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‘The Mandalorian’: Simon Pegg makes his case to play bounty hunter Dengar

It wouldn’t be the first time the actor portrayed the character, either.

May 24, 2020

Last week, Collider’s Steve Weintraub conducted a wide ranging interview with Simon Pegg for Collider’s video interview series, Collider Connected. At one point, Weintraub asked what television series he’d most want to guest star on. Pegg responded that he would love a spot on Star Wars: The Mandalorian and even gave the specific role he’d want: The Correllian bounty hunter Dengar.

Most of you probably recognize Dengar as one of the bounty hunters Vader hired to track down Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. His very brief appearance in that film was followed by a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo during Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi inside Jabba’s palace. The character was portrayed both times by actor Morris Bush.

While Dengar didn’t get much screen time during the Original Trilogy, the bounty hunter developed a rich history within the Star Wars expanded universe. In addition numerous appearances in Star Wars comics and books, he appeared in two episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and was a playable character in the Star Wars: Battle Front video game.

In both of those appearances, Dengar was voiced by none other than Simon Pegg.

Dengar Battlefront Simon Pegg Mandalorian

(Star Wars Battlefront)

During his interview, Pegg slyly mentioned The Mandalorian casting Katee Sackhoff’s as Bo-Katan Kryze, a character she voiced in animated form for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The full transcript of his remarks regarding the possibility/desire to play Dengar are as follows:

“I’ve mentioned it a few times, but surely, if Taika (Waititi) and Favreau decide to bring Dengar into The Mandalorian, then I have some form in the past having played him in Star Wars: Battlefront and The Clone Wars…so just saying! And I heard they just employed Katee Sackhoff to play a character that wasn’t in the movies, but she played it before in a different Star Wars thing…so just saying!”

Despite enjoying a bit of speculation, Pegg and Weintraub also lamented how the flood of casting leaks for The Mandalorian‘s second season had nullified the show’s potential to surprise fans the way it did the first time around (like with the Baby Yoda reveal).

You can watch Pegg’s entire interview below (or skip to 8:23 for his comments about The Mandalorian).

If Simon Pegg were to be cast in The Mandalorian, it wouldn’t be his first time playing a live action character in the Star Wars universe. He also portrayed junk trader Unkar Plutt in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (under a mountain of prosthetics).

As far as Dengar is concerned, I wasn’t a huge fan of the character when I first saw him. He looked like a key grip on the film crew who was told to put on some spare costume parts, wrap a bunch of ace bandages around his head, and look as uncool as possible. To be fair, though, looking cool would be a tall order for anyone next to IG-88, Bob Fett, Bossk, 4-LOM, and Zuckuss while Darth Vader paces around you.

(Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back)

Since that time, however, expanded universe materials have made Dengar a much more interesting character. Also, the idea of a surly and borderline reckless bounty hunter like him showing up on The Mandalorian (and butting heads with Din Djarin or Cara Dune) would be all types of fun to watch. Add in getting to see him portrayed by a great actor like Simon Pegg, and I find myself in the odd position of fan casting for a character I previously had no attachment to whatsoever.

Let’s hope Jon Favreau and the rest of the team behind The Mandalorian see Pegg’s suggestion and feel the same way.