| The Mandalorian and Grogu | |
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 Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Jon Favreau |
| Written by |
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| Based on | Characters byGeorge Lucas |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Edited by | Rachel Goodlett Katz |
| Music by | Ludwig Göransson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Mandalorian and Grogu, also known asStar Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,[1] is an upcoming American film directed byJon Favreau and co-written by Favreau andDave Filoni. Produced byLucasfilm and set to be distributed byWalt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is part of theStar Wars franchise and a continuation of theDisney+ television seriesThe Mandalorian (2019–2023). The film starsPedro Pascal asDin Djarin / The Mandalorian, alongsideSigourney Weaver,Jeremy Allen White, andJonny Coyne.
Favreau and Filoni had written a fourth season ofThe Mandalorian by February 2023, but production on the season was delayed by the2023 Hollywood labor disputes. During this time, Lucasfilm re-evaluated their plans for the franchise and decided to prioritize aMandalorian film over the fourth season.The Mandalorian and Grogu was announced in January 2024. Filming began in California by August 2024 and was completed by that December.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 22, 2026.
TheNew Republic enlistsDin Djarin and his apprenticeGrogu following the fall of theGalactic Empire, during a period where remaining Imperial warlords threaten the galaxy.[2]
Additionally, co-writerDave Filoni reprises his role as New RepublicX-wing pilotTrapper Wolf fromThe Mandalorian (2019–2023).[10] The characterGarazeb "Zeb" Orrelios from the animated seriesStar Wars Rebels (2014–2018) also appears,[11] as do members of the Anzellan species from the filmStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).[12]
DirectorJon Favreau hadpitched an idea for aStar Wars television series featuringMandalorians toLucasfilm presidentKathleen Kennedy in 2017.[13][14]Dave Filoni, an executive producer on the animated seriesStar Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020) andStar Wars Rebels (2014–2018), was also conceiving a Mandalorian-focused series and Kennedy suggested they work together.[14] This led to the creation ofThe Mandalorian, the first live-actionStar Wars television series, which debuted with the launch of the streaming serviceDisney+ in November 2019.[15] Shortly after the premiere,Walt Disney Studios'schief creative officer (CCO)Alan F. Horn said a film featuring the series' titularbounty hunter,Din Djarin, could be developed if the series was a success.[16] The next month, Favreau said there was an opportunity to explore the series' characters inStar Wars films orspin-off television series.[4]
The Mandalorian's bounty at the start of the series is "the Child", colloquially known as "Baby Yoda" by viewers, who is an infant of the same species asYoda. The character is created withanimatronics andpuppetry, augmented with visual effects. He becomes the Mandalorian's ward,[4] and is revealed in thesecond season to be named Grogu.[17] In September 2020,The Mandalorian co-starGiancarlo Esposito said the second season lays the groundwork for "the depth and breadth that's going to come inseason three and season four".[18] The next month, Favreau and starPedro Pascal said they were open to the Mandalorian appearing in aStar Wars film, but Favreau was in no rush to do this.[19] Favreau began writing the fourth season by late May 2022,[20] and completed the scripts with Filoni by February 2023.[21] Filming for the season was scheduled to begin that September, but this was delayed by the2023 Hollywood labor disputes.[22][23][24] In November, Filoni revealed that he was now the CCO at Lucasfilm and would be directly involved in the planning of future films and series.[25]
While production on the fourth season was delayed by the labor disputes, Lucasfilm re-evaluated their plans for the franchise and decided to prioritize aMandalorian film instead.[24] The studio announced the film, titledThe Mandalorian and Grogu, in January 2024. Favreau was set to direct, co-write with Filoni, and produce with Kennedy, Filoni, andIan Bryce.[5][24][26] Filming was expected to begin that June,[3] making it the firstStar Wars film to move forward sinceStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) ended the main "Skywalker Saga" film series.[5] Pascal celebrated the film's announcement by sharing concept art for it onInstagram.[27] He was expected to reprise his role as the voice of the Mandalorian, but it was unclear whether he would be physically portraying the character—whose face is generally hidden with a helmet—and some questioned whether his busy schedule had room for the production.[3][27] It was also unclear whether the fourth season would still be made because there was potential for future Mandalorian stories to instead be told through film sequels if the first film was a success.[24] Favreau later stated that he still had all the scripts for the fourth season and the film had become "more of its own thing" due to the changes needed to fit a film structure rather than that of a weekly television series. James Whitbrook atGizmodo said the existence of scripts for a fourth season did not mean one would be made, and if the season did get made it was unclear whether re-writes would be necessary to work around the film.[28]
