Credit: LucasfilmNext year, the Star Wars franchise charts its long-awaited return to movie theaters—but how far will this new chapter push The Mandalorian beyond what fans have come to expect from the Disney+ era?
Less than six months remain before one of Star Wars’ most recognizable pairings trades the small screen for multiplexes worldwide. When The Mandalorian and Grogu arrive in theaters on May 22, 2026, it won’t simply mark the franchise’s first theatrical release centered on a Disney+ original—it will also offer a clear statement about Lucasfilm’s creative direction for the post-Skywalker Saga era.
As anticipation builds, one question continues to surface among fans and industry watchers alike: what happens to Din Djarin’s story when his path isn’t defined exclusively by his relationship with Grogu?
When The Mandalorian premiered in 2019, it quickly became the cornerstone of Star Wars’ streaming strategy. Pedro Pascal’s armored gunslinger, paired with the instantly iconic Grogu—first known as The Child—connected with audiences in a way that transcended traditional franchise loyalty. Their evolving bond, rooted in a reluctant-guardian-turned-parent dynamic, became the emotional engine that powered Disney+’s Star Wars expansion.
Across multiple seasons, the series cultivated a massive following, fueled merchandise demand, and helped reestablish confidence in the franchise’s television future. So when Lucasfilm confirmed that Din Djarin and Grogu would headline a theatrical release, the move felt like the logical next step—elevating a streaming success story into a cinematic event. Not only that, but both Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and Din Grogu’s roles are poised to change forever.
Jon Favreau returns to direct the film, continuing his role as co-creator and executive producer of the series. Favreau is joined once again by producers Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, reinforcing continuity behind the camera. Composer Ludwig Göransson is also back, ensuring the show’s signature musical identity makes the transition to theaters intact.
The cast expansion further underscores Lucasfilm’s ambitions. Sigourney Weaver’s involvement signals that this project is designed as a full-scale feature film, not merely a longer episode of the series.
Set between Star Wars: Episode VI–Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015), the film continues the established timeline of The Mandalorian. But emerging story details suggest a shift in narrative focus that could reshape expectations.
Rather than centering exclusively on Grogu, the film introduces a surprising figure from Star Wars animation into a prominent live-action role: Rotta the Hutt. First seen as an infant in 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Jabba the Hutt’s son now appears as an adult, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White of The Bear.
White has already hinted that Rotta’s presence is far from incidental. During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, the actor shared that his character and Din Djarin will be “running around for a lot of the movie together,” a remark that quickly sparked speculation about how central this new alliance might be.
Additional insight into White’s casting and involvement has since emerged.
“I’ve been a fan of Jon Favreau’s for a very long time,” telling Variety. “Swingers and Made had a tremendous effect on me as a young man, a young actor. We met at a party. I told him that, and he was like, ‘I have something I want to talk to you about. Can I call you?’ It was the next day, and he was talking about Mandalorian, and I said, ‘It’s a great show. You do a great job. I’d known Pedro Pascal for a little bit, and he’s great and has fun on it, and he loves you.’ He was like, ‘I want you to be in it.’”
“Fantastic, of course. And then he started explaining it and started talking about Rotta. I’d never done voice work. There isn’t any stop-motion work or anything physical like that,” the Shameless star confirmed. “I was excited about doing a job that is in this world of Star Wars, a world that I have admired for a very long time.”
Footage from early trailers has raised eyebrows by placing Din Djarin and Grogu in separate moments rather than side by side. While Grogu remains part of the story, the imagery suggests his role may no longer define every aspect of Din’s journey. Instead, Din appears to take on a mission that places him alongside Rotta, while Grogu’s arc unfolds on a parallel track.
This creative choice hints at a broader storytelling strategy. Promotional material has teased a large-scale gladiator arena sequence, with Rotta positioned as a major player in the action. His presence points to a substantial role within the narrative rather than a brief nod to animated canon.
Described as a successor to Jabba’s criminal legacy, the adult Rotta represents a stark evolution from his earliest appearance. Aligning Din Djarin with a Hutt—even temporarily—suggests a storyline that ventures deeper into Star Wars’ criminal underworld. Fan theories have already begun circulating, including the possibility of a high-risk heist tied to the Hutt syndicate, with Rotta operating either as an ally with his own agenda or as a wildcard figure.
For many viewers, Grogu is inseparable from The Mandalorian’s identity. His connection to Din provided the series with its emotional foundation, and any shift away from that dynamic naturally invites debate.
Some fans welcome the opportunity for the story to evolve, seeing Rotta’s introduction as a way to expand the show’s scope. Others worry that moving away from the intimate, character-driven focus could dilute what made the series resonate so strongly. Either way, the decision reflects a willingness by Lucasfilm to challenge expectations rather than rely solely on familiar beats.
If you thought what we’ve seen from The Mandalorian and Grogu so far was merely a warm-up, the next trailer may be where Lucasfilm truly shows its hand. A newly circulating description of the upcoming sneak peek suggests the studio is preparing to properly introduce Rotta the Hutt—and to make it clear that Jeremy Allen White’s character is far more than a background curiosity in Star Wars’ next theatrical chapter.
