For the first time in years, Star Wars is returning to cinemas—with Din Djarin and Grogu leading the charge.
Set to premiere on May 22, 2026, The Mandalorian and Grogu will be the first theatrical release in the galaxy far, far away since 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker. And for Lucasfilm, it’s more than a film—it’s a reset.
Back in January 2024, Lucasfilm made waves by announcing that The Mandalorian would pivot from Disney+ to the big screen. The shift followed the introduction of three film projects teased by Kathleen Kennedy during Star Wars Celebration 2023, signaling a major recalibration of the franchise’s roadmap.
But this pivot raised plenty of eyebrows. What about Season 4? And where does this leave Dave Filoni’s long-awaited crossover? That mystery lingered until The Hollywood Reporter dropped a key update in October 2024:
“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 reported.
The decision reflects Disney’s broader content strategy, which has seen streaming projects taper off in favor of more traditional theatrical storytelling. Season 3’s reception may have helped prompt the change—audiences were divided as the narrative shifted from Din Djarin to Bo-Katan Kryze, and Pedro Pascal took a reduced on-set role. The exit of Gina Carano’s Cara Dune only further altered the show’s dynamic.
Yet according to The Direct, the door isn’t fully closed on Season 4.
“According to a report from The InSneider, The Mandalorian Season 4 may not be dead at Disney+,” The Direct reported in December 2024. “He noted that the follow-up remains ‘in development’ for streaming, but The Mandalorian and Grogu will ‘arrive first’ in theaters.”
However, insider Daniel Richtman suggested otherwise, claiming the movie has now fully replaced the TV show and that future projects will hinge on its performance at the box office.
As for the movie itself, director Jon Favreau wants to ensure the film welcomes every kind of viewer. He explained to Collider:
“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. We want to reward people who’ve been there since the beginning, but also invite new audiences in.”
Favreau emphasized that the movie’s scale will benefit from the IMAX format, promising a grand cinematic experience. Meanwhile, Dave Filoni’s directorial debut looms, giving the Mando-Verse even more momentum.
Confirmed characters for the film include Din Djarin and Din Grogu, with Pedro Pascal returning. However, how often he’ll wear the helmet remains to be seen, given the increased use of body doubles Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder in Season 3.
Also back are Trapper Wolf (played by Filoni), Zeb Orrelios (Steve Blum), and the Anzellans. While not yet confirmed, characters like Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) and Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) may also appear.
Absent from the roster is Cara Dune, as Gina Carano was removed from the series after Season 2. Carano is now pursuing legal action against Disney and Lucasfilm, backed by Elon Musk.
New cast members include Sigourney Weaver, Jonny Coyne, and Jeremy Allen White.
Grogu’s journey is evolving as well. Speaking at Star Wars Celebration Tokyo, Favreau highlighted how the character’s arc is progressing.
“You wanna have progression, so it’s not just the same situation over and over again,” Favreau said. “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.”
He continued:
“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.”
Grogu’s backstory deepened in Season 3’s “Chapter 20: The Foundling,” where it was revealed that Kelleran Beq (Ahmed Best) rescued him from the Jedi Temple during Order 66, shielding him from Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and the clone troopers’ devastating assault on Coruscant.
Looking beyond, Lucasfilm is building out the post-Skywalker timeline. Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth, is scheduled to release in May 2027 and takes place five years after The Rise of Skywalker.
Filoni’s slate is just as packed. Production is underway for Ahsoka Season 2, and he introduced fans to Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), who takes over the role of Baylan Skoll after Ray Stevenson’s passing in 2023.
Are Din Djarin and Grogu ready to lead the next chapter of Star Wars? Let us know in the comments!
