I may sound like a broken record after declaring that Spider-Man, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and the Toy Story series are my favorite franchises, but Star Wars was another one of my favorites growing up. The first DVD I bought with my own money was Revenge of the Sith at Target, which came with a cool commemorative coin. I also remember getting a widescreen version of Attack of the Clones, a copy of Star Wars Risk, too many Star Wars toys to count, and, of course, Rogue Squadron.
Disney has now released the debut teaser trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars film in six years, and it feels both familiar and new. You can see the full trailer here: The Mandalorian and Grogu
Scale & Spectacle
The trailer wastes no time showing that Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu are stepping out of Disney+ and onto the big screen in spectacular fashion. Sweeping shots of AT-AT walkers tumbling off snowy cliffs immediately made me lean forward, as it’s precisely the kind of chaotic, massive moment that Star Wars thrives on. Fleets of starships (I think I saw both New Republic models, along with some older spacecraft) flying in formation and massive planetary vistas make this feel less like a TV series finale and more like an actual movie in its own right.
Even amidst the spectacle, the teaser doesn’t forget the small stuff. Grogu casually snatching a snack with the Force while explosions go off nearby made me chuckle. There’s a quick shot of him peeking over the edge of a speeder with a telescope, cautious but curious, and it lands perfectly as a grounding moment amidst all the chaos.
Tone & Characters
The film leans into a galactic-scale adventure while keeping some of the intimate storytelling that made The Mandalorian special. Sigourney Weaver appears as a Rebel colonel, the only clear human face in the teaser, and Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt, Jabba’s son.
Din remains the stoic, wandering gunslinger, but he now operates in a world that feels much larger and more chaotic. Every masked, armored, or alien character we see reinforces that this is Star Wars at its most creature-filled and pulpy. Even fleeting glimpses of Imperial tech and droid-heavy sequences hint at political and galactic stakes we haven’t fully seen in the series yet.
Concerns & Curiosity
I do wonder if the larger-scale risks overshadow the intimate moments. The Star Wars sequel trilogy struggled to balance character beats and spectacle, and I’m curious whether Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni can thread that needle here. Will longtime fans feel rewarded, while new viewers can follow along? Will Grogu remain the emotional heart or get lost in the action? Will Filoni force even more Star Wars Rebels characters into this? Only time will tell.
Why It Matters
The Mandalorian and Grogu is no doubt a test for whether or not Star Wars is still a bankable franchise at the box office. Star Wars hasn’t consistently hit its mark at the box office in recent years, so this movie carries pressure to prove it still has blockbuster appeal. As someone who grew up obsessed with this saga, drifted toward the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spyro, and Spider-Man, and then circled back to catch nearly every project anyway, the teaser reignites the same excitement I felt as a kid unwrapping Revenge of the Sith at Target.
For now, the teaser doesn’t answer all the questions, but it does spark my curiosity, a bit of laughter, and awe. Star Wars is back in theaters, and it’s doing so on the backs of two of its most beloved characters: Din and Grogu.
The Mandalorian and Grogu will be in theaters on May 22, 2026.
Learn more about the film at the official website for the title.
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