“I think the longevity of [the films] is really key to this one character [Gizmo], who is essentially like a baby,” Dante said during a video chat with the site (who says he gave a “wry smile” when he spoke). “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.”

While I don’t agree with him, let me say up front that I adore Dante’s work. He’s responsible for films like “Innerspace,” “Gremlins 2: The New Batch,” “Small Soldiers,” and “The ‘Burbs.” Now he’s consulting on the upcoming animated series “Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai,” which stars the voices of Ming-Na Wen, BD Wong, and James Hong that will premiere on HBO Max, which I’m very excited for.

He might be completely kidding, but Mr. Dante, there is room in the world for all sorts of cute things. For instance, I rode around with a Gizmo stuffy in my backpack as a kid, and I also have a “talking” Grogu on my desk. If we’re looking at what might have been “completely stolen,” I’d say that “Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance” would have a better case here, up to and including that scene where Grogu has to choose an item to determine the rest of his life.