The Mandalorian & Grogu

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The Mandalorian & Grogu
The Mandalorian & Grogu logo.jpg
Official logo
Directed by Jon Favreau
Screenplay by
Based on Characters
by George Lucas
Produced by
Starring
Production
company
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • May 22, 2026 (2026-05-22)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Mandalorian & Grogu is an upcoming American space Western film directed by Jon Favreau and co-written by Favreau and Dave Filoni. Produced by Lucasfilm and set to be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is part of the Star Wars franchise and a continuation of the Disney+ television series The Mandalorian . The film stars Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin / The Mandalorian.

Contents

Favreau and Filoni had written the fourth season of The Mandalorian by February 2023, but production on the season was delayed by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. During this time, Lucasfilm re-evaluated their plans for the franchise and decided to prioritize a Mandalorian film over the season. The film was announced in January 2024, and began filming in California by August 2024.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 22, 2026.

Cast

The character Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios from the animated series Star Wars Rebels also appears, [4] as do members of the Anzellan species. [5]

Production

Background

Director Jon Favreau pitched an idea he had for a Star Wars television series featuring Mandalorians to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy in 2017. [6] [7] Dave Filoni, executive producer on the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels , had also been conceiving a Mandalorian-focused series, and Kennedy suggested that he and Favreau work together on their ideas. [7] This led to the creation of The Mandalorian , the first live-action Star Wars television series, which debuted with the launch of the streaming service Disney+ in November 2019. [8] Shortly after the premiere, Walt Disney Studios CCO Alan Horn said a film featuring the series' titular bounty hunter, Din Djarin, could be developed if the series was a success. [9] The next month, Favreau said there was an opportunity to explore the series' characters in Star Wars films or spin-off television series. [2]

The Mandalorian's bounty at the start of the series is "the Child"—colloquially known as "Baby Yoda" by viewers—an infant of the same species as Yoda, created with animatronics and puppetry (augmented with visual effects). He becomes the Mandalorian's ward, [2] and is revealed to be named Grogu in the second season. [10] In September 2020, The Mandalorian co-star Giancarlo Esposito said the second season lays the groundwork for "the depth and breadth that's going to come in season 3 and season 4". [11] The next month, Favreau and star Pedro Pascal said they were open to the Mandalorian appearing in a Star Wars film, but Favreau was in no rush to do this. [12] Favreau began writing the fourth season by late May 2022, [13] and completed the scripts with Filoni by February 2023. [14] Filming for the season was scheduled to begin that September, but this was delayed by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. [15] [16] [17] In November, Filoni revealed that he was now chief creative officer at Lucasfilm and would be directly involved in the planning of future films and series. [18]

Development

While production on the fourth season was delayed by the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Lucasfilm re-evaluated their plans for the franchise and decided to prioritize a Mandalorian film instead. [17] The studio announced the film, titled The Mandalorian & Grogu, in January 2024. Favreau was set to direct, co-write with Filoni, and produce with Kennedy and Filoni. [3] [17] Ian Bryce also serves as a producer. [19] Filming was expected to begin in June. [1] Pascal celebrated the announcement on Instagram by sharing concept art for the film. [20] 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), [1] and some questioned whether his schedule had room for the production. [20] 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. [17] During an earnings call in early February, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the film would likely be released in 2026 and would start a new slate of Star Wars films. [21]

In late February 2024, 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 the Star Wars franchise, and would generate over $166 million in qualified expenditures and below-the-line wages there. [22] In April, Disney scheduled the film for release on May 22, 2026, filling the May 2026 date that the studio had previously reserved for an untitled Star Wars film. [23] The next month, Sigourney Weaver was in talks to join the cast. [24]

Filming

Principal photography was scheduled to begin in June 2024 in California. [1] [22] It was expected to take 92 days, [22] under the working title Thunder Alley. [25] The film will feature approximately 54 cast members, 3,500 background extras, and 500 crew members. [22] In early August, Favreau and Filoni announced at Disney's D23 convention that filming had begun several weeks earlier. [26] They revealed that the character Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios from the animated series Star Wars Rebels would appear, along with the Anzellan species from the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) and the third season of The Mandalorian. A new version of the Razor Crest, the Mandalorian's ship which was destroyed in the second season of the series, was also revealed to be appearing in the film. [4] [5]

