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Credit: LucasfilmA new Grogu will be revealed in 2026.
A new chapter is about to unfold for the Star Wars galaxy, beginning with two of its most beloved faces. On May 22, 2026, Disney and Lucasfilm will return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu, marking the franchise’s long-awaited comeback to the big screen after almost seven years.
In January 2024, Lucasfilm signaled a significant shift by putting The Mandalorian and Grogu front and center in its live-action plans. This realignment followed the unveiling of three separate film projects by Kathleen Kennedy during 2023’s Star Wars Celebration.
However, the announcement left lingering questions. Would this film essentially replace Season 4? What would become of Filoni’s highly anticipated crossover event to tie together the so-called “Mando-Verse”? For months, answers remained elusive—until an October 2024 report from The Hollywood Reporter shed light on the studio’s evolving plans.
“Instead of a fourth season, Disney decided to pivot The Mandalorian to launch its first Star Wars feature film since The Rise of Skywalker,” the outlet reported.
This change aligns with Disney’s broader recalibration of its Star Wars output, though the transition has not been without its challenges. The Mandalorian Season 3 delivered a mixed response, influenced by shifts in its narrative structure.
The absence of Cara Dune (Gina Carano), the heightened focus on Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff), and Pedro Pascal’s reduced on-set involvement as Din Djarin all played a role in the shifting dynamic.
Still, a December 2024 report hinted that Season 4 might not be completely off the table. “According to a report from The InSneider, The Mandalorian Season 4 may not be dead at Disney+,” The Direct noted. “He noted that the follow-up remains ‘in development’ for streaming, but The Mandalorian and Grogu will ‘arrive first’ in theaters.”
Meanwhile, production on The Mandalorian and Grogu has already wrapped, and Filoni’s excitement remains palpable. At last year’s Skeleton Crew premiere, he reflected on Grogu’s remarkable journey: “It was great seeing Grogu. He’s become such a star, and it’s amazing how it’s evolved, what we can do now with the puppetry compared to Season 1,” Filoni said.
And it’s not just the behind-the-scenes changes that will be noticeable for the beloved Grogu character. Speaking with Collider during Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Jon Favreau explained that the Grogu audiences will encounter next year will be different from the small screen.
“You wanna have progression, so it’s not just the same situation over and over again,” Favreau said. “So, on one front, the relationship between Mando and Grogu has evolved. He’s now an apprentice. Now he’s a family member and adopted by him.”
The popular director went on to expand on how Grogu will be changed this time around:
“And now, as they go off, as it said at the end of the last season, it’s his job to train him. And they have to go out on adventures and they have to work together. And so there’s apprenticeship that’s happening between the two of them. But also, Grogu is becoming more comfortable as– remember, he was trained by none other than Luke Skywalker. And the path of the Force is a lifelong path, and so, we wanna have evolution, and as the story gets bigger, the screen gets bigger, we wanna have Grogu grow into that.”
Grogu (The Child, “Baby Yoda”) is one of the most popular characters in the Disney era of Star Wars. Now known as Din Grogu after The Mandalorian Season 3 events, Grogu’s survival of Order 66 was explored in the most recent season.
In “Chapter 20: The Foundling,” it was revealed that Jedi Master Kelleran Beq (Ahmed Best) saved Grogu from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant during Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) and the clone troopers’ attack.
Jon Favreau also emphasized that the film is currently the top priority. “Right now, I’m focusing on the feature because we still have another year of the story,” Favreau said. “You discover so much as you edit a film and put it together with visual effects. Right now we’re really locked in on the big screen story that’s coming.”
Favreau also hinted at how the upcoming film would serve longtime fans and newcomers alike.
“A lot of people know these characters who haven’t seen the show. So it’s not just that there are people who saw the show and people who don’t know the characters — there’s a big range,” Favreau explained. “We want to reward people who’ve been there since the beginning, but also invite new audiences in.”
He also shared that the production’s use of IMAX significantly impacted how specific sequences were conceived and shot, a move that promises an expansive cinematic experience. All signs point to Season 4 remaining uncertain, especially as Filoni’s directorial debut looms.
However, during Star Wars Celebration 2025, Lucasfilm did offer fans a clear glimpse at what’s next. The studio confirmed that following Favreau’s film, Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, will take flight in May 2027. Set five years after Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker, Starfighter marks another significant swing for the franchise.
Filoni also has his hands full. In addition to his upcoming feature, Ahsoka Season 2 has officially begun production. At Star Wars Celebration, the Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer revealed the first look at Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), who is taking over the role of Baylan Skoll after Ray Stevenson’s tragic death in 2023.
The Mandalorian and Grogu will feature Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jonny Coyne, and Jeremy Allen White.
How do you feel about Grogu changing? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!