The Mandalorian thrilled critics and general audiences alike when it debuted on Disney+ last fall, and that acclaim was definitely reflected in the love the show got from the Emmys. The first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise managed to nab 15 Primetime Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Drama Series. Among those accolades, though, actor and filmmaker Taika Waititi earned a nod for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for his work as bounty hunter droid IG-11. And as you can expect, Waititi reacted to the nomination in the most Taika Waititi way possible.
Shortly after the Emmy nominations were revealed, Taika Waititi posted a humorous message on Instagram to mark the occassion. In the post, he jokingly made note of the of attention his nomination was getting and humorously pleaded with the fans not to forget about the countless other nominees. He also thanked The Mandalorian’s creator, Jon Favreau, for having him on the show. Check out his original post for yourself:
Taika Waititi has been known to post hilarious messages on social media, and this may stand as one of his best. He’s always made it known that he’s proud of his role as IG-11, even once going as far as to call him “the hero of the entire season.” Now, this new honor will probably only add to the pride he has in playing the droid.
Based on the classic bounty hunter droid IG-88 from The Empire Strikes Back, IG-11 debuted in The Mandalorian’s first episode and crossed paths with the titular character as they hunted the same bounty. When the two discover their target – The Child or “Baby Yoda” – the droid prepares to eliminate it. However, before it can do so, Mando shoots the droid, seemingly destroying it for good.
IG-11 would return later in the season, where it’s revealed that Mando’s ugnaught ally, Kuiil, has recovered and repurposed it. The droid would play a pivotal role in the finale, and it certainly resonated with fans.
Waititi’s subtle approach to IG-11 paired with the character’s compelling story arc definitely justify the nomination. Not only was Waititi’s delivery spot on, but he should be commended for breathing life into a cold and seemingly unfeeling being. And with his experience voicing more comedic characters, this was certainly a change of pace for him.
Of course, in addition to providing his acting abilities, Waititi also directed the season finale, which (along with Waititi’s nod) earned four nominations. Given how well done the episode was, one could argue that Waititi also deserved a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.
Still, it seems Waititi is more than content with his nomination, and most fans would agree that he has plenty to be proud of.
You can stream Taika Waititi’s Mandalorian performance on Disney+ ahead of the second season, which is due to premiere this fall.
