Credit: Lucasfilm The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) is now two months away from its theatrical release. While hype surrounding the film has mostly been absent, things are now starting to pick up.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Backlash
The initial trailer that was released a few months ago was hardly the spark that lit the fire of excitement. Fans accused the film of lacking the visual upgrade that big-screen continuations are often given and of looking like nothing more than an extended episode of the Disney+ series (most likely due to its low budget, which is rather surprising for a Star Wars movie).
Most recently, the Super Bowl commercial, which saw Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu in a tauntaun-pulled carriage with a voiceover from actor Sam Elliott, drew even more backlash from fans, with many feeling confused and put off by the ad’s bizarre tone and style.
Now, some new information has come to light that suggests the film could be more important than anyone ever anticipated, despite it currently failing to generate the usual buzz associated with a major Star Wars release.
The Film Breaks New Ground for Star Wars
The Mandalorian and Grogu is the franchise’s first-ever big-screen adaptation (or continuation) of a TV series. The only other project that comes remotely close is the 2008 animated theatrical film Star Wars: The Clone Wars — but that film led to the long-running animated series of the same name, not the other way around.
The Mandalorian first arrived on Disney+ in 2019, introducing bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pascal) and Grogu (then dubbed “Baby Yoda” by fans) to longtime Star Wars fans and new generations alike. The series became a huge success and worldwide phenomenon, ushering in a new era for a franchise that was in the midst of controversy even two years after Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (2017), the divisive middle chapter in the sequel trilogy.
Related: ‘Star Wars’ Retcons Grogu Just Three Months Before ‘Mandalorian’ Movie
Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019) came not long after The Mandalorian, arriving in theaters in December of that year. While that film was also panned for failing to wrap up plotlines introduced in its own 2017 predecessor and inexplicably charting its own course despite being the finale, fans had the Disney+ series to fall back on.
It seemed the galaxy far, far away had found a new footing on the smaller screen.
Mando and Grogu Are as Iconic as Han and Chewie
The Mandalorian spawned a wave of live-action Star Wars shows that have spanned the last few years: The Book of Boba Fett (2021), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), Andor (2022), Ahsoka (2023), The Acolyte (2024), and Skeleton Crew (2024).
However, most of those projects failed to live up to the success of the flagship series, which not only earned high viewership but dominated toy stores all around the world (and online).
Din Djarin and Grogu quickly became as iconic as other Star Wars duos, such as Han Solo and Chewbacca ,and C-3PO and R2-D2. Not only did they fill toy store shelves everywhere, but they also made frequent appearances at Disney Parks where they thrilled eager crowds.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Ruined the Series
It seemed the pair could do no wrong. The Mandalorian Season 2 came in 2020 and was as well received as the first season. It introduced characters previously only seen in animation, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff), and legacy characters, Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and R2-D2.
In 2023, the third and most recent season landed on the streamer. Despite fleshing out Grogu’s mysterious past by revealing how he survived Order 66 in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant (which was recently retconned in Star Wars comics), the series seemed unfocused, while also side-lining Din in favor of another Mandalorian: Bo-Katan Kryze.
But by that point, many fans were already disenfranchised with the series after The Book of Boba Fett had undone the impactful and critically praised ending to The Mandalorian Season 2, which saw an emotional Din hand Grogu over to Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker.
Fortunately, there were some saving graces. The series ended by strongly implying more simplified adventures for the duo going forward. Now, it seems The Mandalorian and Grogu will be a continuation of that Season 3 finale, as the synopsis on StarWars.com states:
“The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. 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.”
One of the biggest questions of everyone’s mind, however, is whether we will learn anything more about Grogu, as there’s still a great deal we don’t know about him.
Where Is Grogu From?
The first two seasons of The Mandalorian certainly implied that Din would help the pint-sized Force wielder find his own people, an unnamed species that has largely remained elusive in Star Wars but for Jedi masters Yoda and Yaddle, and now, of course, Grogu.
But by the third season, it seemed the series got side-tracked with exploring Mandalore culture instead.
Grogu’s Future Beyond The Mandalorian Timeline
Another question fans have been asking about Grogu over the years is where he’s supposed to be during the events of the sequel trilogy.
For a moment, it seemed The Book of Boba Fett was about to answer that question, with Luke Skywalker building a new temple where he could train Grogu. But, as we know, the youngling soon returned to the care of Din Djarin.
The Mandalorian takes place five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983), which means that the upcoming film is likely set a couple of years after Season 1 — or a few at the most.
So the events of the sequel trilogy won’t begin for another 25 years, as there’s a 30-year gap between Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (2015).
We know that Grogu’s species have very long lifespans — Yoda himself is said to be around 800 years old when he becomes one with the Force in Return of the Jedi. We also know that, despite being an infant, Grogu is around 50 when Din first meets him.
Now, with the film just two months from release (May 22), marketing is starting to ramp up and Disney Lucasfilm has dropped the second official trailer, which contains a few major clues about Grogu’s future in the faraway galaxy. Watch it below:
New Information About Grogu’s Future in Star Wars
The new trailer appears to confirm that “The Child” will live for hundreds of years yet, as an emotional Din can be heard telling someone, “The kid will live centuries beyond me.”
While this doesn’t necessarily confirm that Grogu will survive, it’s unlikely Lucasfilm will kill off such a popular and adorable character who has been an enormous hit with viewers, especially when there are many more stories to be told.
Of course, Star Wars is no stranger to killing off characters, as it knows it has the luxury of going back along its timeline and revisiting them at an earlier point in their lives. But it’s hard to imagine this happening with Grogu. With that said, if he is alive during the sequel trilogy — which now definitely seems to be the case — then this raises so many questions.
The most obvious is: Where he during the events of the sequel trilogy? In turn, this leads us to ask even more questions. Wasn’t Rey (Daisy Ridley) supposed to be “the last jedi”? Why didn’t Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) try to track down Grogu? Why didn’t Luke ever mention him? Was Grogu trained alongside Ben Solo (Adam Driver)? So many questions.
It’s unlikely The Mandalorian and Grogu will answer any of them, but it seems the trailer alone has at least answered one: Is Grogu alive during the sequel trilogy? It would seem so.
The Mandalorian and Grogu stars Pedro Pascal (Din Djarin), Sigourney Weaver (Ward), Jeremy Allen White (Rotta the Hutt), and Jonny Coyne (an unnamed Imperial Warlord), while Steve Blum is expected to reprise his role as Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios from the animated series Star Wars Rebels (the character himself is confirmed as he appears in the trailer).
Several key characters from the Disney+ series won’t appear, leaving the likes of The Armorer (Emily Swallow), Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris), IG-11 (Taika Waititi), Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), and Bo-Katan (Sackhoff) on the sidelines.
However, Carson Teva, played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, is expected to return.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to release in theaters on May 22.
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