Disney has officially unveiled the trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu, marking the first Star Wars theatrical release in six years. The film, a spinoff of the wildly successful Disney+ series, follows Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin as he traverses the galaxy alongside his pint-sized ward, Grogu. Directed by series creator Jon Favreau and co-written with Dave Filoni, the project aims to translate the small-screen success of the show into a major cinematic event.
The action-packed trailer presents a lighthearted, family-friendly tone, with Grogu commanding most of the screen time. Nearly every other character wears a mask or is a creature or robot, leaving Sigourney Weaver as the only clearly visible human face. In true Mandalorian fashion, the trailer balances humor, spectacle, and heart—though some fans noted it almost feels like a TV episode condensed into movie format.
However, reactions to the trailer have been dominated by controversy. Disney’s ongoing suspension of Jimmy Kimmel has overshadowed the release, prompting viewers to question whether the studio dropped the trailer to distract from the backlash. Among the 4,000 YouTube comments, one of the top responses jokingly read, “Disney Execs: ‘Everyone stop talking about Jimmy Kimmel! Look at the shiny new Star Wars movie!’” Another user said, “I didn’t know this was a movie until the last five seconds of the trailer”.
Adding to the awkward timing, Pedro Pascal, who signed an ACLU letter condemning Kimmel’s suspension, appears front and center in the trailer, a reminder of the delicate balance Disney faces in managing both franchise excitement and public perception.
Set to release May 22nd, 2026, The Mandalorian & Grogu is not just a continuation of the beloved series but a test for the Star Wars brand on the big screen. Lucasfilm veteran Kathleen Kennedy produces, alongside Filoni, with new cast additions including Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt and Jonny Coyne as an Imperial warlord. With box office challenges impacting recent Star Wars films, the movie carries the weight of proving the franchise still has mainstream appeal beyond streaming.
Favreau, reflecting on the project last year at D23, said:
“To come back together and have the scale and scope of the big screen to tell a story with characters people already know in a brand-new adventure… it’s an opportunity to reach out to a whole new audience and certainly with Grogu, certainly all the kids know who that is. And this is an opportunity to bring them to the theater”.
As Disney navigates both fan expectations and internal controversies, The Mandalorian & Grogu promises to blend action, humor, and heart while testing whether the magic of Star Wars can truly thrive on the big screen once again.