Premiere - Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu – An Immersive Experience in the Rain at the Paris Fan Zone

By Mulder, Paris ; Le Grand Rex,, 05 may 2026

In an atmosphere as drenched as it was electric, our media team experienced an extraordinary day at the heart of the Paris Fan Zone dedicated to Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, an event that once again confirms the ability of the saga created by George Lucas to bring people together across generations and despite the most unpredictable weather conditions. Arriving as early as 6:30 a.m., proudly displaying number 28 in a line that would eventually grow to nearly 200 fans, we witnessed a true display of patience and collective passion, where impromptu conversations among fans particularly with two sisters who are avid movie and convention enthusiasts transformed an interminable wait into a shared moment that felt almost suspended in time. It wasn’t until around 4:00 p.m. that the doors to this Fan Zone finally opened, offering a reward worthy of the participants’ dedication: the exceptional presence of director Jon Favreau, lead actor Pedro Pascal, and the iconic Sigourney Weaver, who came to meet an enthusiastic audience, between autograph sessions and brief but memorable exchanges.

But beyond this human connection, it was the exclusive footage screened that truly left a lasting impression, with the showing of approximately thirty minutes of the film, a sequence significantly longer than the one presented a few weeks earlier at CinemaCon in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace, as part of The Walt Disney Company’s presentation. This extended immersion in the film’s universe immediately confirmed Lucasfilm’s ambitions: to deliver a work designed for the big screen while preserving the emotional and narrative DNA of the series The Mandalorian, which aired on Disney+ between 2019 and 2023. Directed by Jon Favreau and co-written with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor, the film serves as a direct sequel to the adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu, now enlisted by the New Republic on a mission to rescue Rotta the Hutt voiced by Jeremy Allen White in exchange for strategic intelligence on a new galactic threat.

This shift from the series format to the big screen is no small matter and stems from a very specific industry context, notably the 2023 Hollywood strikes that led Lucasfilm to rethink its strategy, opting to transform the originally planned Season 4 into a more ambitious cinematic project. A decision spearheaded by Kathleen Kennedy, then president of Lucasfilm, and supported by Dave Filoni, now a central figure in the studio’s creative leadership, who sees this film as an opportunity to reach a wider audience, particularly young viewers for whom Grogu already serves as an emotional gateway to the Star Wars universe. The film thus becomes the first Star Wars feature film produced since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, marking a new era for the franchise, with a release scheduled for May 22, 2026, in the United States, accompanied by an IMAX release and an announced runtime of 132 minutes.

Artistically, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu promises a delicate balance between spectacle and intimacy, with a particular emphasis on practical effects and a ramp-up in action compared to the series, while maintaining that strong emotional bond between Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu, who has become an iconic figure in global pop culture over the years. The presence of Ludwig Göransson as composer (already recognized for his work on the series’ first seasons) ensures sonic continuity, while David Klein’s cinematography and editing by Rachel Goodlett Katz, among others, contribute to this ambition of translating the television aesthetic into an immersive cinematic experience.

Finally, it’s hard not to mention the film’s marketing strategy both bold and at times puzzling which included a late-release teaser, a commercial aired during Super Bowl LX narrated by Sam Elliott, and the official trailer unveiled in February 2026, which made a lasting impression by revealing Pedro Pascal’s face without his helmet—a symbolic moment for fans. While some critics point to a lack of differentiation from the series, others, on the contrary, praise its unapologetic fidelity to the original spirit, reinforced by the presence of numerous characters from the expanded universe, such as Zeb Orrelios, voiced by Steve Blum, or the unexpected vocal appearance of Martin Scorsese proof that even figures far removed from blockbusters can be drawn to a galaxy far, far away.

This day in the Parisian rain will remain a perfect metaphor for what Star Wars represents today: a collective experience, sometimes trying, but always rewarded with moments of pure magic, where the line between fiction and reality seems to blur if only for thirty minutes leaving us irrevocably eager to dive back into this adventure as soon as it hits theaters in its entirety.

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Synopsis :
The fall of the evil Galactic Empire has sent the Imperial warlords scattering across the galaxy… To protect everything the Rebellion fought for, the fledgling New Republic decides to call upon the legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu…

The Mandalorian and Grogu
Directed by Jon Favreau
Written by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Noah Kloor
Based on Characters by George Lucas
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Ian Bryce
Starring  Pedro Pascal, Jeremy Allen White, Sigourney Weaver
Cinematography : David Klein
Edited by Rachel Goodlett Katz, Dylan Firshein
Music by Ludwig Göransson
Production companies : Lucasfilm Ltd., Fairview Entertainment
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (United States)
Release date : May 22, 2026 (United States)
Running time : 132 minutes

Photos : Boris Colletier / Mulderville