TL;DR
Werner Herzog urged ‘The Mandalorian’ creators to retain Grogu as a puppet rather than switch to CGI, highlighting the value of practical effects. This decision influenced the show’s production approach and character authenticity.
Werner Herzog, who played The Client in season 1 of ‘The Mandalorian,’ convinced series creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni to keep Grogu as a puppet rather than switch to CGI, emphasizing the importance of practical effects for character authenticity.
During the production of ‘The Mandalorian,’ Favreau and Filoni considered filming scenes with Grogu both as a puppet and as a CGI character. Herzog, who filmed a scene with the puppet, strongly advocated for retaining the puppet, reportedly calling the removal of the puppet in test shots ‘cowardly.’ Favreau and Filoni confirmed that Herzog’s insistence influenced their decision to keep Grogu as a practical puppet, which has been praised for its realism and emotional impact. This choice aligns with Herzog’s known appreciation for tangible, real-world effects over digital replacements in filmmaking.
Why It Matters
This decision underscores the value of practical effects in creating authentic character interactions, which can enhance viewer engagement and emotional connection. Herzog’s influence highlights how individual opinions can impact production choices in major franchises, potentially setting a precedent for future use of puppetry in visual effects-heavy productions. For fans, it affirms the importance of traditional techniques in an era dominated by CGI, impacting how characters like Grogu are portrayed and perceived.
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Background
In season 1 of ‘The Mandalorian,’ the production team debated whether to use puppetry or CGI for Grogu. Favreau and Filoni initially shot scenes both ways, considering CGI as a fallback. Werner Herzog, who appeared in the series, filmed a scene with Grogu as a puppet and strongly advocated for its use, criticizing the idea of removing the puppet in post-production. Herzog’s comments reportedly called the decision to replace the puppet ‘cowardly,’ influencing the creators’ final choice to keep Grogu as a practical puppet, a decision that has been widely praised for its authenticity.
“We wanted to try using the old techniques, then you could always fall back on the CG one if it didn’t work.”
— Jon Favreau
“Herzog said, ‘What are you doing?’ about the puppet removal for the clean plate shot. He was so committed.”
— Dave Filoni
“It was so awesome,”
— Jon Favreau
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What Remains Unclear
It remains unclear whether Herzog’s influence was the sole factor in the decision to retain Grogu as a puppet or if other production considerations played a role. Details about the internal decision-making process have not been fully disclosed, and subsequent seasons’ effects on puppet use are not confirmed.
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What’s Next
Future ‘Mandalorian’ seasons are expected to continue using practical effects where feasible, possibly influenced by Herzog’s advocacy. Additional behind-the-scenes insights may emerge as the series progresses or through interviews with the creators.
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Key Questions
Did Werner Herzog directly influence the decision to keep Grogu as a puppet?
While Herzog’s strong opinions and involvement in filming a scene with Grogu as a puppet reportedly influenced the creators’ decision, it is not officially confirmed that he was the sole or primary reason for retaining the puppet.
Why did the creators consider CGI for Grogu initially?
Favreau and Filoni considered CGI as a fallback option because it offers flexibility and has become standard in modern effects-heavy productions. They shot scenes both ways to compare results.
Has Herzog’s influence affected other aspects of ‘The Mandalorian’ or other series?
There is no public evidence that Herzog’s opinions have influenced other production decisions beyond the specific case of Grogu’s puppet use in season 1.
Will future seasons continue to use puppets for characters like Grogu?
While not officially confirmed, the positive reception of puppetry and Herzog’s influence suggest that practical effects may continue to be prioritized when possible in future seasons.
Source: reddit
