New Information Comes To Light Regarding ‘Mandalorian’ Franchise as ‘Star Wars’ Cuts Revealed
Next year marks a pivotal return for Star Wars—and a defining moment for Lucasfilm’s future on the big screen.
After seven years away from theaters, the galaxy far, far away will make its long-awaited comeback with The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), a feature-length follow-up to the Disney+ hit The Mandalorian. Directed by Jon Favreau, the project bridges streaming success with theatrical spectacle, setting the stage for a new era in the saga.
Announced in January 2024, the film reunites Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin and was revealed alongside Dave Filoni’s Ahsoka Season 2 as part of the expanding New Republic storyline. The announcement followed Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy’s confirmation that three additional Star Wars films are in development—helmed by James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and Filoni himself.
Although those titles were teased at Star Wars Celebration 2023, The Mandalorian and Grogu will reach theaters first, with Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter arriving in 2027. Few plot details have surfaced, but the movie will debut new faces, including Sigourney Weaver as New Republic leader Ward and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt.
“The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy,” the synopsis reads on StarWars.com. “As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu (as himself).”
The Mandalorian and Grogu opens May 22, 2026—marking the first Star Wars theatrical release since 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker. That film closed out Disney’s sequel trilogy to divided reactions, leaving fans curious about what direction the franchise would take next.
After refuting reports of her departure, Kennedy reaffirmed her leadership and confirmed Levy’s Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and Amy Adams, will follow Favreau’s film. Levy—fresh off 2024’s billion-dollar Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) and Stranger Things—is crafting a standalone story set within the Star Wars galaxy.
A Cameo in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Sigourney Weaver recently revealed that her screen time in The Mandalorian and Grogu will be short. Speaking on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, the actress said she was “only on set for a few days,” describing a humorous scene where her character “got a drink from someone with a very different kind of head.”
Weaver plays Ward, a former Rebel pilot turned New Republic colonel. Despite appearing prominently in early marketing, her role seems confined to a single bar sequence. With Pascal and Grogu at the story’s core, her cameo adds star power without taking focus from the titular duo.
Collider reports that The Mandalorian and Grogu’s production cost totals $166.4 million, bolstered by a $21.75 million tax credit from California. Compared to past Star Wars films—some exceeding $300 million—the lower cost suggests Lucasfilm is favoring efficiency. StageCraft, or “The Volume,” continues to play a major role in keeping expenses lean.
While more modestly budgeted, expectations remain high. The story of Din Djarin and Grogu has built goodwill through its emotional depth and visual inventiveness, giving Lucasfilm confidence that the pair’s leap to theaters can reignite Star Wars excitement.
Reports indicate fan favorites like Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze and Emily Swallow’s Armorer won’t appear, nor will Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka, whose own second season remains in development.
At Comic-Con Scotland, Dawson confirmed Ahsoka Season 2 will operate on a smaller budget, though she assured fans it would “go bigger” in story despite scaled-back visuals. The change follows a wider tightening across Lucasfilm productions, signaling a shift toward sustainable filmmaking.
Looking ahead, Dave Filoni continues work on his crossover Mando-Verse movie, set to tie together The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett. For now, The Mandalorian and Grogu stands as Lucasfilm’s next major test—one that could define the future of Star Wars both theatrically and on streaming.
The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters May 22, 2026, starring Pedro Pascal, Grogu, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne, Steven Blum, and Dave Filoni.
