Mando, Last of Us. What a roll he’s on.(Pay no attention to that Wonder Woman 1984 behind the curtain.)
What a delightful man.
I really wish that Sean Evans was a better interviewer. The idea of Hot Ones is incredible, and has lead to some really great moments, but it always due to the guest and not the host. Props to him on finding a thing that works and not letting go of it though.
I like him as an interviewer! His questions are knowledgeable and researched, he structures them around the progression of wings in a keen way, all while keeping his cool with a hot tongue.
“His questions are knowledgeable and researched”
Has it changed in the last year? From what I recall, the most “researched” aspect of his shitty interviewing was never anything more than a “deep dive into your Insta”.
Agreed. I’m sure there are some things he can do better, but I really like how he tries to go beyond the usual “so what’s it like being famous” type questions. He definitely does his research
The questions are very good, but I doubt he’s writing them himself.
Agreed. This show would be exactly as good if it was a celebrity eating hot wings alone.
He always sounds really stilted at the beginning of the interview, like he’s reading from a prompt, but he always wins me over as the wings get hotter and he loosens up. You can hear him and the guest getting more and more relaxed as the wings take over .
Someone on a recent thread was asking what it was that made everyone fall in love with Pedro Pascal, and as Exhibits A-Z, I submit the header photo into evidence.
Yes, he is a Hot One.
I think he’s just delivered a lot of good performances in good things, and he seems like a nice humble guy in real life.
Anyone need a Community notification for this?
Beat for beat this scene is almost like the one in Fire & Ice. Someone working on the series grew up on this movie.