Anthony Daniels is back in the Star Wars universe again, this time as the voice of the Air Traffic Control droids in The Mandalorian and Grogu. The droids give the new Razor Crest clearance to land on Nal Hutta in the film’s first act, and Mando heads off to meet the Hutt Twins as soon as the ship touches down.
The film is now in theaters, and the opening weekend has already given it a clear box-office mark. Over the three-day Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., The Mandalorian and Grogu made $82 million, and it was projected to finish the four-day weekend at around $100 million.
That total matters because if the projection holds, the movie would still open at the low end for the franchise in the Disney era. It would also be another reminder that Daniels remains part of Star Wars history in a way no one else can match: he has appeared in some form in every single Star Wars film.
This is only the second time Daniels has played a character other than C-3PO in a Star Wars movie. He previously appeared in Solo as Tak, a slave in the mines of Kessel, and the new cameo keeps that streak alive in a way that is easy to miss unless you know where to look. StarWars.com has already pointed readers toward some of the film’s best Easter eggs and trivia, and Daniels’ brief turn is among the most notable.
The contrast is hard to miss. On screen, the droids are just doing their job, clearing a landing. Off screen, the voice behind them is carrying a record that reaches across the whole saga. For a film arriving during Star Wars’ 50 anniversary year, that small detail says as much about the franchise’s longevity as any bigger callback could.
