Star Wars Actor Says His Villain Is The New Darth Vader

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A current Star Wars actor recently compared their villain to Darth Vader, a character who remains one of the most iconic and popular villains ever created. While Darth Vader is still considered the franchise’s biggest bad guy, newer villains introduced in recent Star Wars stories could potentially achieve similar levels of fame.

Giancarlo Esposito, known for playing Moff Gideon in *The Mandalorian*, has likened his character to Darth Vader. Gideon is a former leader of the Galactic Empire, infamous for orchestrating the destruction of Mandalore and consistently opposing Din Djarin. Since appearing at the end of Season 1 in 2019, Esposito has cemented his place as a major Star Wars villain, joining the ranks of iconic antagonists after nearly five decades of the franchise.

During a GalaxyCon New Orleans 2025 panel (reported by The Popverse), actor Giancarlo Esposito, who played Moff Gideon, described the character as being “somewhat like Darth Vader,” especially regarding his “power and overall presence.” He explained that he initially began working on the role without the character’s signature helmet, but later understood and appreciated the creative decisions to add it, and enjoyed learning about how that came to be.

You know, at first I didn’t quite get my character, but he really started to feel like a Darth Vader type – powerful and imposing. It was a cool realization! I started filming without the helmet, and then when it was added, it suddenly clicked. I understood *why* the helmet was there, and it totally helped me get into the role and understand what the character was about.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, it’s clear to me that Darth Vader has always been *the* big bad – ever since he first appeared in ‘A New Hope’ back in 1977. He’s been a presence in six films and now so many shows! But looking at the newer Disney+ series, Moff Gideon has really stepped up as the main villain. All of his appearances have been in ‘The Mandalorian,’ and he’s definitely the most significant threat we’ve seen in those shows so far.

Currently, Moff Gideon, as played by Giancarlo Esposito, is believed to be dead. He seemingly perished in an explosion on the planet Mandalore during the eighth episode of Season 3 of *The Mandalorian*.

Could Moff Gideon Reach Darth Vader Levels for Star Wars?

Although Moff Gideon seemed to die in the final episode of *The Mandalorian* Season 3, the show never explicitly confirmed his death. Given the history of popular sci-fi series, where characters often return even after being killed, there’s a possibility Moff Gideon could reappear and cause trouble again.

There’s a chance Giancarlo Esposito could return for the 2026 movie, *The Mandalorian & Grogu*, which will finish the story started by *The Mandalorian* series. With Din Djarin and Grogu embarking on a new journey, and Moff Gideon seemingly defeated, Esposito’s character could pose a significant threat to them in the film.

Although several key characters from *The Mandalorian* won’t be in the new movie, Giancarlo Esposito insists fans didn’t actually see Moff Gideon die in the fire. He’s hinted at Gideon’s possible return multiple times and seems eager to continue playing the villain, even after this apparent setback.

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2025-09-23 17:04