Actors trying their hand at directing is nothing new. With so much experience taking direction from the maestro, it only makes sense that they would be so curious to do the same. Carl Weathers has been in show business since the 1970s, so it's no surprise that not only would he try his hand at directing, but he would do it for a show he also works as an actor in the popular Star Wars spinoff The Mandalorian.
Weathers, who first guest-starred on The Mandalorian as Greega, a leader of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, later went on direct the fourth episode of the second season, titled "Chapter 12: The Siege." Evidently, Weathers very much enjoyed working on The Mandalorian as director, as he confirmed on his personal Twitter account that he will be returning to the director's chair for another episode in The Mandalorian's upcoming third season.
When asked by a fan who praised Weathers' work as a director if he'd be returning, Weathers didn't bother to mince words. He responded, "Affirmative as DIRECTOR! #'This Is The Way.' #BePeace," on his Twitter, which certainly created quite the buzz among the show's fans. So, not only was it apparent that he took his role as director to heart, but also that Disney was impressed enough to give him another shot at it.
In all honesty, giving Weathers another shot at directing was probably one of the easier choices Disney could have made regarding the production of The Mandalorian. The episode he directed in season 2 was met with great critical acclaim when it was released, particularly for the directorial choices that Weathers made. They say that if it ain't broke, don't fix it, so having Weathers come back as director didn't seem just practical, but inevitable.
It shouldn't come as any surprise that Weathers, a seasoned veteran in the world of acting, was very much capable of directing a gripping episode of a TV show. Actors have to be both pretty imaginative and creative when they are asked to bring their characters to life. Weathers is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the hailed-classic Rocky movies, and his role as Creed very much played a part in those movies being regarded as the classics that they are. Surely his chops as an actor came in handy for when he was tasked with directing.
However, just because one actor has proven to be successful in calling the shots as the director does not mean all actors are capable of doing the same. Plenty of actors have tried their hand at directing, but not many have pulled it off. Ben Affleck for one has proven to be exceptional as a director. His work in The Town and Argo proves as much. However, for every Affleck, there are other actors, like the disgraced James Franco, who have directed plenty of movies but with very little notoriety. Some may point to The Disaster Artist to contradict that sentiment, but that movie was renowned more for its source material and acting than it was for its directing.
The Mandalorian seasons 1-2 are now available on Disney Plus.
Source: Carl Weathers/Twitter