Turns Out Martin Scorsese’s Star Wars Character Is Related to a Han Solo Spinoff Favorite

Here’s one for the 'wait, what?' files: Martin Scorsese is turning up in a Star Wars movie. That’s not a joke, and no, he’s not donning Jedi robes or Force-choking anyone (at least, not that we know of). Instead, he’ll be voicing a fry cook in Jon Favreau’s upcoming movie The Mandalorian and Grogu, and there’s a weirdly specific connection to Han Solo’s backstory. Buckle in, because this one gets delightfully nerdy.

Yep, Scorsese as a Space Fry Cook

So how exactly did Martin Scorsese end up in a galaxy far, far away serving up space fries? According to Jon Favreau, who’s directing and co-writing this new Star Wars installment, Scorsese voices a character who’s an Ardennian—a four-armed alien species you might remember from Solo: A Star Wars Story. If you recall, Favreau himself voiced Rio Durant, that wisecracking pilot who didn’t last terribly long.

Here’s where it gets fun: Favreau decided his old Solo character and Scorsese’s new fry cook are from the same (very awkwardly-animated) alien family.

'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.'

In other words: Scorsese and Favreau are playing distant alien relatives in canon. If you ever needed proof that Star Wars continuity has officially looped into self-aware fan service, this is it.

How Did Scorsese Get Here?

You might be asking, 'Why is Martin Scorsese doing this?' Turns out, it’s all about who you know. Former Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy—who’s basically Hollywood royalty at this point—arranged Scorsese’s cameo. She and Scorsese are friends, and according to Favreau, pulling in a legendary filmmaker for a bit part was apparently 'an easy one for her.' Anyone else getting the sense that Star Wars has become a hangout joint for directors?

Favreau says Scorsese brought his improv skills to the recording (yes, it’s a CG character—no life-size puppet version, sadly). Scorsese riffed in character and the animators took that footage and built the role around it. According to Favreau: 'Boy, it’s quite impressive what they were able to do.'

Scorsese in Star Wars: Is It Actually Good?

If you’re picturing something weird and hilarious, that’s exactly the vibe Favreau seems to be going for. He calls the Scorsese material some of the movie’s 'funniest parts'—which tracks, considering it’s not every day you get Hollywood’s greatest mob director making food truck jokes in a galaxy run by space wizards.

As for the cast and crew, Favreau’s directing and also shares writing credit with Dave Filoni (Lucasfilm’s current head honcho) and Noah Kloor. And, for anyone who still cares about ticket release dates in 2026, The Mandalorian and Grogu is hitting theaters (and IMAX, because of course) on May 22, 2026.

• Martin Scorsese: voices a fry cook with a food truck, an Ardennian (the same species as Favreau’s character from Solo), and yes, they’re supposed to be related
• Jon Favreau: directs, co-writes, and shares 'family' with Scorsese’s character
• Kathleen Kennedy: pulls strings, gets Scorsese on board
• Dave Filoni & Noah Kloor: co-writers
• CG character: Scorsese improv’d, animators did the rest
• Release Date: May 22, 2026 (theaters and IMAX)

So there you have it—a little bit of Oscar credibility and some truly deep-cut Star Wars nerdery, coming to a theater near you. If that doesn’t make you at least a little curious about The Mandalorian and Grogu, I don’t know what will.