Disney Accused of Staging Viral Pedro Pascal Mandalorian Fan Surprise
The Hollywood Reporter • • general
Key Points:
- Pedro Pascal, in character as The Mandalorian, surprised a group at Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, creating a viral moment that appeared spontaneous but was actually planned with selected Star Wars bloggers, influencers, and fan creators.
- The revelation that the group was pre-selected led to some backlash, with critics saying it reflects a growing distrust of Disney's marketing tactics, which heavily rely on influencers to build hype.
- Disney and the influencers involved were transparent about the setup after the fact, with participants expressing genuine excitement and gratitude for the experience.
- A source confirmed the invited group were true Star Wars fans with modest followings, and their reactions to Pascal's surprise were authentic, despite the orchestrated nature of the event.
- The stunt coincides with positive early reviews for The Mandalorian and Grogu film, which is the first new Star Wars movie in seven years and is set to open this weekend.