Brendan Wayne, star of 'The Mandalorian and Grogu', is following in the footsteps of his legendary grandfather, John Wayne, by bringing a sense of quiet authority to his 'Star Wars' character. In a recent interview, the actor discussed how he drew inspiration from his grandfather's work to shape his portrayal of the Mandalorian.
Brendan Wayne on Working in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'
Wayne embodies the Mandalorian in scenes where the character's helmet is on, while Pedro Pascal takes over when the helmet is off. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Wayne emphasized the importance of staying fully present in the moment while in costume. He noted that 'stillness' is one of the greatest lessons he has learned as an actor.
'For me, that journey, I always fought that because my grandfather was exceptional at being present and radiating whatever was happening around him,' Wayne explained. He recalled how director John Ford would tell his grandfather, 'The less I give you, Duke, the better the movie is going to be.' Wayne interpreted this as a reminder that simply being present can be as powerful as any action.
Wayne also revealed that he incorporated his grandfather's composed demeanor into the character, helping him control his movements and stay in sync with the role. 'When they were directing me, the more still I became, the more I became like my grandfather, the more I became like the samurai that he studied,' he said. 'Every movement had a meaning; you don't waste them. And with samurai, every movement is a kill movement.'
The actor further shared that he aimed to keep the Mandalorian calm and present even when cameras were off. He would arrive on set early, work out, get into costume, and walk around the set to immerse himself. 'I wanted him to be as smooth as my grandfather, Clint Eastwood, or Yul Brynner in Westworld. I wanted him as smooth as could be so that every movement did matter,' he added.
According to Box Office Mojo, 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' has earned approximately USD 33 million domestically in the United States.
