Martin Scorsese’s THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Character Has a Surprising Link to SOLO’s Rio Durant

There’s a fun little Star Wars connection brewing behind the scenes of The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it involves none other than legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese.

DirectorJon Favreaurecently shared some details that add an unexpected layer of continuity to the galaxy far, far away, tying Scorsese’s role directly to a fan-favorite character from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

It was previously revealed that Scorsese appears in The Mandalorian and Grogu as a fry cook, but this isn’t just a random cameo. There’s actually a clever connection to the Ardennian species, the same alien race as Rio Durant, the wisecracking multi-armed pilot from Solo. That character, voiced and performed by Favreau himself, now has a family link in the Star Wars universe.

Favreau explained how he made that connection happen, saying: “So I was a cook in the Solo movie. He has a food truck in this one. I gave our characters the same last name. So, our characters are related in theory.”

It’s a small detail, but it’s exactly the kind of world-building that longtime fans appreciate. It also adds a playful layer to Scorsese’s involvement, especially considering his long-standing relationship with cinema that sits far outside the typical blockbuster space.

Favreau also opened up about what it meant to work with Scorsese, who he admired growing up. The two have crossed paths before, including Favreau’s role in The Wolf of Wall Street and appearances together at festival Q&As.

Getting Scorsese into Star Wars didn’t happen by accident. Favreau credited Kathleen Kennedy, saying she helped make it happen thanks to her connection with the iconic director.

He previously said: “She knows him well, she socialises with him, and she’s like a gold-star producer, so this was an easy one for her.”

Once Scorsese was on set, he didn’t just stick to a script. Favreau said the director brought his own energy to the role through improvisation, which was then captured and translated into the character through CG animation. “Boy, it’s quite impressive what they were able to do,” he added.

It sounds like audiences are in for something memorable. Favreau praised Scorsese’s contribution as some of the film’s standout comedic moments, saying, “It works well for the story, as a fan of Marty and as a fan of Star Wars.”

The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026, with Favreau directing and co-writing alongside Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor.