Gremlins Director Says Baby Yoda Is “Completely Stolen” And “Out-And-Out Copy” Of Gizmo
Although the original Yoda was introduced in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back (long before Gizmo in 1984’s Gremlins), the baby version that came out a few years ago in The Mandalorian looks different than the old version, so I think Dante could be on to something. Via Deadline:
“I think the longevity of [the films] is really key to this one character [Gizmo], who is essentially like a baby,” director Joe Dante recently told the San Francisco Chronicle of the star of his classic Gremlins films. “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.”
It’s quite a charge, but the two cuddly creatures with extraordinary powers, big eyes and expressive ears do look a lot alike when seen side by side. However, the initial inspiration for The Mandalorian’s Grugu — Baby Yoda’s actual name — undoubtedly predates the first Gremlins, which came out in 1984. Yoda made his debut four years prior, as a seemingly impish little swamp creature who bugged Luke Skywalker while he was bogged down on Degobah.
[Deadline]
