Movies - Mandalorian and Grogu : Discover the trailer of the new Star Wars cinematic adventure

By Mulder, 22 september 2025

The unveiling of the first trailer for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu marks a decisive turning point in the saga’s history, as it returns to the big screen for the first time since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Produced by Lucasfilm and shot with IMAX® technology, this new chapter is not only a continuation of the celebrated Disney+ series The Mandalorian but also a bold cinematic event designed to bring audiences back into theaters worldwide. Scheduled for release on May 22, 2026, the film promises an experience blending large-scale spectacle with the emotional core that made the unlikely duo of Din Djarin and Grogu household names across generations of Star Wars fans. The excitement surrounding the trailer’s release instantly reignited the unique cultural momentum sparked in 2019, when audiences fell in love with the mysterious bounty hunter and his tiny, Force-sensitive ward.

Behind this new adventure lies the unwavering creative vision of Jon Favreau, who directs, co-writes, and produces the film alongside Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, and Ian Bryce. It is worth recalling that as early as 2017, Jon Favreau pitched the idea of a Mandalorian-centered story to Kathleen Kennedy, while Dave Filoni, the visionary behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, was exploring similar concepts. The eventual fusion of these ideas gave birth to The Mandalorian in 2019, the first live-action Star Wars series, which not only became a streaming phenomenon but also restored the sense of mystery and frontier spirit that had defined George Lucas’s original creation. The decision to pivot from a fourth season of the series to a full-fledged theatrical film emerged during the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, when Lucasfilm reassessed its roadmap. That moment of pause opened the door to what Kathleen Kennedy later described as “a Star Wars film for a new generation,” ensuring the franchise continues to evolve without losing its intergenerational resonance.

The film’s storyline situates itself after the collapse of the Galactic Empire, in a galaxy fractured by scattered imperial warlords. It is in this fragile interregnum that the New Republic turns to the hardened Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin, played once again by Pedro Pascal, and his ward Grogu, who has become one of the most beloved creations of modern pop culture. Alongside them comes an expanded cast, including the iconic Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Ward, a seasoned New Republic officer who once flew as a Rebel pilot, Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt—the son of the notorious Jabba the Hutt—and Jonny Coyne as a ruthless Imperial warlord. The film will also feature familiar characters like Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios from Star Wars Rebels and members of the Anzellan species, bringing a sense of continuity across the sprawling Star Wars narrative universe. What stands out in this transition from small to big screen is not just the return of fan-favorite characters, but the scale: principal photography involved over 3,500 extras and 500 crew members in California, with the working title “Thunder Alley,” and production costs amplified by California’s record-breaking tax credit allocation.

The trailer, now online, hints at a tone that carefully balances the rugged atmosphere of the original trilogy with the endearing tenderness of Grogu, whose blend of puppetry, animatronics, and VFX continues to push technical boundaries. Observers like Polygon’s Michael McWhertor highlighted its “promise of lots of action,” while Andrew Webster of The Verge noted the way it fuses the adventurous spirit of George Lucas’s classic films with the charm that made The Mandalorian a worldwide success. One particularly striking anecdote is how Pedro Pascal, upon the film’s announcement in January 2024, shared early concept art on Instagram, underscoring how deeply the project resonates not only with audiences but also with the actors themselves. Similarly, Sigourney Weaver’s casting—first rumored in spring 2024 and confirmed at Star Wars Celebration Japan in 2025—was met with fan enthusiasm, her presence reinforcing the film’s ambition to unite established legends with new icons.

On the creative side, Ludwig Göransson returns to the saga’s soundscape, bringing the same innovative compositions that won him acclaim in the earlier seasons of The Mandalorian. His ability to weave tribal beats with futuristic orchestrations made the character of Din Djarin instantly recognizable even without dialogue, and his confirmed involvement ensures the film’s musical identity will resonate across theaters. The editing will be handled by Rachel Goodlett Katz, who had already proven her craft in the third season of the series, ensuring continuity in rhythm and tone. Meanwhile, visual world-building is entrusted to Doug Chiang and Andrew L. Jones, veterans of the Star Wars universe, alongside costume designer Mary Zophres, known for her collaboration with Jon Favreau on Iron Man 2. Together, these choices show that the film is less about reinvention than consolidation—a statement that the creative core behind The Mandalorian is now ready to elevate the story to epic cinematic scale.

Perhaps most telling of Lucasfilm’s confidence in the project was its unveiling at high-profile events such as D23 and Star Wars Celebration Japan, where Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and Kathleen Kennedy shared the stage alongside an animatronic Grogu, blurring the lines between fiction and spectacle. These appearances reminded fans of the communal magic that only Star Wars can deliver: a mix of nostalgia, myth-making, and cutting-edge storytelling. The presence of Grogu on stage was more than a promotional gimmick—it was a reminder of how the saga thrives on the seamless blending of technology and emotion, just as George Lucas envisioned nearly fifty years ago.

With its release date set for May 2020, 2026 in France and May, 22 in the United States, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is poised to inaugurate a new era of the franchise on the big screen. It is both a culmination of the success of the Disney+ series and a bold attempt to restore Star Wars as an annual cultural event at theaters, echoing the heyday of the Skywalker saga. The trailer does not just tease action or nostalgia; it signals a bridge between past and future, reassuring older fans that the DNA of Lucas’s creation remains intact while offering younger audiences a chance to claim this story as “their Star Wars.” If the emotional bond between Din Djarin and Grogu holds up against the spectacle of IMAX®, then The Mandalorian and Grogu could very well cement itself as the definitive cinematic chapter of a saga that continues to reinvent itself without losing its heart.

Synopsis :
A lone bounty hunter on the run protects a coveted alien baby while avoiding capture in a dangerous and lawless galaxy.

The Mandalorian and Grogu
Directed by Jon Favreau
Written by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni
Based on Characters by George Lucas
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Ian Bryce
Starring Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne
Edited by Rachel Goodlett Katz
Music by Ludwig Göransson
Production company : Lucasfilm
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date : May 20, 2026 (France), May 22, 2026 (United States)