This is the way forPaul Sun-Hyung Lee. TheStar Warsactor has made numerous appearances as Captain Carson Teva in the Disney+ seriesThe Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorianand most recently inAhsoka. However, Lee doesn’t know if he’ll star inThe Mandalorian & Grogumovie… but he wants to reprise the role. Lee said in an interview withScreen Rant:
“Fingers crossed. I didn’t even know they were doing a movie until just recently, but I would be insane to say no to that. Of course, I would love to be there. But you never know, so I’ve learned never to expect anything and to be grateful for what you have. At the end of the day, if I’m not in that? I still have a body of work and a universe that I love and no one can take away from me.”
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Lee’s journey to working in that galaxy far, far away began back in 2018. While in Los Angeles, Lee bumped into Deborah Chow quite by chance. It had been some 25 years since they’d last worked together for the “fiercely Canadian” Factory Theatre in Toronto. As they spent some time catching up, Lee asked what she was doing after all these years. And Chow told her old friend she was directing…The Mandalorian.
A Star Wars Stalwart
Dave Filoni is “excited” forThe Mandalorian & Grogufilm, but there is very little information being shared at this time about the project. Even actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee isn’t strong enough with the Force to see his future involvement. But once he bumped intoThe Mandalorian’sDeborah Chow in Los Angeles, the actor’s professional fate changed drastically. Lee said in an interview withStar Wars InsiderNo. 205 (perStarWars.com):
“She’d [Chow] been trying to get in touch with me. I had no idea. She asked me if I knew who Dave Filoni was, told me he was a big fan of Kim’s Convenience, and that he wanted to write something for me. That was the moment in which I almost died. All the lights went dark around me, and I grabbed Deborah’s elbows and asked her: ‘You DO realize what you’re asking me, right? I have over eight Star Wars cosplays at home!’ She asked to see them and, of course, they’re on my Instagram. She immediately sent them to Dave, and Dave instantly replied, ‘Wow! He can just show up in costume!’”
Three weeks passed after their chance encounter in LA, and then Chow invited Lee to come by the set ofThe Mandalorian. And it was there that Lee met the incomparableBaby Yoda, aka Grogu, for the very first time — before practically anyone else. Lee said in the same interview:
“You know when you get a chance to live out a dream? It was like an out-of-body experience. I couldn’t quite believe it was happening. I saw things like grips, electrics, all the stuff I’m used to seeing on a set, but this was bigger. I mean, I saw Grogu, and nobody had seen him!”
The Mandalorian & Grogumovie is scheduled to begin production later this year, and the film is expected to hit theaters in 2026.
