The Mandalorian Director Rick Famuyiwa Wasn't A Fan Of Baby Yoda's Real Name
We all remember the day we found out that our beloved, precious Baby Yoda on "The Mandalorian" actually had a name. Sure, we all kind of assumed that, but Baby Yoda just rolled off the tongue, and come on, have you seen him? Totally looks like a shrunken-down Yoda. Regardless, when it was confirmed that Baby Yoda's real name was actually Grogu, the reactions were understandably a bit mixed. Some thought it was cute, others hated it, and other folks don't really follow "Star Wars" anymore because they're mad that their favorite space opera doesn't exclusively star white men.
Rick Famuyiwa, a regular director for episodes of "The Mandalorian," was originally one of those people that didn't like the name Grogu. In a new interview with Empire Magazine, the director and executive producer recalled the moment showrunner Jon Favreau told him the name he had thought of all the way back while making the show's first season. His reaction might be painfully relatable to anyone who's gotten a bad haircut or an off-base gift.
"At the time, I was like, 'It's different!'" Famuyiwa said. "That's the way you could say it without saying it. But after a while, it grew on me."
Seeing the vision
At first, Famuyiwa apparently couldn't see Grogu as, well, a Grogu. As previously mentioned, the moniker of Baby Yoda just made sense for the little guy and was instantly catchy. Grogu, on the other hand, just didn't sound right to the director. He remarked that it didn't roll off the tongue that well, about which he admittedly has a point. But seriously, after all these years of "Star Wars" and all the crazy names thrown around throughout the series, would Grogu really be anyone's final straw?
No matter your or Famuyiwa's personal thoughts on Grogu's name, the important thing is that he has a name at all. While he may not really speak, he's a critical character that deserves to be seen as multi-dimensional and able to grow. As Jon Favreau explained to Empire, revealing his name is one step that helps him become his own unique part of the "Star Wars" universe, not just a baby version of a beloved character. That's precisely why they had Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson) bring that pivotal moment to life.
"It was a fun opportunity to add more dimension and history to the character, having somebody Force-sensitive actually read [the name] from him," he explained.
"The Mandalorian" returns to Disney+ on March 1, 2023.