Star Wars is preparing its big comeback with The Mandalorian and Grogu, a highly anticipated film scheduled for May 2026. Featuring two of the most popular characters of the Disney era, this feature film represents a major strategic shift for Lucasfilm. Here's a look back at what we already know about this new adventure.
Star Wars: Return to Cinemas After a Six-Year Wait
Since the release of The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, no Star Wars film has been released in theaters. The saga has relied on Disney+ productions, with series like The Mandalorian, Andor, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi. While some have met with widespread success, such as The Mandalorian, others – like Andor – have struggled to attract the general public, despite critically acclaimed narrative quality. This imbalance highlights the constant dilemma between artistic ambition and commercial profitability.
It is in this context that The Mandalorian and Grogu stands out as a pivotal project. The film aims to relaunch the saga in cinemas, with an approach that is both spectacular and accessible. Disney has also been careful to avoid past mistakes, adjusting its schedule to avoid competing with another giant, such as Infinity War in 2018, which overshadowed Solo. However, the film will have to deal with a phenomenon of a completely different kind: the highly anticipated release of GTA VI, which could cause a media tidal wave and drive some audiences away from movie theaters. What will The Mandalorian and Grogu be about? The film's plot takes place just after the events of season 3 of The Mandalorian. Din Djarin, now allied with the New Republic, is tasked with hunting down the last remaining Imperial warlords. At his side, his Force-sensitive adopted son, Grogu, accompanies him on a mission that mixes political issues, galactic conflicts, and personal dilemmas.
The film also promises to explore Din Djarin's inner struggles. His commitment to Mandalorian traditions, including the prohibition on removing his helmet, will be challenged. Moreover, the first images of the film, unveiled during the Star Wars Celebration, show Pedro Pascal without a helmet – a strong gesture that could mark a turning point in Mandalorian mythology.
The film is expected to be a mix between a drama centered on the father-son relationship between Din and Grogu, and a grand spectacle fueled by intergalactic conflicts. More broadly, The Mandalorian and Grogu will also serve as a springboard for future projects like Star Wars: Starfighter, with Ryan Gosling, and will pave the way for new challenges for the galaxy.
The characters of the new Star Wars
Pedro Pascal will obviously return as Din Djarin, while Grogu will occupy a central place in the plot. The film will also see the return of fan-favorite supporting characters, such as the droid R5-D4, who reappeared in Season 3, and Star Wars Rebels veteran Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios and the BDX droids.
Other figures from the Expanded Universe are expected, including Imperial warlords, whose identities remain secret. Some rumors even suggest the appearance of Admiral Thrawn. It is also likely that Lucasfilm will have some surprises in store, by incorporating characters unknown to the general public, in order to strengthen the coherence of the Star Wars canon.
The Return of Jabba the Hutt's Family
One of the most surprising elements of the film is the return of Rotta the Hutt, Jabba's son, seen as a baby in The Clone Wars. In this new film, Rotta will appear as a muscular adult, having become a gladiator. This visual reinvention is directly inspired by the character of Grakkus the Hutt in the comics. With this surprising choice, Jon Favreau strengthens the links between his universe and that developed by Dave Filoni at the time of The Clone Wars, a series that has become a cult classic for a generation of fans who are now adults.
Sigourney Weaver: from Alien to Star Wars
A big surprise in this casting: the arrival of Sigourney Weaver in the Star Wars universe. A key figure in science fiction thanks to her roles in Alien and Avatar, she plays a new character that is still being kept secret. The first images from the shoot show her in an X-Wing pilot's outfit, which suggests a role linked to the New Republic. However, some fans speculate that she could play an antagonist, or an ambivalent figure belonging to a still unknown faction.
In any case, her arrival – like the various elements revealed so far – underlines Lucasfilm's desire to give a whole new dimension to its Star Wars projects. Far from rushed productions like the postlogy or Solo, The Mandalorian and Grogu seems to be taking its time to come up with a project solid, mature, and potentially among the most accomplished that the Disney era has offered.
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