Star Wars fans are worried that another project is being left behind at Lucasfilm. It's been three years since a new solo movie starring Daisy Ridley as Rey was announced at Star Wars Celebration.

A director and writer were initially attached, as we heard some details on what the film would follow. Due to be set some 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, it was going to see Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order.

However, since 2024, there has been very little news on the development of the project. The latest update from Ridley came in 2025 when she promised that "the wait will be worth it" as she spoke about the hurdles that films have to overcome to get made.

Despite that positive update, the Star Wars community is growing more certain that this movie won't ever make it off the page. Posting on Reddit, one wrote: "It's been over three years since Daisy Ridley was brought out at Celebration to announce the Rey movie and there isn't even a script written yet. Will this eventually come out? When can we expect to see Rey onscreen again?"

The response from other fans was pretty unanimous: this isn't a movie that's going to get made. "My rule for Star Wars content is that it doesn’t exist until there is a trailer AND release date," wrote one, while another added: "Probably never. Changing leadership can sideline projects."

They weren't alone either, with a third commenting: "Agree 100%. Daisy Ridley has been absolutely done dirty." Another simply put it: "This right here is probably the biggest issue with Star Wars. Announcements. Don't tell us you're making it, just make it."

Several Star Wars projects have been announced but not made it out of the development phase. Star Wars Rebels co-creator Simon Kinberg was due to make a Star Wars trilogy, Indiana Jones 5 director James Mangold was announced to be making a film set thousands of years before the Jedi, and Taika Waititi has long been linked to making his own movie set in a galaxy far, far away. Who knows if any of them will one day happen.

Currently, there are only two projects on the horizon for Star Wars that are definitely happening: Ahsoka season 2 has been filmed and arrives in January 20, 2027, and Ryan Gosling's Starfighter is set for a May 28, 2027 release date.

For all the announced Star Wars movies and shows on the horizon, here's our guide to new Star Wars.

Don't miss out on The Mandalorian Lego special. The delightful animated short has arrived on Disney Plus (alongside its live-action big sibling, The Mandalorian and Grogu), and, while it might not be canon, it is a laugh-out-loud, joyful 45 minutes every Star Wars fan needs to tune in for.

The special has an adorable premise: Din Djarin's pals have thrown him a party – and it's not even his birthday! – which he begrudgingly attends with baby Grogu. While the duo are there in their party hats, a gang of their closest friends retell their story so far, all the way up to the events of the new movie.

The result is an irreverent, self-referential blast – exactly what you'd expect from a Lego special – that's also pretty much a perfect way to recap the Disney Plus show. What more could you ask for?

Getting the band back together

Probably the biggest selling point of any Lego special is just how damn hilarious they are, and The Mandalorian's is no different. The 45-minute runtime is packed with jokes that poke gentle fun at The Mandalorian and Star Wars as a whole, including Mando and Grogu's reunion taking place in a different series, IG-11's tendency to go straight for self-destruct mode, and Luke Skywalker having no luck with his Jedi students. I got to watch the special at this year's D23 in a crowd of Star Wars fans that laughed at every gag, and it only enhanced the experience.

The wacky premise doesn't just allow for laughs, too: it also gets the whole Mando gang back together again. There are cameos aplenty in the special, which means original actors return to their roles. Listen out for Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon, Amy Sedaris as Peli Motto, Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze, Timothy Olyphant as Cobb Vanth, and even Bill Burr as Migs Mayfeld (he's on hand to recount the events of season 2, which, he points out, he witnessed a whole 20% of).

Of course, any Mandalorian project – Lego or not – needs to include its fair share of heartwarming Clan of Two moments. The special doesn't just recreate the tearjerking scenes you know and love from the show (the special's version of Mando and Grogu's goodbye in the season 2 finale did indeed remind me of how many tears I shed back in December 2020), but it also includes a few new moments of its own. Highlights include Mando urging Grogu to make his signature cooing sound more intimidating if he's going to be a bounty hunter, Grogu using the Force to levitate a party hat onto Mando's beskar helmeted head, and Grogu having his own miniature steering wheel in the Razor Crest. If you've been missing Din Djarin and Din Grogu since their big-screen outing earlier this year, then you can't go wrong with the Lego special.