Marketing

Favreau and Filoni presented initial footage from the film at the D23 convention in August 2024. [4] [5]

Release

The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 22, 2026. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Favreau</span> American filmmaker and actor (born 1966)

Jonathan Kolia Favreau is an American filmmaker and actor. As an actor, Favreau has appeared in films such as Rudy (1993), PCU (1994), Swingers (1996), Very Bad Things (1998), Deep Impact (1998), The Replacements (2000), Daredevil (2003), The Break-Up (2006), Four Christmases (2008), Couples Retreat (2009), I Love You, Man (2009), People Like Us (2012), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Chef (2014), and several films created by Marvel Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Filoni</span> American film director (born 1974)

David Filoni is an American director, producer, and screenwriter currently serving as the Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm. He directed multiple episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender, before being hired by George Lucas to oversee direction on the television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars as well as directing and writing numerous episodes, including its theatrical film. He was the creator of follow-up series Star Wars Rebels, and served as a supervising director, executive producer and writer.

The Mandalorian is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is the first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise and begins five years after the events of the film Return of the Jedi (1983). It follows a lone bounty hunter who protects a Force-sensitive child, Grogu, from remnant Imperial forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter 1: The Mandalorian</span> 1st episode of the 1st season of The Mandalorian

"Chapter 1: The Mandalorian" is the first episode of the first season and series premiere of the American streaming television series The Mandalorian. It was written by the series' showrunner Jon Favreau and directed by Dave Filoni. The episode takes place in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983). In the episode, it follows a lone bounty hunter only known as the Mandalorian, who accepts a mission given by a mysterious Client who tasks him to bring alive a fifty-year-old target. He is helped by vapor farmer Kuiil in exchange of ending the constant bounty hunting activity in his area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter 2: The Child</span> 2nd episode of the 1st season of The Mandalorian

"Chapter 2: The Child" is the second episode of the first season of the American streaming television series The Mandalorian. It was written by the series' showrunner Jon Favreau and directed by Rick Famuyiwa. The episode takes place in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983). In the episode, the Jawas strip the Mandalorian's ship the Razor Crest in several parts. Having successfully retrieved the asset which is revealed to be a Child but trapped on the planet, the Mandalorian is forced to negotiate with the Jawas to recover his ship components with the help of Kuiil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter 3: The Sin</span> 3rd episode of the 1st season of The Mandalorian

"Chapter 3: The Sin" is the third episode of the first season of the American streaming television series The Mandalorian. It was written by the series' showrunner Jon Favreau and directed by Deborah Chow. The episode takes place in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983). In the episode, the Mandalorian successfully delivers the Child to the Client. However, the Mandalorian feeling guilty of handing over the Child decides to rescue the latter. This causes the two to become fugitives from the Guild, forcing them to leave Nevarro and go into hiding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter 4: Sanctuary</span> 4th episode of the 1st season of The Mandalorian

"Chapter 4: Sanctuary" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American streaming television series The Mandalorian. It was written by the series' showrunner Jon Favreau and directed by Bryce Dallas Howard. The episode takes place in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983). In the episode, the Mandalorian and the Child arrive at the forest planet Sorgan seeking a place to hide. In exchange of a sanctuary, the former agrees to help a group of farmers to fight Klatoonian riders with the help of mercenary Cara Dune, who is also in hiding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cara Dune</span> Star Wars character

Cara Dune is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise, appearing in the first two seasons of the Disney+ television series The Mandalorian. Portrayed by actress and former mixed martial artist Gina Carano, the character is a former Rebel shock trooper who became a mercenary after the Galactic Civil War, and is later employed as a marshal of the New Republic. A highly trained and battle-hardened special forces warrior, Cara is skilled in the use of weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, and battle tactics, and has an intense hatred of the Galactic Empire for its destruction of her homeworld, Alderaan. Carano described Cara as a loner who is having trouble readjusting to society following her career as a soldier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter 5: The Gunslinger</span> 5th episode of the 1st season of The Mandalorian

"Chapter 5: The Gunslinger" is the fifth episode of the first season of the American streaming television series The Mandalorian. It was written and directed by executive producer Dave Filoni. The episode takes place in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983). In the episode, the Mandalorian and the Child are forced to land in Mos Eisley to get the Razor Crest repaired after a dogfight. He teams up with an inexperienced bounty hunter to capture mercenary Fennec Shand, in order to get enough money to pay for the repair of the damaged ship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mandalorian (character)</span> Star Wars character

