After Major ‘Mandalorian’ Franchise Developments, New Information Comes To Light
Next year marks Star Wars’ return to the big screen, and The Mandalorian and Grogu (2025) isn’t just another franchise entry—it’s a test case for where Lucasfilm wants to steer its post-Skywalker storytelling.
Arriving in theaters on May 22, 2026, the film represents the first time a Disney+ original has made the leap to cinemas. More importantly, it places Din Djarin and Grogu in unfamiliar territory, both narratively and structurally. The question hovering over the project is simple but loaded: what does The Mandalorian look like when its central relationship is no longer the sole engine of the story?
Since its 2019 debut, The Mandalorian has functioned as the backbone of Star Wars’ streaming ambitions. Pedro Pascal’s lone bounty hunter and his unlikely bond with Grogu helped redefine what Star Wars television could be, drawing in casual viewers and longtime fans alike. That success made a theatrical expansion inevitable, but the film appears intent on doing more than scaling up the formula.
Jon Favreau returns to direct, alongside producers Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, maintaining continuity behind the scenes. Ludwig Göransson’s music also carries over, preserving the series’ sonic identity. The addition of Sigourney Weaver, however, signals that this is being treated as a full-feature production rather than an extended episode.
Set between Star Wars: Episode VI–Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015), the story remains within familiar chronology while pivoting toward a new focal point. That shift comes in the form of Rotta the Hutt, Jabba’s son, now grown and portrayed by Jeremy Allen White.
White has indicated that Rotta is deeply embedded in the plot. During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, he noted that he and Din Djarin spend much of the film together, hinting at a partnership that could temporarily sideline Grogu from center stage.
White elaborated on how the role came together in a Variety interview.
“I’ve been a fan of Jon Favreau’s for a very long time,” telling Variety. “Swingers and Made had a tremendous effect on me as a young man, a young actor. We met at a party. I told him that, and he was like, ‘I have something I want to talk to you about. Can I call you?’ It was the next day, and he was talking about Mandalorian, and I said, ‘It’s a great show. You do a great job. I’d known Pedro Pascal for a little bit, and he’s great and has fun on it, and he loves you.’ He was like, ‘I want you to be in it.’”
“Fantastic, of course. And then he started explaining it and started talking about Rotta. I’d never done voice work. There isn’t any stop-motion work or anything physical like that,” the Shameless star confirmed. “I was excited about doing a job that is in this world of Star Wars, a world that I have admired for a very long time.”
Early trailer footage suggests Din and Grogu won’t be inseparable this time. While Grogu remains present, the imagery implies parallel arcs rather than constant companionship. Much of Din’s journey appears tied to Rotta, including a major gladiator arena sequence that positions the Hutt heir as a significant force.
Rotta’s evolution from animated infant to adult crime figure opens the door to underworld storytelling rarely explored in Star Wars films. Aligning Din with a Hutt—whether as protector, escort, or reluctant accomplice—pushes the character into ethically complex terrain during a period when the New Republic’s authority is still fragile.
Fan reaction has been split. Some welcome the expanded scope and deeper dive into criminal politics. Others are cautious, wary of diluting the emotional core that made the series resonate. Lucasfilm seems aware of the risk and willing to take it.
That gamble becomes clearer in a reported description of the next trailer, expected to debut theatrically next week before arriving online.
Mandoverse Updates (@Mando3Updates) shared the overview of the trailer, sourced from @MikeTheProgram:
New details on ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ trailer that’s expected to be released next week and be attached to ‘Avatar : Fire And Ash’
-The trailer starts soft – similar to previous trailers
There’s a 10 second cutesy moment between the Din Djarin and Grogu
Din Djarin has new speaking lines “Before we go into harms way, make sure you armor is tucked”
Theres more Zeb fighting scenes
Theres no new cameos
-The trailer showcases a longer clip of the battle arena fight with Rotta
Source @MikeTheProgram
🚨New details on ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ trailer that’s expected to be released next week and be attached to ‘Avatar : Fire And Ash’🚨
-The trailer starts soft – similar to previous trailers
– There’s a 10 second cutesy moment between the Din Djarin and Grogu
– Din Djarin… pic.twitter.com/cCw1exrTEz
— Mandoverse Updates (@Mando3Updates) December 12, 2025
The arena footage reportedly offers the clearest look yet at Rotta’s physical presence, reinforcing that he’s more than a legacy cameo. Combined with appearances from Zeb Orrelios, the film appears intent on widening the Mandoverse rather than narrowing its focus.
Crucially, the movie does not replace the series. Favreau confirmed that a fourth season remains on the table.
“We were planning on doing a fourth season,” Favreau said in a recent Empire Magazine interview. “I had actually written all of that. I still have Season 4 sitting on my desk here.” He added, “It’s structured around a movie structure as opposed to a serialized weekly television show. So there’s a larger throw to the whole thing.”
As Star Wars ramps up its theatrical slate, The Mandalorian and Grogu stands as a proving ground. Its success—or failure—will influence how Lucasfilm bridges streaming and cinema going forward. With Grogu’s role evolving and Din Djarin stepping into murkier territory, this chapter may redefine what audiences expect from Star Wars on the big screen.
How do you feel about all these developments for the Mandalorian movie? Let us know in the comments down below!