Assembled with love

The special is also set after The Mandalorian and Grogu on the Star Wars timeline, as revealed by the Razor Crest's distinctive yellow paint – and an appearance from Zeb Orrelios to tell this part of the story, before he's interrupted. Of course, Lego releases aren't Star Wars canon, so nothing that happens in this special is actually part of the saga's ongoing story. But, it does give a nice window into the kind of life you'd like to imagine Mando and Grogu living in between missions for the New Republic. What better way to spend their downtime than a party with friends?

And, while it might not be canon, and the premise is indeed silly fun, every second of the special makes it obvious that it was made with clear, reverent love for The Mandalorian and Star Wars as a whole. The story goes beyond just a party, encompassing Mando's growth across his tale so far as he comes to accept he's no longer a loner. Yes, this Lego special gets pretty deep, in between all the fun.

At the moment, it's unclear when we'll see Din Djarin and Din Grogu again, as nothing has been confirmed about their future (either in The Mandalorian season 4 or another movie). So, while we wait to be reunited with the Clan of Two, there's no better way to pass the time than with Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian.

Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney Plus now. See what else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has talked about his working relationship with Dave Filoni, and how the film and Disney Plus show reflect it.

"I think the show and the film is a reflection of our partnership," Favreau told Filoni, on the official The Mandalorian and Grogu podcast. "Like two musicians who play together. It changes the way we play, I think. And it makes me feel very comfortable when I get to tell stories with you."

Filoni was in agreement. "We come together and we do some things a little separately, then I bring you things to watch, which is always super helpful," he said. "Because that's the other thing, too, especially if we're shooting separately at times, we see what the other shot, you get those fresh eyes to look at something. And you are, in a lot of ways, the ultimate audience member. Because if you don't understand it, you'll tell me."

Filoni, who is the co-president of Lucasfilm, directed the puppet unit on The Mandalorian and Grogu, and he also directed multiple episodes of The Mandalorian TV show.

Next up for Star Wars is Filoni's Ahsoka season 2, which dropped its first trailer at this year's D23. It teased the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn to the galaxy, Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker back as a Force ghost to guide Ahsoka Tano, and Ezra Bridger back in action.

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on January 20, while The Mandalorian and Grogu and the official podcast are streaming on Disney Plus now.

Check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Industrial Light & Magic animation supervisor Hal Hickel says that impossibly sweet scene in The Mandalorian and Grogu where Rotta and Grogu play together on the beach meant a lot to director Jon Favreau (and me, personally).

"That was maybe the most important scene to Jon. It's the heart of the whole movie for him," Hickel told StarWars.com.

The scene is a moment of stillness in the movie, and it comes shortly after Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White) is rescued by Mando from almost being killed in a rotten deal that kept him trapped as a fighter in order to entertain the people of Shakari. Grogu and Rotta simply pass a ball back and forth, and it seems like the worst is over.

Not only that, but also, the scene represents how Rotta never really got the chance to be a playful, carefree kiddo, thanks to being related to the absolutely terrifying and terrible Hutt family. So we love a multi-layered moment that makes us cry a little.

As there likely won't be another season of The Mandalorian, it's unclear when we'll see Rotta the Hutt again. Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which hits Disney Plus in the new year.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is streaming on Disney Plus now, and you can read our guide to all the other The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs through the link.

For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, or our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

While Han Solo doesn't appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu, a sneaky, unintentional Easter egg referencing him does – and it involves Rotta the Hutt.

In the original trilogy, Han was in a lot of trouble with Rotta's dad, Jabba the Hutt. In one scene in the 1997 Special Edition of Star Wars: A New Hope, Jabba even comes to speak with Han by the Millennium Falcon while it's docked in Mos Eisely. During this chat, Han walks over Jabba's tail, which Jabba doesn't seem too pleased about.

In The Mandalorian and Grogu, Rotta fights Din Djarin in a gladatorial ring, and everything comes full circle...

"It goes by super fast, but there is actually a moment during their fight when Mando circles behind Rotta, steps on his tail to get a little height, and then knocks his arm out of the way," Industrial Light & Magic animation supervisor Hal Hickel told StarWars.com.

"We didn't put that in there as a wink to the original gag, but still – it's like poetry, it rhymes," he added.