During an earnings call in February 2024, Disney CEOBob Iger said the film would likely be released in 2026 and would start a new slate ofStar Wars films.[29] Explaining the decision to move forward withThe Mandalorian and Grogu as the nextStar Wars film, Kennedy said they had built an audience for the film through the success ofThe Mandalorian on Disney+ and she believed young audiences would consider the film to be "theirStar Wars" and not feel pressure to watch the entire franchise to see this entry.[30] Also in February, California allocated the production $21,755,000 in tax credits from the state's filming tax incentive program, one of the biggest allocations in the program's history. The film was expected to be entirely produced in the state, a first for aStar Wars theatrical film, and would generate over $166 million in qualified expenditures andbelow-the-line wages there.[31] In April, Disney scheduled the film for release on May 22, 2026, filling the May 2026 date that the studio previously reserved for an untitledStar Wars film.[32]Sigourney Weaver was in talks to join the cast a month later.[33]Doug Chiang and Andrew L. Jones returned fromThe Mandalorian and its spin-offs as production designers, withMary Zophres as costume designer after previously working with Favreau onIron Man 2 (2010).[34][better source needed]
Principal photography was scheduled to begin in June 2024 in California,[3][31] under theworking titleThunder Alley,[35][independent source needed] and was expected to last for 92 days.[31] The film had approximately 54 cast members, 3,500background extras, and 500 crew members.[31] Favreau and Filoni said in early August that filming had begun several weeks earlier.[36] At that time, the characterGarazeb "Zeb" Orrelios fromRebels was revealed to be appearing along with the Anzellan species fromThe Rise of Skywalker, after both appeared in thethird season ofThe Mandalorian. A new version of theRazor Crest, the Mandalorian's ship that was destroyed in the series' second season, was also set to appear.[11][12] Weaver confirmed her casting at the end of August.[37] Filmingwrapped by the start of December 2024.[38]
Rachel Goodlett Katz edited the film, after previously working on the third season ofThe Mandalorian.[39] In mid-December 2024,Jonny Coyne was revealed to be reprising his role as an Imperial Warlord from the third season ofThe Mandalorian.[9] By then,Jeremy Allen White was cast to provide the voice ofRotta the Hutt, a character first introduced in the animated filmStar Wars: The Clone Wars (2008).[8] AtStar Wars Celebration Japan in April 2025, Weaver was revealed to be portrayingNew Republic colonel Ward,[7] while Filoni was revealed to be reprising his role as New Republic pilotTrapper Wolf fromThe Mandalorian.[10]
Ludwig Göransson was confirmed in September 2025 to be composing the score for the film, returning to the franchise after he composed for the first two seasons ofThe Mandalorian and provided themes for the third.[2][40]
Favreau and Filoni presented initial footage from the film at Disney'sD23 convention in August 2024.[11][12] More footage was shown atD23 Brazil that November, with Favreau and Filoni appearing via a video message from the film's set.[41] A panel for the film was held atStar Wars Celebration Japan in April 2025, where more footage was shown. Favreau, Filoni, Kennedy, Pascal, and Weaver discussed the film and were joined on stage by an animatronic Grogu.[42] A teaser trailer was released online in September 2025. Michael McWhertor fromPolygon said it "promises lots of action".[2]The Verge's Andrew Webster said the teaser made the film look like a combination of the "adventurous vibe of theoriginal trilogy and the cuteness of"The Mandalorian.[43]James Hibberd atThe Hollywood Reporter said the "action-packed trailer is a bit of a different vibe for aStar Wars film, and feels very lighthearted and family friendly". He noted the focus on Grogu and the fact that only one human face (Weaver) is clearly seen in the trailer, which otherwise features creatures, droids, and masked characters.[44] The teaser was originally planned to be released the previous week, but was repeatedly delayed amidDisney's controversial decision to suspend itsABC late-night talk showJimmy Kimmel Live! The teaser's release before the suspension was resolved led to comments from fans and commentators who believed the teaser was being used by Disney to distract from the controversy.[44][45] Matt Patches, also fromPolygon, said the teaser was exciting and should have felt like a "massive event", but instead it felt like Disney was attempting aJedi mind trick.[45]
The Mandalorian and Grogu is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 22, 2026.[32] The film is expected to be released inIMAX.[46][needs update]
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