Gremlins Director Slams Baby Yoda As Being 'Completely Stolen' And 'Shamelessly' Copied

Gremlins director Joe Dante has come out swinging against The Mandalorian, saying the design of Baby Yoda ‘shamelessly’ copied them.

Dante, who worked on the iconic 1984 film, has panned the Star Wars spin-off for lacking originality in a new interview with Variety.

He told the outlet: “I think the longevity of [the film] is really key to this one character (Gizmo), who is essentially like a baby.

“Which brings me, of course, to the subject of Baby Yoda, who is completely stolen and is just out-and-out copied. Shamelessly, I would think.”

Wow. Tell us how you really feel.

Gizmo, the adorable main protagonist of the franchise, became a fan favourite, with Gizmo plush toys, backpacks, and pencil cases, sweeping the market.

Alamy Stock Photo

And while we can see the resemblance between the Mogwai creature and Baby Yoda, did Dante forget that the first Star Wars flick came out in 1977 - seven years before Gremlins?

I mean, the ears, those eyes, we can’t ignore that Gizmo looks similar to even adult Yoda. If I were Dante, I'd be careful where I’m pointing the finger.

No one over at The Mandalorian camp has responded to the filmmaker’s comments just yet; we suspect they're busy filming season three, set to be released February 2023.

Jon Favreau, Rick Famuyiwa, and Bryce Dallas Howard will be returning to write the upcoming season, and Carl Weathers, who plays Greef Karga in the series, will be directing.

Disney+ / Alamy Stock Photo

While speaking with Empire, Weathers teased that new season would have ‘a bit more [action]’.

He said: “Oh there was a bit more [action], I think, in this one. It’s a little different [to ‘The Siege’], because a lot of it had a lot more scope. But this one also had many, many different kinds of stories within the story, and that's really nice.”

And though the 74-year-old is a masterful actor, he equally likes getting his hands dirty working behind the scenes.

He said: “I love directing. It's my passion. This show gives you so much opportunity to deal with all these different characters. 

“Even though they're different episodes, it's not like typical episodic television – it's not a whodunnit, it's not a dark comedy, it's not a procedural. 

“It's so many different things, and it's action-adventure on top of that. As a director, you get a chance to exercise your talent, and also your ability to deliver in those different areas.”

Until next year, you can binge the first two seasons on Disney+ now.