Six Years Later, ‘Star Wars’ Scraps Pedro Pascal’s Original Mandalorian

A huge change for The Mandalorian six years after its Disney+ debut.

Star Wars is returning to theaters for the first time since 2019, marking a major shift for the franchise as Lucasfilm pivots away from Disney+ dominance. The Mandalorian and Grogu will open on May 22, 2026, officially ending the six-year theatrical gap following the sequel trilogy’s finale. Many believed the series would continue on streaming after Season 3, especially with creator Jon Favreau previously hinting at progress on more episodes.

That changed in January 2024, when Lucasfilm announced a feature film would take the place of the expected fourth season. Speculation swirled about whether the show’s direction had been abandoned, but Favreau revealed to Empire Magazine that the scripts for Season 4 already exist and remain unused—yet preserved. The theatrical version, he explained, was built around a true film structure and not adapted from his episodic plans. The next-season concepts remain separate from what the audience will see in theaters, and may not happen at all.

New faces will also help reshape the story. Sigourney Weaver enters the franchise as Ward, leader of the New Republic’s Adelphi Rangers, while Jeremy Allen White plays Rotta the Hutt—now a grown successor to Jabba’s criminal empire. The official synopsis places the film during the unstable fallout after the collapse of the Empire, with Din Djarin and Grogu recruited to defend the new government from rising warlords.

Not everyone from the series is returning. Temuera Morrison has stated he won’t appear this time, and Gina Carano’s legal battle with Disney during production rules out any Cara Dune cameos. Reports suggest Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze and Emily Swallow’s Armorer may also be absent, sparking theories that the film centers almost entirely on Din and Grogu—possibly resembling one extended episode.

One ongoing question is how much Pedro Pascal will physically portray the Mandalorian. Due to the creed limiting unmasking, stunt performers Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder frequently take over on set. Pascal has previously explained that he did spend significant time in costume early on, but the demanding schedule led to a system that allows him to contribute when possible, with the stunt team filling in as needed.

Jon Favreau has now confirmed that Pascal’s original Mandalorian persona is being abandoned for this film. As he told Empire Magazine, the character’s mindset changed after Season 3. “One of the last things we say [in Season 3] is, like, ‘I don’t want to go out there and just be a hired gun. I want to work for the good guys,’” Favreau said.

The Direct commented on this change:

“Notably, this goes against everything Lucasfilm promised when The Mandalorian first aired. The show was entirely built around following a mysterious bounty hunter with a muddy past, and The Mandalorian and Grogu is moving away from that completely. Now, instead of giving fans a gritty look at a bounty hunter who is more neutral on the grand scale of right and wrong, The Mandalorian & Grogu will seemingly just showcase another hero fighting ‘for the good guys.'”

Earlier seasons followed an episodic “case of the week” structure as Din and Grogu faced new threats each chapter, though a larger arc connected each season. As the New Republic storyline grew through The Book of Boba Fett and Skeleton Crew, The Mandalorian expanded as well.

This cinematic transition also mirrors Lucasfilm’s wider strategy. Besides The Mandalorian and Grogu, the studio is preparing Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, featuring Ryan Gosling and Amy Adams, for a 2027 release, with other projects in development. Budget shifts have hit streaming: Rosario Dawson shared that Ahsoka Season 2 will cut more than $100 million from its budget, and The Acolyte was canceled for financial reasons.

Early footage suggests Din and Grogu may split up during parts of the story, with Din potentially teaming up with Rotta the Hutt on a morally complicated mission. Glimpses include gladiator arenas and criminal underworld settings that the series has barely touched.

Dave Filoni continues to plan a large-scale crossover film uniting characters from The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and other series. Until then, The Mandalorian and Grogu appears to serve as the bridge to the franchise’s theatrical future.

How do you feel about this Mandalorian transition? Let us know in the comments down below!