‘The Mandalorian’: John Wayne’s Grandson Brendan Wayne Plays ‘the Gunslinger Aspect’ of Din Djarin
On The Mandalorian on Disney+, Pedro Pascal plays the show’s main character Din Djarin. However, Pascal is only in the character’s iconic suit part of the time. Body doubles Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder also spend time onscreen in the role. In season 1 episode 3 of Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian, Pascal, Brendan Wayne, and Crowder discuss how they balance the role of Din Djarin. Brendan Wayne, who is the grandson of legendary actor John Wayne, handles “the gunslinger aspect” of Din in The Mandalorian.
Multiple people play Din Djarin on ‘The Mandalorian’
Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian first premiered on Disney+ in 2020, and it gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Mandalorian.
Season 1 episode 3 of Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian went into detail about the cast of The Mandalorian. While Pascal always provides the voice of Din, he is not always physically playing the character onscreen.
“I am third fiddle to two incredible guys, Brendan Wayne and Lateef. I’m modeling my performance around their physicality in a lot of ways. And I wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” Pascal said in Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian.
John Wayne’s grandson portrays ‘the gunslinger aspect’ of Din Djarin on ‘The Mandalorian’
Before his death in 1979, John Wayne was known for his roles in classic Western films. Brendan Wayne has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps as an actor, and he has a knack for the physicality needed to play Din on The Mandalorian.
“Brendan knows how to handle a gun, so the gunslinger aspect of the Mandalorian is taken care of on that side,” Pascal said in Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian.
Brendan Wayne added, “I got to pull guns. I got to shoot guns. I got to shoot grappling hooks. It’s fun. It’s fun.”
When it comes to other physical aspects of the character like fight scenes and major stunts, Crowder is the go-to body double for Din. In Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian, Pascal and Crowder explained Crowder’s role on the show.
“And then we have Lateef Crowder, who is our capoeira, jujitsu warrior who can basically do anything,” Pascal said.
“You know, the secret is to always be ready,” said Crowder. “I’m always training. Whether it’s martial arts, whether it’s stunt training, whether it’s weight training, just physical fitness.”
The physicality of Din Djarin is modeled after Brendan Wayne
In a 2019 interview with Vulture, Brendan Wayne went into detail about what it is like playing a body double on The Mandalorian. According to the actor, a lot of the character’s physicality onscreen is modeled after his portrayal.
“The funny thing is, I think it was harder for him, because they really wanted a certain walk that came natural to me,” Brendan Wayne told Vulture. “And so Pedro had to ask me certain questions, because I guess they would say, ‘Talk to Brendan and see what he says.’ Almost all of [the doubles], they had to come watch me walk — I think there were four at the end of it.”
Both seasons of The Mandalorian are available to watch on Disney+.
