The Mandalorian set photos reveal stunning real-time environments. Arguably one of the biggest recent success stories from the growing Star Wars universe has been the arrival of The Mandalorian TV series on Disney+. Created by Iron Man and The Lion King director Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian experienced a decent degree of anticipation from Star Wars fans in the lead up to its release. Few could have predicted, however, exactly what a hit the series would end up being.

This success was due in no small part to the introduction of a character that is officially known as The Child, but more widely regarded as Baby Yoda. At the same time, however, The Mandalorian had much more to offer than what appears to be a baby version of the greatest Jedi Master of all time. The series looked and felt like a natural extension of the Star Wars mythology, expanding on familiar concepts and characters. Set a mere five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the attention to detail found in The Mandalorian ensured that fans weren’t asked to forget everything they already knew about the beloved franchise. Instead, elements of the past mixed with newly added aspects, creating an instantly appealing world.

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Another reason for what appears to be The Mandalorian’s deep connection to the Star Wars galaxy is its use of Industrial Light & Magic's new Stagecraft technology, which uses massive rear-projected LED screens to create immersive real-time environments. Unlike the green screens that stand in for the CGI enviroments added later in during post-production, Stagecraft's real time environment screens are present on set and react with what's being filmed. Star Wars seems to resonate that much deeper with fans when it’s real, and now ILM can create incredibly realistic environments on any soundstage. These behind-the-scenes shots from The Mandalorian are now available online thanks to ILM VFX Virtual Production Supervisor, Ian Milham. The photos can be seen below in a Tweet from Milham, along with an assurance that more photos are on the way:

It’s hard for any Star Wars fan to look at these photos and not have their minds wander. To be able to stroll in and around these environments would be a dream come true not just for those who love The Mandalorian, but for anyone who’s ever been mesmerized by the possibilities of the Star Wars universe. Whereas some productions lose their edge whenever behind the scenes photos are shown, The Mandalorian doesn’t seem to come off any less impressive in these images. The photos also offer the encouraging prospect to fans that Favreau’s efforts on the series go from script to set, with nothing forsaken along the way. There has been much talk over the years – and in particular since Disney’s purchase of LucasFilm – that the Star Wars franchise requires the best possible attention and care. Some felt that even its creator, George Lucas wasn’t up to the task in his later years. These photos should help confirm to many fans that Favreau’s always been heading in the right direction.

After such a successful first season, the bar has indeed been raised high for The Mandalorian’s return next autumn. If season 2 ends up being the season where all is revealed about Baby Yoda, then it could easily become the most popular of the entire series. That’s a lot of pressure for one production, but if there’s one thing that Favreau has dealt with over his career, it’s pressure. As the director on a host of major productions that have gone on to blockbuster status, a cool head and an eye for authenticity are some of his key traits. With ILM’s stunning real-time environments on his side, the arrival of The Mandalorian, season 2 is worth being excited for.

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Source: Ian Milham/Twitter