The Mandalorian star Giancarlo Esposito finally warms up to the young Jedi Grogu, affectionately known as Baby Yoda, in a new photo. The actor began his career in the 70s and made a name for himself in projects as Do The Right Thing, Homicide: Life on the Street, and The Boys. One of his most celebrated performances came in the form of Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. However, Esposito brought his trademark intensity into the Star Wars universe in The Mandalorian when he took the role of the tenacious Moff Gideon, the warlord of a splintered Imperial faction.
The Mandalorian season 1 introduced audiences to the new Star Wars villain, a determined Imperial officer who would stop at nothing to obtain the young Grogu. Gideon was to deliver the child to Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi) for experiments in blood transfusions and cloning to transfer Force sensitivity. However, the Mandalorian Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his rag-tag team were able to protect the child and pass him over to Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian season 2 finale, to complete his Jedi training.
In a recent photo shared to social media by Esposito, the actor meets with fans at this week's Star Wars Celebration. One such fan brought their own baby to the meet-and-greet, dressed up as the diminutive Grogu. Esposito lovingly cradles the young fan in his arms, a far cry from the lack of compassion Gideon has shown to the young Jedi on The Mandalorian. Esposito playfully captioned his post, "I finally caught up to my Baby Yoda!" Check out the images below.
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The Mandalorian actor joked that, to his own irritation, the cosplaying baby melted his heart. However, Esposito has seemingly always had a strong connection to his many fans throughout the years. The actor frequently makes appearances at various Star Wars conventions, and appears to thoroughly enjoy the devoted supporters of his work. Audiences have also embraced him right back, with some even fan-casting Esposito as Patrick Stewart's replacement for Professor X, if the ever the mutant leader joined the MCU in a regular capacity after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Although The Mandalorian season 2 left Gideon defeated, and Din Djarin later explained that the Imperial leader was taken by the New Republic to answer for his crimes, the relentless villain will assuredly make a comeback for season 3. With Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) confirmed for a return for the next Mandalorian season, her bone to pick with Gideon has set them on a path of direct confrontation, which may leave one of them dead by the hands of the other. What role Gideon will play in upcoming The Mandalorian season 3 remains to be seen, but it's clear that Esposito holds no grudges against his tiny Star Wars nemesis behind the scenes.
Source: Giancarlo Esposito