Even though the call back wasn't on purpose, it certainly is a nice parallel between father and son – though, of course, Rotta is pretty adamant that he's nothing like his dad.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which lands on Disney Plus on January 20. The first trailer was finally unveiled to the public at this year's D23, and it features Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, Grand Admiral Thrawn going up against the New Republic, and Ezra Bridger back in action.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is streaming on Disney Plus now, and you can read our guide to all the other The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs through the link.

For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, or our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

The Mandalorian and Grogu are coming home. Four months after the Star Wars film brought the saga back to the big screen for the first time in seven years, the Razor Crest is touching down on Disney Plus this September 2.

The film arrived a lengthy three years after its (less well-received) third season and didn't quite set the box office on fire. It scored a reasonably low 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, and many have questioned the wisdom of turning a streaming show into a theatrical movie – or criticized the film for focusing on a standalone adventure story rather than weaving in the wider galaxy.

Still, despite it all, I firmly believe there was no better film to kickstart Star Wars's theatrical comeback than The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Welcome back

That might seem like a nuclear take, but I have my reasons. Personally, I simply loved the movie: an all-grown-up Rotta the Hutt became my surprise MVP; Grogu, continuing to grow into his Mandalorian and Jedi potential, was a delight; and I thought the whole thing was a good old-fashioned, fun adventure tale with cool and creepy critters, spectacular action set-pieces, and all the heartwarming Clan of Two moments you could ask for.

I'm not alone in this, either: the film was well-liked by the audiences who showed up for Din Djarin and Din Grogu, with a healthy 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore on opening night. The box office may have been a somewhat underwhelming $345.8 million (though, on a budget of $165 million, that's not a total disaster), but the film succeeded elsewhere. It returned us to the Mando-verse era of the Star Wars timeline just in time for Ahsoka season 2, and it also seemed to give the three seasons of the flagship show a boost: The Mandalorian was Disney Plus's third most-watched original series in the first half of 2026 with 2.4 billion minutes viewed, according to Luminate. That's particularly noteworthy considering the show hasn't released a new episode in three years.

Aside from the film deserving a much warmer reception and boosting the show's streaming fortunes, though, it was also the right choice for getting audiences used to Star Wars as a theatrical experience again. Seven long years have passed since The Rise of Skywalker, and, in that time, the franchise has released a whole host of Disney Plus shows. Like Marvel, this seems to have contributed to a certain dilution of the franchise, with every new Star Wars project no longer feeling like an unmissable event – unthinkable even 10 years ago – regardless of each show's quality. But, despite the more lukewarm reception to season 3, Mando and Grogu have remained instantly recognizable Star Wars icons, even though they originated on streaming themselves. Choosing this duo to launch Star Wars's return to theaters made total sense.

While the film drew criticism for its self-contained story, going in such a standalone direction was also a wise move. There's nothing more off-putting than feeling like you need to do your homework before you head to the theater, after all. And, since the film is so self-contained, it's also primed to be a new generation's introduction to Star Wars.

Maybe most importantly for the saga at large, though, The Mandalorian and Grogu set the stage for Star Wars: Starfighter. Any film tasked with bringing Star Wars back to the big screen was going to face a great deal of scrutiny – and the pressure of high expectations – but, now that Mando has broken that barrier already, Starfighter has something of a clearer runway.

Next moves

Judging by The Mandalorian's streaming boost, it's likely that the movie will do very well on Disney Plus. In the wake of The Mandalorian and Grogu's theatrical performance, it's hard to imagine Disney and Lucasfilm won't pivot when it comes to its theatrical slate. I would bet that Dave Filoni's movie, announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 and set to tie together the Disney Plus shows, will be reconfigured into a streaming event (most likely an Heir to the Empire-style showdown against Grand Admiral Thrawn, considering the Ahsoka season 2 trailer).

The future of Star Wars on the small screen seems less certain, with nothing live-action confirmed past Ahsoka. It's doubtful that Lucasfilm will abandon TV entirely, but I expect the days of multiple Star Wars shows a year are long behind us.

But for the saga's return to the big screen, I'm glad Lucasfilm chose The Mandalorian and Grogu. If nothing else, the film was a fun few hours at the theater this summer, and it reunited me with two of my favorite Star Wars guys. This is the way.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is streaming on Disney Plus now. See what else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, or check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

One Star Wars fan artist has recreated the iconic Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi duel in Revenge of the Sith in the most incredible way.

