Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars projects depend on how well the new film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, performs. Initially intended as the fourth season of The Mandalorian TV series, it’s now being released in theaters to make more money. The director, Jon Favreau, and the popular character Grogu are important to this plan.
Filoni’s crossover movie is expected to be loosely based on Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire and will wrap up the story after Return of the Jedi. Ahsoka season 2 will likely come out before this film or miniseries, but the release date is unclear and depends on the success of The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Rumors about the film’s villain suggest that the bounty hunter Embo, who Filoni voiced in The Clone Wars, might be the bad guy. He would be after Rotta the Hutt while the Mandalorian and Grogu try to protect him. However, this has not been confirmed.
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If The Mandalorian & Grogu does not do well, it will affect Dave Filoni’s planned crossover movie, which is meant to tie together the stories from The Mandalorian and its spin-offs. Insiders say that if the film flops, this crossover could be changed into a miniseries for Disney+. This shows that Lucasfilm is being more careful with its future projects.
The possibility of switching from a theatrical release to a Disney+ miniseries for the crossover shows that Star Wars projects have financial risks. Past examples, like the canceled storyline with Maul in Solo: A Star Wars Story and the unresolved ending of The Acolyte, show Lucasfilm’s changing approach to storytelling. The results of The Mandalorian & Grogu should significantly affect the future of these connected storylines.
The choice to release The Mandalorian & Grogu in theaters follows Disney’s recent success with Moana 2, which did well at the box office. However, the potential change to a streaming format for the crossover suggests that Disney is open to adjusting their plans based on how well the films do. The film is set to be released on May 22, 2026.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Daniel Richtman
