Sigourney Weaver reveals the one main reason why she joined Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu

Sigourney Weaver has a very special reason for joining the cast of Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, and no it's not the star studded cast, or the legacy of the franchise, it was the script written by Jon Favreau, that really caught her interest in the film.

The actress is known for her work in the Alien franchise, and her addition to the Star Wars franchise is just another shiny feather in her cap. Speaking to Empire magazine about what drew her to Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, Weaver said,

"Iit’s always the script. So [with] The Mandalorian And Grogu, it was not my intention to find a fourth franchise, I didn’t ever imagine that I would enter the Star Wars world. But what’s interesting about Star Wars now is they’re no longer trying to do the Star Wars to end all Star Wars. They’re letting the universe exist, and tell[ing] really interesting stories within that. I think Jon Favreau thought, “Okay, we want this very strong character. Let’s make it a woman.” I just fell in love with the script and said, “I don’t know anything about this world.” Jon said, “Well, you can watch the series,” and I said, “Oh, there’s a series?!”

In Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, Weaver plays the role of Ward, a colonel leader of the New Republic's Adelphi Rangers. Her character previously served as the pilot for the Rebel Alliance.

More details about Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu

The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to take the Star Wars saga back to the big screen under the direction of Jon Favreau, who also co-wrote the film with Dave Filoni. Produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, the movie continues the story from the acclaimed Disney+ series The Mandalorian. Pedro Pascal returns as the stoic Din Djarin, joined by Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, and Jonny Coyne in new key roles.

Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu follows Din Djarin and his tiny, powerful apprentice Grogu as they are recruited by the New Republic to confront lingering Imperial warlords threatening to plunge the galaxy back into chaos. Weaver plays Colonel Ward, a veteran pilot turned leader of the Adelphi Rangers. White voices Rotta the Hutt, son of the infamous Jabba, while Coyne takes on the mantle of an Imperial Warlord commanding remnants of the old regime. Dave Filoni also reprises his role as Trapper Wolf, and fan favorites like Zeb Orrelios from Star Wars Rebels and the Anzellans from The Rise of Skywalker make appearances.

Filming began in California that August under the working title Thunder Alley and wrapped by December. The project employed around 500 crew members, 3,500 extras, and over 50 cast members, marking the first Star Wars feature produced entirely in California. The state awarded the production $21.7 million in tax credits, one of its largest allocations ever.