The Surprising Reason Werner Herzog Accepted Part in 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian'

Most actors would thank their lucky stars for being cast in any Star Wars production, but German director Werner Herzog only accepted his part in the new Disney+ series The Mandalorian because he needed the help fund his next project.

The announcement that Herzog would star in the new live-action series came this past December. Details on his part are still unknown, but it is believed he will be playing a villain, based on comments made by the star himself. Herzog will be joined in the show by Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano and Carl Weathers.

Herzog is mainly known for his directing, namely on projects Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo, along with documentaries Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World and Grizzly Man. He has acted in a few things, however, and is certainly comfortable playing a villain, as he did in Jack Reacher.

According to Vanity Fair, though, Herzog didn't take the role because of his love of Star Wars--in fact, as we previously reported, he hasn't even seen a film in the franchise before. He just needed the show to fund his next project, Family Romance LLC.

“I had a very, very vague idea of what Star Wars was all about … I asked for the full screenplays, and I looked into the part, and it looked good and interesting," Werzog stated. "The only reason for having me in the film is they needed somebody who would spread terror and be frightening for the audience. I said, ‘Yes I think I can give you this stylization.’ It came with great ease."

If anything, Herzog seems at least interested in the character and the script, even if he isn't a fan of the galaxy far far away--yet.

[h/t: ScreenRant]