The Mandalorian, the new Disney+ Star Wars live-action TV series, is three episodes in, and already has a breakout star: Baby Yoda. The puppet – which is so adorable that its mere presence made Werner Herzog weep – has a distinct visual similarity to another Disney property: Muppet Babies. In an ideal, felt-made world, The Mandalorian would be a backdoor pilot a new cross-over series, and what better place for The Muppet Babies than on the Jedi Council? We’ve already had Muppets from Space, why not Muppet Babies from a galaxy far, far away?
Baby Yoda is essentially the Star Wars equivalent of The Muppet Babies – both are cute, lovable and operated by puppeteers. The Jedi Council is the most logical place for Jim Henson’s furry little preschoolers (what else would they be, stormtroopers?), especially considering E.T.’s cameo in The Phantom Menace’s was the Galactic Senate scene. We’ve seen this sort of crossover before, and fans want more Muppets in the Star Wars universe.
The Star Wars and Muppets properties have a history. Frank Oz was the voice of Yoda, as well as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Sam Eagle. Fans have long speculated (and George Lucas even joked) that Yoda is the love-child of Kermit and Miss Piggy. Perhaps this is fertile ground for The Mandalorian to explore Baby Yoda’s origins further, using other beloved infantile puppet characters.
Baby Yoda in undeniably the most popular character in The Mandalorian. Jon Favreau’s Baby Yoda concept art, which the showrunner shared on social media, immediately went viral. Fans are clamoring for more Baby Yoda, which is good for Disney+. Audiences want to know: who is this mysterious Force-wielding child? Where did he come from? What is Baby Yoda’s real name? Will we meet more members of Yoda and Yaddle’s elusive species?
Furthermore, Jim Henson fans deserve a win. Disney+ announced in September that they were no longer continuing with plans for the Muppets Live Another Day reboot. The project, also known as Muppets 1984, was reportedly canceled due to creative differences between the writing team and the leadership at Muppet Studios. While there are still plans for Disney+ to release the short-form unscripted comedy show Muppets Now, the series is unlikely to whet the appetite of fans who want to see their beloved Muppets go on high adventures. Since fans of the Star Wars universe want more baby puppets, the solution is clear: merge the Star Wars and The Muppet Babies properties and offer the internet something adorable (if non-canon).
More: Star Wars Theory: The Mandalorian’s Baby Yoda Is A Clone
The Mandalorian streams Fridays on Disney+.
