The Mandalorian provides a blueprint for Hollywood to copy during the 2020s. When streaming service Disney+ launched last fall, The Mandalorian was positioned as its flagship program. As the first live-action Star Wars TV show, there was a lot of hype surrounding the series, and it fortunately delivered on its promise. Not only was The Mandalorian a major hit with viewers, it also received 15 Emmy nominations, including Best Drama. Lucasfilm plans on keeping the show around for the foreseeable future, with The Mandalorian season 2 premiering this fall, and season 3 already in the works.

One of the most notable things about The Mandalorian is the way the series was produced. Keeping in line with Star Wars’ tradition of revolutionizing visual effects, The Mandalorian was shot on a groundbreaking set dubbed “The Volume.” The virtual production techniques allowed the cast and crew to film a variety of environments, even though everyone was indoors at a studio. The methods allowed the creative team to bypass traditional location shooting, simply changing the backdrop to whatever the scene called for. Other Star Wars Disney+ shows are planning on using The Volume, and it’s something the entire industry should consider.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

This year, the coronavirus pandemic dealt a tremendous blow to Hollywood. In addition to affecting the 2020 release slate, the health crisis also forced several ongoing productions to be indefinitely suspended. Only recently, studios are attempting to get back to work, after devising intricate health and safety protocols for productions. But even the best laid plans aren’t a guarantee to be successful. Jurassic World: Dominion had to change their filming schedule when a coronavirus outbreak in Malta affected multiple crew members. With the pandemic remaining a very serious issue, COVID-19 is a matter Hollywood will have to contend with for the foreseeable future.

The Volume could make things much easier for filmmakers, particularly those helming VFX-intensive projects. It may not entirely replicate the experience of shooting on real-life locations, it’s a more than suitable workaround for the current climate. In a time when people are advised to stay at home as often as possible, The Volume completely eliminates travel. A crew could conceivably shoot scenes in a desert and the arctic on the same day without putting anyone on an airplane. It’s a safe, efficient way of getting whatever the director needs on a given day. Studios could also have the peace of mind of a closed set with a small cast and crew, limiting the potential for community spread. Normally, massive blockbusters have gigantic crews (something that will make it difficult for Marvel movies to resume filming), so this could limit the amount of people needed for work.

What’s more is The Volume is proven. Jon Favreau and company took an ambitious swing on The Mandalorian, and it paid off in spades. Even though The Mandalorian is a TV show, it has a cinematic quality that’s on par with the Star Wars movies. Most viewers probably couldn’t tell the show’s environments were digital until behind-the-scenes videos revealed the magic. The team made the most of the sound stage’s limited space to create the illusion the characters were on a wide array of planets in the galaxy far, far away, so it’s definitely something movies should consider moving forward. It’s not a stretch to envision an action-heavy tentpole utilizing this valuable tool.

LOTR: The Rings of Power Image Reveals New Character

About The Author


Chris Agar
(5544 Articles Published)

See also  Kingsman 3 Director Drops Story Details About Eggsy & Harry’s Future

Chris Agar is a news editor for Screen Rant, also writing features and movie reviews for the site as one of Screen Rant’s Rotten Tomatoes approved critics. He is a graduate of Wesley College’s Bachelor of Media Arts and Master of Sport Leadership programs. In 2013, Chris was hired to write weekly box office prediction posts in conjunction with the Screen Rant Underground podcast’s Box Office Battle game and his role expanded over the next few years. In addition to covering the latest news and hottest movie topics daily, Chris has attended numerous media events for Screen Rant, including San Diego Comic-Con, delivering content his readers care about. He credits Star Wars and Toy Story with launching a lifelong fascination with movies that led to his career, and now he has a wide range of cinematic tastes, enjoying the latest Hollywood blockbusters, Oscar contenders, and everything in between. Chris’ favorite film genres include sci-fi/fantasy, crime, action, and drama.

More From Chris Agar