Star Wars: Why Jon Favreau Called J.J. Abrams While Making The Mandalorian and Grogu

There's a viral internet saying that goes, "Nobody hates Star Wars more than Star Wars fans."

Disney's management of the franchise in particular has sparked a great deal of controversy among audiences since the acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012. But if there's one Mouse House addition that viewers can universally agree on, it's the adorable Anzellans.

The pint-sized handymen of the galaxy far, far away made their debut in the J.J. Abrams-directed Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker by way of Babu Frik. The practical puppetry and Minion-like babble used to bring the character to life charmed fans, who singled out Babu as one of the few highlights in an otherwise disappointing capper to the new trilogy.

Considering just how popular the Anzellans are, it seems inevitable that they'd be paired up with another cute alien animatronic, Baby Yoda, in director Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian and Grogu.

In a development that should surprise no one, the little band of Anzellan grease monkeys who tag along for the adventure once again stole the show in what many have called a Star Wars movie on the weaker end of the spectrum (the film is basically a condensed version of scripts written for an unmade fourth season of The Mandalorian, and it shows).

Why Jon Favreau called J.J. Abrams during The Mandalorian and Grogu shoot

Before using the fan favorite alien species, however, Favreau sought permission from Abrams, who created Babu Frik (originally called "Babu Zazi") with his Episode IX co-writer Chris Terrio.

"When I was working with the Anzellans, I called up J.J.," Favreau recalled during an interview with SFX Magazine. "And J.J. came to the set. Because you want him to know that, you know, 'I appreciate what you did. Can we—do you mind? Are we handling this well? Are you happy?'"

The same amount of care was given to Kyuzo bounty hunter Embo, who originated the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series created by soon-to-be-Lucasfilm-president Dave Filoni.

"We were developing the live-action version of him and showing Dave versions—we've got to show Dave," Favreau explained. "Because there's a special thing, when you use a [character]—even though it belongs to Star Wars, if somebody came up with the character, you go [to them]."

A Padawan of George Lucas himself, Filoni co-wrote The Mandalorian and Grogu alongside Favreau and even appears in the new movie as New Republic X-Wing pilot Trapper Wolf.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is now in theaters. Click here for tickets!