A new era for Grogu is on the horizon.
The galaxy far, far away is preparing for a major cinematic return. On May 22, 2026, Disney and Lucasfilm will bring The Mandalorian and Grogu to theaters, signaling the first Star Wars film release in nearly seven years and a new chapter for two of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
In January 2024, Lucasfilm revealed that The Mandalorian and Grogu would take center stage in its live-action lineup. This announcement came after Kathleen Kennedy introduced three upcoming Star Wars films at 2023’s Star Wars Celebration, marking a strategic shift for the studio.
Still, the move raised immediate questions among fans. Would this new film effectively replace Season 4 of The Mandalorian? And what would happen to Dave Filoni’s planned crossover event that would unite characters across the “Mando-Verse”? For a while, answers remained unclear. It wasn’t until an October 2024 report from The Hollywood Reporter that the picture started to come into focus.
“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 shared.
This new direction fits within Disney’s larger strategy for the Star Wars brand, though the road there hasn’t been entirely smooth. Season 3 of The Mandalorian received mixed feedback, as the series shifted its focus. The absence of Gina Carano’s Cara Dune, the expanded role of Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze, and Pedro Pascal’s scaled-back on-set work as Din Djarin all contributed to a noticeable change in tone.
Still, a glimmer of hope for the show’s future emerged later in 2024. According to The Direct, Season 4 might still happen even as the film leads the way. “According to a report from The InSneider, The Mandalorian Season 4 may not be dead at Disney+,” the outlet reported. “He noted that the follow-up remains ‘in development’ for streaming, but The Mandalorian and Grogu will ‘arrive first’ in theaters.”
Filming for The Mandalorian and Grogu has already wrapped, and Dave Filoni is more enthusiastic than ever about Grogu’s journey. Speaking at the Skeleton Crew premiere, Filoni said, “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.”
The upcoming film will also showcase a different version of Grogu than fans might expect. During Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Jon Favreau told Collider that growth was essential for the character’s story.
“You wanna have progression, so it’s not just the same situation over and over again,” Favreau explained. “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.” Favreau elaborated further, explaining how Grogu’s abilities and confidence will be more visible in the new story:
“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.”
Known widely as The Child or “Baby Yoda,” Grogu has become a cultural phenomenon in the Disney era of Star Wars. Season 3 of The Mandalorian dug deeper into his past, revealing in “Chapter 20: The Foundling” that Jedi Master Kelleran Beq (Ahmed Best) rescued him from the Jedi Temple during Order 66’s devastating attack led by Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and clone troopers.
Favreau also made it clear that right now, the focus is entirely on delivering the feature film. “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.”
And while the film will continue the story familiar to loyal viewers, Favreau shared that it will be designed to welcome newcomers as well.
“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.”
One major upgrade for the project comes with its use of IMAX technology. According to Favreau, scenes were shot with IMAX specifically in mind, promising an even more immersive experience when the film hits theaters. As it stands, the future of The Mandalorian Season 4 is still unclear, but Lucasfilm is pushing full steam ahead with theatrical plans.
During Star Wars Celebration 2025, fans were given a bigger glimpse of what’s ahead. After The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters, Star Wars: Starfighter from director Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling is set to take flight in May 2027. Set five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, Starfighter marks another major addition to the post-Skywalker saga era.
Meanwhile, Dave Filoni’s schedule is packed. Alongside his film, production on Ahsoka Season 2 has begun. At Celebration, Filoni also debuted the first look at Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), who will take on the role of Baylan Skoll following the passing of Ray Stevenson in 2023.
What do you think about Grogu’s upcoming transformation for the big screen? Share your thoughts with us down below!
