When Jon Favreau introduced Grogu in The Mandalorian, he expected the tiny, Force-sensitive creature to make an impression. He just had no idea the character many fans still call Baby Yoda would become one of the most recognizable faces in the entire Star Wars universe.

As Favreau gears up for the theatrical debut of The Mandalorian and Grogu, he admitted that Grogu’s rise to superstardom caught even him by surprise.

“We knew it would be exciting,” Favreau said on CBS Sunday Morning. “We didn’t realize quite what a phenomenon it would be. And then when we saw the balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, that’s when it kind of – as a New Yorker – it really hit me. Like, ‘Wow! This has really hit another level.’ The whole thing’s surreal.”

That oversized parade balloon was the clearest sign yet that Grogu had transcended streaming fame and become a bona fide cultural icon.

Part of the character’s appeal, Favreau explained, is that Grogu isn’t conventionally adorable. Like many of the saga’s most beloved creatures, he’s a little odd-looking — and that’s exactly the point.

“The cute stuff in ‘Star Wars’ tends to be a little weird-looking,” Favreau said. “It’s not like ‘Disney cute,’ it’s ‘Star Wars cute.’ And so, he’s got weird little hairs and sharp little teeth in there and wrinkly skin, and claws!”

Favreau said that slightly scruffy appearance reflects the handcrafted quality that has defined Star Wars since the beginning.

“There’s an analog, handmade feel to a lot of the characters and a lot of the costumes and a lot of the puppets from ‘Star Wars,’” he explained.

Of course, Grogu’s success has occasionally meant stealing the spotlight from Pedro Pascal, who stars as the helmeted bounty hunter Din Djarin. But their relationship remains the emotional backbone of the franchise.

“Father-son relationships have always been a big part of ‘Star Wars,’” Favreau said. “This is one of the most positive father-son relationships in ‘Star Wars,’ and, ironically, they’re not related in any way. But it is a family of choice, and ‘Star Wars’ has always been about families coming together.”

For Favreau, who grew up in Queens dreaming much smaller than a trip to a galaxy far, far away, directing a Star Wars movie for the big screen still feels surreal.

“To get the opportunity to do ‘Star Wars’ for the big screen, it feels like you’re getting a shot to pitch in the World Series,” he said. “I’m excited to introduce a whole new audience to ‘Star Wars.’”

For the kid from Queens who once thought Hollywood was out of reach, bringing Grogu to theaters is the kind of ending even George Lucas might call cinematic.