A major new chapter for Star Wars is on the horizon, with two of the franchise’s most beloved characters leading the way. On May 22, 2026, Disney and Lucasfilm will officially return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu, ending a nearly seven-year drought since the saga last graced the big screen.
Back in January 2024, Lucasfilm made it clear that The Mandalorian and its pint-sized breakout star would be a central part of the studio’s future. The announcement came after Kathleen Kennedy introduced three new Star Wars feature projects during 2023’s Star Wars Celebration.
The announcement, however, left fans speculating. Would this film act as a replacement for Season 4? And what about Dave Filoni’s long-promised crossover event, meant to tie together the so-called “Mando-Verse”? Answers remained murky for months—until The Hollywood Reporter delivered a critical 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 is part of Disney’s broader shift in strategy for Star Wars storytelling, though the pivot hasn’t been without complications. Season 3 of The Mandalorian met a mixed reception, largely due to notable changes in its focus and structure. Gina Carano’s absence as Cara Dune, the increased spotlight on Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze, and Pedro Pascal’s limited on-set presence as Din Djarin all contributed to the evolving tone.
Despite the shift toward film, a December 2024 report suggested that Season 4 isn’t completely off the table. The Direct shared a key detail: “According to a report from The InSneider, The Mandalorian Season 4 may not be dead at Disney+,” it noted. “He noted that the follow-up remains ‘in development’ for streaming, but The Mandalorian and Grogu will ‘arrive first’ in theaters.”
Meanwhile, production on The Mandalorian and Grogu has wrapped, and excitement from the creative team is evident. Speaking at the Skeleton Crew premiere last year, Dave Filoni reflected on how far the character has come: “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,” Filoni said.
Audiences can also expect to meet a Grogu who feels distinctly different from the version seen on television. During Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Jon Favreau discussed the character’s evolution with Collider.
“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 went on to elaborate on what that evolution will look like on screen:
“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—also affectionately known to fans as The Child or “Baby Yoda”—has become one of the most recognizable faces of the Disney era of Star Wars. His backstory was explored more deeply in Season 3 of The Mandalorian, revealing in “Chapter 20: The Foundling” that Jedi Master Kelleran Beq (Ahmed Best) saved him from the Jedi Temple during the chaos of Order 66.
Favreau also emphasized that right now, the team’s focus is entirely on delivering a cinematic experience worthy of Grogu’s massive popularity.
“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.”
Looking ahead, Favreau suggested the film aims to satisfy longtime fans while still welcoming those who may be encountering Din Djarin and Grogu for the first time.
“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.”
The production also made a notable creative choice to shoot select sequences with IMAX cameras, a move Favreau says will add an even more expansive feel to the final product. As of now, Season 4 of The Mandalorian remains in flux, while Lucasfilm’s broader theatrical slate continues to take shape.
At Star Wars Celebration 2025, Lucasfilm offered a clearer view of the roadmap ahead. Following The Mandalorian and Grogu, audiences can expect Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, to hit theaters in May 2027. Set five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, Starfighter represents another bold new direction for the saga.
Meanwhile, Dave Filoni has a full plate. In addition to his own upcoming feature film, production is officially underway for Ahsoka Season 2. During Celebration, Filoni also unveiled the first look at Rory McCann (Game of Thrones) stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll, following the tragic death of Ray Stevenson in 2023.
Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jonny Coyne, and Jeremy Allen White will star in The Mandalorian and Grogu.
How do you feel about Grogu’s transformation for the big screen? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
