Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito, born on April 26, 1958, is an actor who played Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, the live-action Disney+ television series. His most recognizable role is Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad and its spin-off, Better Call Saul. Additionally, he has appeared alongside Samuel L. Jackson in films such as Do the Right Thing and Fresh, as well as the TV show Once Upon A Time. He also lent his voice and likeness to Anton Castillo in the Far Cry 6 video game.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark on April 26, 1958, Giancarlo Esposito has always admired the original Star Wars films and the universe they created. Darth Vader captivated him, as he believed there was potential for good beneath the character's formidable exterior. Jon Favreau, the creator and executive producer of The Mandalorian, personally contacted Esposito to offer him a role in the show. Favreau told Esposito that he specifically created the character of Moff Gideon with him in mind. Favreau also explained the show's visual technology and the story. Esposito's main concern was collaborating with people he respected. He embraced the concept, only requesting that his character wear a cape, which Favreau approved. Donning the costume for the first time, Esposito felt a surge of power. The performance of Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope deeply influenced him. He dedicated himself to research, acknowledging that fans possessed greater Star Wars knowledge than he did. On his initial day of filming, Esposito arrived in a TIE fighter and found himself in a confrontation with approximately 300 stormtroopers. He considered how Gideon achieves his objectives with minimal effort, secure in his authority. This scene aided Esposito in defining Gideon's character. Esposito's portrayal in The Mandalorian earned him a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
During the production of "Chapter 16: The Rescue," Esposito observed his stunt double and felt that the body type was unsuitable for the fight sequence. Consequently, he informed Favreau of his intention to perform the scene himself. He then collaborated with stunt double Lateef Crowder to prepare for the duel between Gideon and the Mandalorian Din Djarin, which he deemed a resounding success. Esposito experimented with various lightsaber props of different sizes. He ended up breaking six lightsaber props during the filming of the fight. After the fifth breakage, the prop master cautioned him to exercise care, as only one remained.
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- Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 - DAY 1 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
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- Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 - DAY 3 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- #TheMandalorian's Giancarlo Esposito at #StarWarsCelebration on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Giancarlo Esposito | Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Giancarlo Esposito (@OfficialGiancarloEsposito) on Facebook (backup link (OfficialGiancarloEsposito) not verified!)
- Giancarlo Esposito (@thegiancarloesposito) on Instagram (backup link (thegiancarloesposito) not verified!)
- Giancarlo Esposito ( @quiethandfilms ) on Twitter (backup link (quiethandfilms) not verified!)
- Giancarlo Esposito on Wikipedia
- Giancarlo Esposito at the Internet Movie Database