Credit: LucasfilmThe Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) is set to dock in theaters this May, but the last few months have proved turbulent for the big-screen continuation of the hit Disney+ series.
One of the biggest complaints about the film centers on its visuals, with many fans feeling that the first official trailer, released a few months ago, looks more like a fourth season of The Mandalorian (2019) than an actual theatrical release.
The Film Has Struggled to Create a Buzz
This could be due to the film’s surprisingly low budget, which is reported to be just $166.4 million. Either way, many fans are disappointed that the film doesn’t appear to have the distinct upgrade most, if not all big-screen adaptations of small-screen projects undergo.
Many are also questioning the cultural relevance of a streaming series whose latest season is not only three years’ old, but also didn’t land well with audiences and critics. In other words, for some, The Mandalorian and Grogu feels a little too late. Then there’s the Super Bowl ad.
On Sunday, February 8, a 36-second spot for the film premiered during the Super Bowl, showing Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu being pulled on a tauntaun-led carriage with a voiceover from veteran actor Sam Elliott. Viewers were left confused and discouraged, with some saying it felt more like an old beer commercial than a teaser for a Star Wars movie.
After the ad sparked backlash online, Disney Executive VP of Creative Marketing Jackson George, via Variety, explained the idea behind it, saying, “Grogu is more than a character; he’s a pop culture phenomenon. Riding alongside the heroic Mandalorian, he brings lightness, humor, joy, and an instant emotional connection that transcends the moment.”.
With all that said, perhaps one of the most disappointing aspects of The Mandalorian and Grogu is how it leaves behind multiple key actors from the Disney+ series it follows on from.
Related: ‘Star Wars’ Confirms Gina Carano’s Cara Dune Replacement in ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’
The Mandalorian and Grogu Replaces Cast
The Mandalorian series boasts an impressive roster of supporting characters, including Greef Karga (Carl Weathers), The Armorer (Emily Swallow), Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris), IG-11 (Taika Waititi), Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff), Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and, of course, Cara Dune (Gina Carano).
But the new film only brings back Din and Grogu, along with Zeb Orrelios, who had a cameo in Season 3, as well as the film’s co-writer and new Lucasfilm President Dave Filoni, who reprises his role as New Republic X-Wing pilot Trapper Wolf. Carson Teva, played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, is now also expected to appear in the film following a LEGO set reveal.
Otherwise, the film’s supporting cast includes Sigourney Weaver (Ward), Jeremy Allen White (Rotta the Hutt), and Jonny Coyne (an unnamed Imperial Warlord).
A new trailer for the film reveals a number of returning Star Wars characters, including Zeb (originally from Rebels), Jabba the Hutt’s son Rotta, who was last seen in the 2008 animated film, The Clone Wars, and the bounty hunter Embo, from the animated series The Clone Wars. However, no characters from The Mandalorian appear.
The Mandalorian Characters’ Absences Explained
Of course, one can easily explain the absence of certain characters. Carl Weathers, who plays Greef Karga in all three seasons, sadly passed away in 2024. Katee Sackhoff, who plays Bo-Katan Kryze, has said she has struggled to find work since her time on The Mandalorian. And Giancarlo Esposito’s Imperial villain Moff Gideon was killed off at the end of Season 3.
But, more famously, Gina Carano, who plays former shock trooper and New Republic marshal Cara Dune, was fired from Lucasfilm in 2021 after sharing divisive tweets on social media. After filing a wrongful termination lawsuit, last year, the ex-MMA fighter reached a settlement with the company, fueling speculation she might eventually return to Star Wars.
Related: ‘Star Wars’ Officially Debuts Gina Carano’s Cara Dune Replacement
Will Cara Dune Ever Return to Star Wars?
Others thought the character herself might return, possibly with a recasting; however, after Carano was fired, Dune was essentially scrubbed out of the franchise and hasn’t even appeared in any tie-in media since. She was also unceremoniously written out of The Mandalorian with a fleeting line in Season 3 revealing she’d been recruited by New Republic special forces.
Since her exit from the faraway galaxy, Carano has struggled to maintain the same career momentum, despite having previously appeared in films such as Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and Deadpool (2016).
But while she might be missing from The Mandalorian and Grogu lineup, Carano, 43, is preparing for an epic, high-profile return to the world of MMA, where she first rose to fame.
Related: Disney Could Be Forced To Bring Gina Carano Back for ‘Mando’ Movie Following Legal Settlement
Per Deadline, Carano will be going toe to toe with fellow female competitor Ronda Rousey in LA on May 16 for a Netflix-streamed MMA event, a first for the streamer. The fight marks the Star Wars actor’s return to the ring after a 17-year hiatus after retiring in 2009.
Whether or not Carano will ever return to a galaxy far, far away remains to be seen. But here’s hoping we get a surprise cameo in the upcoming film.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Watch the brand-new trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu below:
“The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy,” the synopsis for the film on StarWars.com reads. “As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.”
The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to release in theaters on May 22.
Are you excited about The Mandalorian and Grogu? Share your thoughts in the comments below!