Roughly the first 15 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu has debuted at CinemaCon, and it reveals an intriguing first for Star Wars – and one that I think makes total sense.
The footage screened during the Disney panel, and, according to io9 (who saw the footage at a separate event), it involves opening credits. No other Star Wars movie has made use of these until now, but it fits perfectly with the retro adventurer vibe of the film's marketing, like the vintage, Indiana Jones-style poster.
Plus, while the film doesn't have an opening crawl, per Variety, the movie begins with "static yellow text explaining where the fledgling New Republic stands in the wake of the Empire's fall." The credits come later, after an opening action sequence, which again fits with the throwback, classic feel the film is trying to capture.
As for what that action sequence involves, the film is said to begin with a meeting of an Imperial warlord who is extorting some local crime syndicate bosses. Then, alarms sound, and Din Djarin shows up, getting rid of Snowtroopers. Grogu deals with a mouse droid using the Force, as seen in the trailers. Then, Mando takes charge of a walker, collects Grogu, and the duo go after three AT-ATs.
Mando deals with all three, though not without almost getting caught in an explosion. Then, Star Wars Rebels' Zeb picks up the bounty hunter and Baby Yoda, and they go to meet Sigourney Weaver's Colonel Ward. This is where the opening credits kick in, with the names of cast and crew appearing over shots of the New Republic's base, in a sequence Polygon says "feels like the opening of a Top Gun movie."
Colonel Ward chastises Mando for being "messy" with his mission, but Din Djarin will still be paid: he's gifted a new version of the Razor Crest. Then, he's tasked with going after a mysterious figure named Commander Coyne. The Hutts have promised to help Mando because Rotta the Hutt, played by Jeremy Allen White, has been captured by ex-Imperials. Mando is reluctant, but Ward insists. Then, Mando, Grogu, and Zeb set off in the Razor Crest.
A brand new trailer for the Star Wars movie also debuted at the convention, teasing more of what looks to be a back-to-basics-style adventure for Din Djarin and Din Grogu.
The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives on May 22. You can keep up to date with everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.
