A new chapter for Star Wars on the big screen
Lucasfilm has finally revealed the long-awaited trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu, the first theatrical feature centered on Din Djarin and his foundling. The film, directed by Jon Favreau and produced alongside Dave Filoni, is set to hit theaters worldwide on May 22, 2026. After three successful seasons on Disney+, the story of the armored bounty hunter and Grogu—better known by fans as Baby Yoda—is making the leap to cinema screens with higher stakes and a cast that merges legacy characters and new faces.
The teaser, released this week, confirms rumors about the return of long-forgotten figures from the Star Wars universe. Beyond the action set pieces, one reveal stood out: Rotta the Hutt, the son of Jabba, once rescued by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano during the Clone Wars era, is now reintroduced as a muscular gladiator. This character, absent since his animated debut, will be portrayed by Emmy winner Jeremy Allen White.
What does the trailer of The Mandalorian & Grogu show?
The footage opens with sweeping shots of Tatooine’s arenas, where crowds roar as a towering warrior raises his arms in triumph. That gladiator is none other than Rotta, once nicknamed “Stinky” in The Clone Wars animated film. The trailer confirms his survival, transformation, and his renewed place in the galaxy’s power struggles. His reappearance is particularly relevant because, in this timeline, Jabba is long dead, Leia Organa strangled him in Return of the Jedi, and Boba Fett now rules as daimyo of Tatooine.
Din Djarin and Grogu are glimpsed among the spectators, their bond highlighted with quiet but telling moments. Grogu, who already showed his growing independence in the early footage shared by Lucasfilm, looks more proactive, hinting at deeper involvement in battles ahead. The poster for the movie also reveals the return of Jabba’s twin cousins, further complicating the Hutt legacy.
The mix of galactic politics, Mandalorian loyalty, and Grogu’s mysterious destiny seems poised to anchor the narrative. As Favreau told Variety in a past interview, “The big screen gives us a canvas to tell a story that feels both intimate and epic.”
Which legacy characters are returning?
Beyond Rotta, another major confirmation excites long-time fans: Zeb Orrelios, the Lasat warrior introduced in Star Wars Rebels, is set to appear in the movie. Zeb briefly resurfaced in The Mandalorian season 3, voiced once again by Steve Blum, but his presence in the feature film promises more direct ties between the animated series and the new live-action saga.
Zeb’s inclusion strengthens Filoni’s ongoing effort to weave together the fragmented Star Wars timelines. With Ahsoka Tano’s live-action series already bridging the gap with Rebels, the Mandalorian film looks ready to expand the interconnected narrative web that George Lucas first envisioned.
Will there be more Star Wars films after this?
Theatrical Star Wars has been on pause since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Disney and Lucasfilm have tested spin-offs and limited series, but The Mandalorian & Grogu marks a strategic return to movie theaters. Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter have both suggested that the film could serve as the first installment in a trilogy led by Favreau and Filoni, potentially culminating in the long-rumored “Heir to the Empire” project.
The choice of Din Djarin and Grogu as central figures is no accident. Their relationship has become the emotional backbone of modern Star Wars storytelling, generating both mass audience appeal and toy-selling power. The fact that the movie is scheduled for a May release—the traditional slot once reserved for George Lucas’s films—signals Lucasfilm’s confidence in this story.
What can fans expect from the film?
The film will not merely adapt the Disney+ series but promises to expand the stakes. With Jabba’s legacy unsettled, Grogu’s growing Force abilities, and the Mandalorian creed facing internal strife, the stage is set for a story that connects personal bonds with galactic upheaval.
Questions remain open: will Grogu finally speak? Will Din Djarin continue as his sole protector, or is the story steering toward Grogu’s independent path? And what role will Zeb and Rotta play in shaping the balance of power in the Outer Rim?
As with all Star Wars projects, speculation runs wild, but one thing is clear: Lucasfilm is betting big on the combination of nostalgia, continuity, and cinematic spectacle. The trailer offers only a taste, but its mixture of familiar faces and bold surprises has reignited the fandom’s anticipation.
Open your account on Disney+ and you will have access to movies like Spiderman, Lightyear, Cruella and Pinocchio. You can also watch Star Wars series like The Mandalorian, Andor and The Book of Boba Fett.
