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Credit: LucasfilmThree years after Star Wars fans finally got answers about Grogu, AKA The Child and “Baby Yoda,” the franchise has upturned the Force user’s origin and retconned his storyline.
Star Wars is preparing for its long-awaited return to theaters, but The Mandalorian and Grogu may signal more than just a big-screen expansion. It could mark a strategic turning point for the Disney+ era that once defined Lucasfilm’s post-sequel trilogy roadmap.
Set for release on May 22, 2026, The Mandalorian and Grogu will be the franchise’s first theatrical installment since 2019 and the first centered on characters introduced on streaming. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film continues the story that began with The Mandalorian in 2019, following three seasons that reshaped Star Wars television.
The story unfolds roughly five years after Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi (1983), during the fragile early days of the New Republic. Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and his Force-sensitive apprentice, Din Grogu, will face Imperial remnants still operating in the shadows of the fallen Empire. Those lingering factions will drive much of the conflict.
Din’s evolution mirrors the broader galactic rebuilding effort. Once a solitary bounty hunter chasing credits, he has gradually aligned himself with the New Republic’s cause, shifting from hired gun to reluctant protector with a larger sense of responsibility.
The ensemble is being reshaped for the transition to film. Sigourney Weaver joins the franchise as Admiral Ward, reportedly a key figure despite limited screen time. Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt, Jabba’s son, who is expected to play a meaningful role and will even accompany Din for part of the journey.
Some connective tissue remains. Dave Filoni reprises his role as New Republic pilot Trapper Wolf. Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios from Star Wars Rebels and members of the Anzellan species introduced in 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker are also set to appear, though none were shown in the recent primetime teaser.
The Mandalorian and Grogu at the Super Bowl
The teaser, which aired during Super Bowl LX, sparked debate. Rather than unveiling major plot details, the 36-second spot leaned into nostalgia, showing Din and Grogu traveling through snow in a tauntaun-drawn carriage reminiscent of a Budweiser Clydesdales ad. There were no significant story revelations.
Disney defended the approach. Jackson George, Disney Executive VP of Creative Marketing, explained, via Variety, “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.” The goal, he suggested, was to reconnect audiences emotionally rather than preview the plot.
Still, some fans questioned the strategy, particularly given the nearly seven-year gap since The Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars Just Quietly Retconned Baby Yoda’s Origin–And It Changes Everything Fans Thought They Knew
For years, Grogu–the tiny Force-sensitive fans still lovingly call “Baby Yoda”–has remained one of the biggest mysteries in Star Wars history. When he debuted in The Mandalorian on Disney+, audiences knew almost nothing about how he survived the Jedi Purge. Over time, bits and pieces of his past were revealed, especially his escape from Order 66. But now, Lucasfilm has quietly reshaped that story in a way that fundamentally changes what fans thought they understood.
A newly released comic, “Jar Jar #1,” adds a surprising new layer to Grogu’s survival during the fall of the Republic. Previously, The Mandalorian Season 3 showed Jedi Master Kelleran Beq–played by Jar Jar actor Ahmed Best–rescuing Grogu from the Jedi Temple as clone troopers carried out Emperor Palpatine’s infamous command. It was a dramatic and emotional sequence that seemed to definitively answer how Grogu escaped Coruscant alive.
However, the comic expands that moment by inserting an unexpected player into the rescue: Jar Jar Binks.
According to the new story, Jar Jar played a direct role in helping Grogu flee the chaos of Order 66. Rather than being a distant political figure or comic relief character lingering on the edges of the prequel era, Jar Jar is now depicted as actively assisting Kelleran Beq behind the scenes. The Gungan senator reportedly helps facilitate Grogu’s escape with Naboo soldiers, even providing the means for the Jedi youngling to get off-world safely using his Naboo starcruiser.
It’s a notable shift. For decades, Jar Jar Binks has been one of the most divisive characters in Star Wars. Now, he’s retroactively positioned as part of the reason one of the franchise’s most beloved characters survived one of its darkest chapters. That alone changes how fans may look back at the events surrounding the Jedi Temple massacre.
More importantly, this retcon alters Grogu’s origin in a meaningful way. What once felt like a narrow, desperate escape led by a single heroic Jedi is now part of a larger network of covert support during the Republic’s collapse. Grogu didn’t simply survive because he was lucky or because one Jedi happened to find him. His escape was aided by political maneuvering and unexpected alliances during the galaxy’s most chaotic turning point.
For The Mandalorian, that shift adds new context. Grogu’s journey from hunted youngling to Din Djarin’s foundling has always been rooted in survival and destiny. Now, survival is even more layered. The ripple effects stretch back to the prequel era, tying together characters and storylines in ways fans likely never anticipated.
As with any Star Wars retcon, reactions will vary. Some viewers may welcome the added depth and redemption for Jar Jar Binks. Others may see it as an unnecessary rewrite of established lore. Either way, Grogu’s backstory is no longer as straightforward as it once seemed.
And in a galaxy where history is constantly being expanded through shows, films, comics, and novels, it’s a reminder that what fans think they know can always change.
The Mando-Verse May Soon Be Over
Both the marketing conversation and the Grogu retcon arrive alongside broader changes at Lucasfilm. “According to insider Daniel Richtman, Lucasfilm is considering potentially moving away from the MandoVerse for future Star Wars projects,” The Direct explains.
“The known scooper shared the news in a new post on Patreon, writing that, as it stands, nothing within that particular section of the Star Wars timeline is planned beyond the upcoming Ahsoka Season 2, and Lucasfilm is waiting to see how the Rosario Dawson-led streaming series performs before committing to anything else,” the outlet added.
With Kathleen Kennedy stepping down as president and Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan stepping in, the franchise appears to be reassessing its direction. For now, only two theatrical projects are confirmed: The Mandalorian and Grogu and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), starring Ryan Gosling, Amy Adams, Mia Goth, and Matt Smith.
Whether the Mandalorian era continues to expand or begins to wind down may depend on how this next chapter performs.
How do you feel this new comic changes the Grogu narrative? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!