Din Djarin actor Brendan Wayne has explained the true, unspoken reason as to why the iconic helmet at the center of The Mandalorian is so important. Wayne has been collaborating with lead Din Djarin actor Pedro Pascal and stunt actor Lateef Crowder to bring the character to life ever since the show’s inception, and due to both the difficult physicality and scheduling for Pascal, it’s often been Wayne underneath Din Djarin’s armor. This has allowed Wayne plenty of time to understand Din on an intimate level – including the real reason behind the importance of his Mandalorian helmet.
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While speaking with the SithCast Podcast, Wayne reveals what his thought process is every time he puts on Din’s beskar, and how that contributes to his portrayal as the iconic and beloved Star Wars character. He says that “Mando is a mirror,” in the sense that it makes the audience see themselves in Din rather than seeing who’s underneath the armor. This is all made possible by the helmet, which Wayne describes as being “one of the greatest equalizers I’ve ever seen.”
So my job as Mando, when I put on the suit and I put on the helmet, isn’t to take the helmet off. My job is to own every moment, to make you see yourself, not me.
To me, Mando is a mirror, and that’s the greatest gift of that helmet
; whereas others might see it as an albatross, I look at it as the greatest invention for fan interaction ever. […] It’s one of the greatest equalizers I’ve ever seen.
The Mandalorian’s Helmet Has Always Been More Than Its “Rule”
Wayne’s perspective on Din Djarin’s helmet proves an importance that has long since skirted beneath the surface of The Mandalorian as a whole. Much of the appeal of Din’s helmet in the beginning of The Mandalorian‘s run was how unique his rule was; no other Mandalorians in Star Wars canon had ever echoed the sentiment of keeping their helmets on at all times. What Wayne has shared, however, proves that the helmet is so much more than its rule and even the religion that set this rule in place, as it has a responsibility that goes beyond its own story.
The Mandalorian helmet Din wears is, like Wayne said, a “mirror.” Much like the intentions of Spider-Man’s mask, Din’s helmet allows whoever’s watching the story to picture themselves beneath the helmet. Anyone can be Mando, because the silver beskar of his Mandalorian helmet allows them that opportunity to see themselves in this Star Wars hero. An example Wayne uses on the podcast is meeting a young girl who had put on a helmet and said she was Mando, and because of the mask, she was able to suspend that belief.
This is the unspoken reason why Din Djarin’s helmet is so important. It has little to do with the Creed he’s vowed himself to and more with the way the audience can see themselves in him. At his highest highs and his lowest lows, Din has become a relatable character, experiencing some of Star Wars’ most heroic victories while also suffering from difficulties and trauma that many viewers can understand. The helmet has never been a ploy in keeping its lead actors and character hidden; the helmet of The Mandalorian has always intended to let its audience to feel like the hero.
The Mandalorian is available to stream on Disney+
The Mandalorian
- Cast
- Werner Herzog , Emily Swallow , Pedro Pascal , Nick Nolte , Omid Abtahi , Gina Carano , Carl Weathers , Giancarlo Esposito
- Release Date
- November 12, 2019
- Seasons
- 3
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Writers
- Jon Favreau
- Directors
- Jon Favreau , Taika Waititi , Bryce Dallas Howard
- Showrunner
- Jon Favreau
