He was recruited for the part by The Mandalorian creator and showrunner Jon Favreau, who had previously worked with Esposito on several projects. Gideon is portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito. Gideon is the leader of a remnant of the fallen Galactic Empire, and attempts to capture the young alien Grogu, who is being protected by the title character of the series. Moff Gideon is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise who first appeared in the Disney+ television series The Mandalorian. ' Chapter 7: The Reckoning' (2019) ( The Mandalorian) Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian