‘Mandalorian’ Update After Disney Changes ‘Star Wars’ Plans, Cast Speaks Out
The Mandalorian and Grogu makes its theatrical debut on May 22, 2026—marking a major shift for the Star Wars franchise. After dominating Disney+ since 2019, the duo is officially leaping beyond streaming and into movie theaters, giving fans the clearest sign yet of Lucasfilm’s long-term strategy for the galaxy far, far away.
Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin, but this outing may challenge everything audiences have come to expect from Star Wars’ most recognizable recent partnership. Early hints suggest that the story might not be about Din and Grogu traveling side by side—but rather a branching of their paths.
The Mandalorian quickly became a cultural phenomenon when it launched in 2019. The connection between Din and Grogu captured audiences, creating a father-son journey that redefined Star Wars for a new era. Merchandise exploded, fan interest surged, and the series helped solidify Disney+ as a must-have platform for franchise storytelling.
Now, Lucasfilm looks to bring that same emotional core to theaters. Jon Favreau directs the film, serving once again as co-creator and executive producer. He’s joined by producers Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce. Ludwig Göransson returns as composer, ensuring the unmistakable music of the show carries onto cinema screens. Adding to the anticipation, Sigourney Weaver joins the cast—proof that this is far more 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 film continues the established timeline but introduces a compelling narrative twist: Din’s focus may shift away from Grogu.
Rotta the Hutt—the son of Jabba—is stepping into live-action, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White. Once introduced as an infant in 2008’s The Clone Wars, he’s now described as a “ripped” heir to his father’s criminal empire. White appeared on The Graham Norton Show, revealing that Rotta and Din will be “running around for a lot of the movie together,” launching widespread speculation about Rotta’s purpose—and how Grogu fits into the picture.
Even more details came when White told Variety: “I’ve been a fan of Jon Favreau’s for a very long time. 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.’”
He continued: “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. 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.”
Teaser footage shows Din and Grogu in different scenes, hinting at individual storylines rather than a shared journey. One major action sequence, set within a gladiator arena, appears to position Rotta as a central figure, possibly tied to the Hutt underworld and a larger criminal plot.
Some fans worry that this shift could alter what made the show special, while others believe that expanding Din’s world could open up more ambitious storytelling. Either way, Lucasfilm seems prepared to take narrative risks.
A fourth season of The Mandalorian remains planned, according to Favreau. “We were planning on doing a fourth season,” he told Empire Magazine. “I had actually written all of that. I still have Season 4 sitting on my desk here. 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 May 2026 approaches, one question lingers: is this a bold new era—or the moment everything changes for Star Wars’ most beloved duo?
What do you think of the direction The Mandalorian and Grogu are heading in next? Share your thoughts with us below.
