The Mandalorian: W. Earl Brown reflects on Deadwood reunion & Baby Yoda

“What’s your feeling about a prosthetics gig? I know you’ve said you hate it,” it was my agent on the other end of the call.

My mind flashed back to my days of misery spent as the demon, Menlo, on the tv series, ANGEL. I had eagerly jumped at the chance…

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

…to be transformed into an other-worldly being via Hollywood special effects set my Halloween-loving heart aflame. By the time it ended two weeks later, the thrill had not just worn off, it had been sandblasted down to a nub, just as four hours sitting in a…

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

… makeup chair every day had done to my skin.

“Hell, No. Sheer fucking misery.”

“We just got a call with an offer for TV — it’s prosthetics though.”

“No.”

“It’s Disney, but I’ll let them know. Something to do with STAR WARS…”

“WAIT. WHAT???”

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

My scenes were with Pedro (whom I’ve known for many years), Tim Olyphant (recreating our DEADWOOD dynamic of Sheriff and Barkeep), and a third actor. That is all the info I was given. They are a secretive bunch.

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

My wife works in the streaming division of the Walt Disney Company. As an exec in Communications, she is aware of many of the inner goings-on of the company. She listened to me prattle on for days — STAR WARS, STAR WARS, STAR WARS…she said nothing. They are a secretive bunch

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

First day. I get in makeup and wardrobe. I was cloaked and put in a van. I was told that, unlike the majority of MANDALORIAN sets which are computer created on a soundstage, mine is an actual set built in a parking lot about a mile away from the studio. We drive there.

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

The teamster pulls into the gate. Another person takes over and drives me onto the set….

Its Tatooine. I AM ON TATOOINE!!! HELL YEAH!!! FUCK YEAH!!!

I get out of the van. Right next to me — is a life-sized Bantha puppet. I touched it — A BANTHA!!! I TOUCHED A BANTHA!

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

“Jon is ready for rehearsals” In a daze, I am lead to my Mos Pelgo’s Cantina. There’s Tim. There’s Pedro. I look around, but don’t see the other actor I’m supposed to be working with.

I stand behind the bar. For shits & giggles, I say to Tim, “you oughta pin that fuckin’…

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

… badge to yer chest, you’re hypocrite enough to wear it.” Tim and I proceed to play out scenes from our old show. We get a few giggles from the HBO watchers.

Jon walks on set, laughing “I swear to God, I love that show — I absolutely idolize Milch. We cast you first,”

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

pointing at Tim, “when I said ‘hire Earl Brown’ I did not consciously think I was recreating your DEADWOOD dynamic, but here we are — DEADWOOD In Space… Okay, let’s rehearse”

“Can we improvise and throw a few ‘Cocksuckers’ into the dialogue, as tribute?”

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

“No… Okay everyone, PLACES…”

I still had not met my other scene partner. The Props guy rolled his cart through the set. I thought, “Awwwwww… that is so cute. The props guy went and made himself a Baby Yoda.”

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

Tim goes to his starting position. Pedro walks off set, so as to make his entrance with The Child, still I don’t see no kid actor.

Tim and I talk — yada, yada, yada. Pedro and The Child enter…

There are numerous “The Childs” — motionless, puppets, puppets on poles…

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

an EFX globe used to gauge digital effects.

I came home that night, “How was it?” asked The Wife.

“Did you know there is a BABY YODA???”

She just smiled.

They are a secretive bunch.

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020