Din Djarin, known as The Mandalorian, or Mando for short, is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise, who appears as the titular protagonist of the Disney+ television series The Mandalorian and also appears in its spin-off The Book of Boba Fett. Orphaned as a young child, The Mandalorian was adopted into the Mandalorian culture and trained as a warrior, later becoming a bounty hunter and taking the title of his people as a sobriquet. The character is rarely seen without his silver, beskar helmet, which he is forbidden by creed to remove publicly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter 8: Redemption</span> 8th episode of the 1st season of The Mandalorian

"Chapter 8: Redemption" is the eighth and final episode of the first season of the American streaming television series The Mandalorian. It was written by the series' showrunner Jon Favreau and directed by Taika Waititi. The episode takes place in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983). In the episode, the Mandalorian, Greef Karga, Cara Dune, and IG-11 are forced to make their way out, fighting the imperial troopers and their leader Moff Gideon, in order to ensure the Child's safety once and for all. The Mandalorian, whose real name is revealed to be Din Djarin, is instructed by his leader, the Armorer, to deliver the Child to the Jedi.

<i>The Mandalorian</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the American television series The Mandalorian is part of the Star Wars franchise, set after the events of the film Return of the Jedi (1983). It follows a lone bounty hunter who goes on the run to protect "The Child". The season was produced by Lucasfilm, Fairview Entertainment, and Golem Creations, with Jon Favreau serving as showrunner.

<i>The Mandalorian</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of the American television series The Mandalorian is part of the Star Wars franchise, set after the events of the film Return of the Jedi (1983). It follows a bounty hunter trying to return "The Child" to the Jedi. The season was produced by Lucasfilm, Fairview Entertainment, and Golem Creations, with Jon Favreau serving as showrunner.

<i>The Mandalorian</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of the American television series The Mandalorian is part of the Star Wars franchise, set after the events of the film Return of the Jedi (1983). It continues the story of a bounty hunter and his charge, Grogu, after they were reunited in the spin-off series The Book of Boba Fett. It also depicts efforts to unite the scattered Mandalorian people and retake their home planet from remnants of the Empire. The season was produced by Lucasfilm, Fairview Entertainment, and Golem Creations, with Jon Favreau serving as showrunner.

<i>The Book of Boba Fett</i> American television miniseries

The Book of Boba Fett, also known as Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett is an American space Western television miniseries created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is part of the Star Wars franchise and a spin-off from The Mandalorian, taking place in the same timeframe as that series and its other interconnected spin-offs after the events of the film Return of the Jedi (1983). The Book of Boba Fett follows bounty hunter Boba Fett from The Mandalorian and other Star Wars media as he establishes himself as the new crime lord of Jabba the Hutt's former territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter 13: The Jedi</span> 5th episode of the 2nd season of The Mandalorian

"Chapter 13: The Jedi" is the fifth episode of the second season of the American television series The Mandalorian. It stars Pedro Pascal as the Mandalorian, a bounty hunter trying to return "The Child" to his people, the Jedi. The episode is part of the Star Wars franchise, set after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983), and was written and directed by executive producer Dave Filoni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grogu</span> Star Wars character also known as Baby Yoda

Din Grogu, colloquially referred to as Baby Yoda, is a character from the Star Wars Disney+ original television series The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. He is a toddler member of the same species as the Star Wars characters Yoda and Yaddle, with whom he shares a strong ability in the Force. In the series, the protagonist known as "the Mandalorian" is hired to track down and capture Grogu for a remnant of the fallen Galactic Empire, but instead, he becomes his adoptive father and protects him from the Imperials. The character's real name was not revealed until "Chapter 13: The Jedi", which also explained that Grogu was raised at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant during the Clone Wars. Before this, the character's official name, used in subtitles and captions, was "the Child". At the end of "Chapter 24: The Return", he is given the name Din Grogu after being formally adopted by the Mandalorian, whose family name is "Din".

"Chapter 17: The Apostate" is the first episode of the third season of the American television series The Mandalorian. It was written by showrunner Jon Favreau and directed by series executive producer Rick Famuyiwa. It was released on Disney+ on March 1, 2023. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics.

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