When stepping onto the set of a Star Wars movie is the second coolest thing you do in a day, that’s a pretty great day. But that’s exactly what happened earlier this month when io9 was among a group of journalists invited to see the first 18 minutes of The Mandalorian & Grogu in IMAX and then visit the film’s set at a top secret location in Los Angeles, CA.
Considering the movie is out in a month and that it was filmed at least a year ago, the invitation to visit the set seemed odd. Most movies take down sets when they’re done being used. But director Jon Favreau previously shot a lot of The Mandalorian TV show in Los Angeles, and at least one set made the jump from season three of the show to the movie, so it’s still there: the New Republic bar on Adelphi.
It’s a popular watering hole visited by the likes of Carson Teva, Trapper Wolf, and Zeb Orrelios; you also see the bar in the trailers for The Mandalorian and Grogu. It’s where the pair talk to Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) about taking their next job, so the set still stands in Favreau’s Star Wars wonderland. It’s incredible, of course. Bursting with details everywhere the eye can see. And even lots of places where it can’t.
The bar itself is outlined with the heads of many, many Imperial Stormtroopers, Scout Troopers, TIE pilots, and more. The head of a Probe Droid joins them, along with a Mouse Droid. To blow off steam while drinking, there’s a video game at one console and a shuffleboard game at another. Rebel flags are hanging about, along with the wing of an X-wing. Oh and, of course, the table where Mando talks to Ward is available for seating.
But, again, as I said, stepping on this Star Wars set was only the second coolest thing I did that day. Cooler yet was a few buildings over, where we walked through a door and entered a room that can only be described as Star Wars heaven. Everywhere you looked was filled with screen-used props, creatures, vehicles, and more, from most of the shows in the Disney+ era.
Creature heads line the walls like some sort of crazy hunter’s trophy room, such as a tauntaun, a reek, and a nexu. There’s also the dragon head from The Mandalorian and Grogu, which was used on set for reactions. Mandalorian helmets are on one shelf, a bunch of blasters on another, and about a dozen droids of all shapes, sizes, and makes stand across from them. In one corner, there’s (most of) the full-size N1 Starfighter. In another, the cockpit of the new Razor Crest, which was used during filming. Tucked behind that are a ton of animatronic creatures and masks, such as Kyh’mm from Skeleton Crew, multiple wookies, Gamorreans, and of course the GOAT himself, Neel from Skeleton Crew.
But wait, there’s more. There’s a 1:1 scale ship the Anzellians fly in The Mandalorian and Grogu (seen in the latest trailer), as well as the interior set. Tucked in another corner are a bunch of creatures frozen in carbonite, Grogu’s new pram, a full-size STAP, a full-size AT-RT, and even a tease of Favreau’s next project, Oswald: The Lucky Rabbit.
I walked around the room looking at every nook and cranny maybe four or five times, and still felt like I was missing so much. It was a transcendent experience and one that I’ll not soon forget.
Oh, of course, we also saw the opening of The Mandalorian and Grogu and talked to Jon Favreau along the way, too. You can read about those things at those links. But really, visiting the set and this incredible warehouse reminded me why I love Star Wars so much. Hopefully, when the movie comes out, it does the same.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