According to those familiar with the footage, the new preview is expected to debut in theaters next week before making its way online. It reportedly opens in a familiar, reassuring way, echoing the tone of the first teaser. There’s said to be a quiet, character-driven moment between Din Djarin and Grogu, with Mando offering his diminutive companion some advice about wearing armor—exactly the kind of small exchange that helped turn the Disney+ series into a phenomenon.
But the heart of the trailer appears to lie elsewhere. The description points to an extended action sequence set inside a gladiator-style arena, finally showcasing Rotta the Hutt in full. This isn’t a quick glimpse or a shadowy tease; the footage is said to give audiences a much clearer idea of who Rotta is in this era of Star Wars and how physically formidable he’s become. For longtime fans who remember Rotta as the helpless infant from The Clone Wars, the contrast is striking.
Mandoverse Updates (@Mando3Updates) shared the overview of the trailer, sourced from @MikeTheProgram:
New details on ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ trailer that’s expected to be released next week and be attached to ‘Avatar : Fire And Ash’
-The trailer starts soft – similar to previous trailers
– There’s a 10 second cutesy moment between the Din Djarin and Grogu
– Din Djarin has new speaking lines “Before we go into harms way, make sure you armor is tucked”
– Theres more Zeb fighting scenes
– Theres no new cameos
-The trailer showcases a longer clip of the battle arena fight with Rotta
Source @MikeTheProgram
🚨New details on ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ trailer that’s expected to be released next week and be attached to ‘Avatar : Fire And Ash’🚨
-The trailer starts soft – similar to previous trailers
– There’s a 10 second cutesy moment between the Din Djarin and Grogu
– Din Djarin… pic.twitter.com/cCw1exrTEz
— Mandoverse Updates (@Mando3Updates) December 12, 2025
That transformation alone raises compelling questions about Rotta’s place in the story. The arena setting suggests spectacle, but it may also hint at something darker. Is Rotta being forced to fight for the entertainment of others? Has he embraced this brutal world as part of carving out his own identity beyond Jabba’s shadow? Or is this all part of a larger power play within the Hutt criminal syndicates, with Rotta caught in the middle?
There’s also the intriguing possibility that Din Djarin’s involvement with Rotta isn’t purely coincidental. Early comments from those involved with the film have hinted that Mando and Rotta spend a significant portion of the movie together. That opens the door to speculation that Din may be hired to protect, escort, or even extract the Hutt heir from a dangerous situation. If so, it would place Mando squarely in morally gray territory, navigating the underworld at a time when the New Republic is still struggling to assert control.
This kind of storyline would fit neatly into the post-Return of the Jedi timeline. With the Empire gone and order still fragile, criminal organizations like the Hutts would be jockeying for power, and Rotta could represent both a valuable asset and a liability. He might be a reluctant figurehead, a would-be reformer, or someone trying to prove he’s more than just Jabba’s son—any of which could put him on a collision course with rivals and bounty hunters alike.
The trailer description also reportedly includes more action featuring Zeb Orrelios (voiced by Steven Blum in Star Wars Rebels), reinforcing the sense that The Mandalorian and Grogu is leaning heavily into its wider shared universe. Combined with the arena imagery and Rotta’s prominent role, it suggests that this film aims to feel distinctly larger in scope than the series that inspired it.
Rotta the Hutt appears poised to become a central figure in the film’s conflict, and his story could be the catalyst that pushes Din Djarin into one of his most complicated missions yet. Whether Rotta emerges as an ally, a pawn, or something in between, his presence alone signals that The Mandalorian and Grogu is ready to explore corners of the Star Wars galaxy that the franchise’s theatrical releases have largely left untouched.
And if that’s the case, next week’s sneak peek may only answer a few questions—while ensuring fans have plenty more to argue about as the countdown to the film’s release continues.
Importantly, the theatrical release does not signal the end of The Mandalorian on Disney+. A fourth season is reportedly still planned after being set aside to accommodate the film’s development, positioning the movie as a pivotal chapter rather than a finale.
“We were planning on doing a fourth season,” Favreau said in a recent Empire Magazine interview. “I had actually written all of that. I still have Season 4 sitting on my desk here.” He added, “It’s structured around a movie structure as opposed to a serialized weekly television show. So there’s a larger throw to the whole thing.”
As Lucasfilm prepares a broader slate of theatrical Star Wars projects, The Mandalorian and Grogu stands at the forefront. Its performance could play a key role in shaping the franchise’s return to cinemas.
With May 22, 2026, approaching, The Mandalorian and Grogu is emerging as a clear inflection point for Star Wars storytelling. Whether audiences embrace the expanded focus or long for a return to the series’ original dynamic will depend on how effectively the film balances evolution with emotional continuity.
Grogu remains part of the journey, but his role alongside Din Djarin appears to be changing. In a franchise where every creative turn is met with close scrutiny, that shift alone ensures this next chapter will be one of the most closely watched Star Wars releases in years.
How do you feel about the direction of The Mandalorian and Grogu? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!