The artist, who goes by the Tumblr username idk-i-was-bored, shared the artwork of the fiery Mustafar duel – which is actually recreated from every single line of dialogue in Revenge of the Sith, written out by hand. Check it out below.

"I decided to do something a little bit insane. I sat down and typed every word spoken in Revenge of the Sith so I could then hand write every word to create this scene redraw. I am very pleased with the final result I'm not gonna lie," the artist captioned the post.

In the comments, he also revealed a little more about the process – and it sounds like serious dedication went into the artwork. "1. My hands were fine after doing this. I spaced out how often I'd do write the words and my handwriting got looser in the end so there was less pressure. Also literally every hobby and activity I do heavily involves my wrists, so they're kind of used to this," they wrote.

"2. Yes I’m aware there are scripts online for this movie. But the ones I found weren't accurate or were of the uncut 4 hour version therefore I'd have to watch the movie again anyway to work out which parts exactly were in the movie. So I just decided to do it myself," he added.

And, as for how long it might have taken: "3. Idk how much time this actually took to make I'm not gonna lie. Procreate says there was about 12 hours of pen to canvas time spent arranging of the text, actually writing, and drawing and colouring the image. But typing up all the words in the movie took absolutely ages. And like I said. Everything was very spaced out so I didn't hurt my wrists. So I actually have no idea how many hours it was from having the idea to posting the image"

Plus, it sounds like we might be able to look forward to more artwork in a similar style. "4. I know this is mildly insane but I actually had a lot of fun doing it and I'll probably end up making more of other movies at some point," they said. In the immortal words of Sheev Palpatine: we will watch your career with great interest…

We'll soon be seeing Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker again in Ahsoka season 2, which sees him return both as a Force ghost and in Clone Wars-era flashbacks on the Star Wars timeline. As for Ewan McGregor, nothing has been confirmed, but the actor is so keen to return he pitched a comeback to Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni on the Ahsoka season 2 set (his wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, plays Hera Syndulla in the show).

The Disney Plus show arrives on January 20, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Anakin Skywalker star Hayden Christensen wants to work with Padmé Amidala actor Natalie Portman in Star Wars again.

The duo starred together in prequel movies Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, but despite both Christensen and Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor returning to Star Wars since, Portman has yet to reprise her role.

"I would love to get to work with her again and play these characters together," Christensen told USA Today at D23. "I think there's still opportunity to do that. I love the whole Clone Wars timeline in Star Wars and it's been a lot of fun to get to explore that a little bit in this series [Ahsoka]. So, I would love to get to do that with her at some point."

Christensen will return in Ahsoka season 2, both as a Force ghost and in Clone Wars-era flashbacks on the Star Wars timeline, as revealed by the first trailer and a display at D23 (you can read our Ahsoka season 2 trailer breakdown for all our theories).

Portman isn't the only prequel actor Christensen would like to reunite with, either. "I know that Ewan McGregor would love to do more with it," Christensen shared on the Hey Jonas podcast. "I've heard Natalie [Portman] would love to come back. Sam Jackson. So you could get the band back together."

Whether we ever do get a reunion remains to be seen, though McGregor is apparently so keen to return he pitched some ideas to Dave Filoni on the set of Ahsoka season 2, which stars his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla.

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on January 20, 2027. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Dave Filoni has spoken about his Star Wars mission statement after becoming installed as Lucasfilm co-president.

Speaking at a D23 panel about Leslie Iwerks' new documentary Worldbuilders – which charts how major Disney franchises are integrated into park experiences – Filoni said of his task, "We have several different generations of Star Wars fans, right? There’s original trilogy fans, prequel fans, sequel trilogy fans, Clone Wars fans, expanded universe fans. They all have different interests."

"And I always look at how we’re going to serve all these different interests. And most importantly, how do we bring them all together because they have this common love of Star Wars," Filoni added. "And I think the park is a great place to do that."

While Filoni has only stepped into a major Lucasfilm leadership role recently, we have already seen his approach bear fruit: The Mandalorian and Grogu (despite box office struggles) was marketed as a family-friendly film, while also playing into the original trilogy's appetite for lone heroes.

Elsewhere, Ahsoka season 2 is undoubtedly aimed at fans of prequels and animated series The Clone Wars, while the likes of anime spin-off The Ninth Jedi, Maul – Shadow Lord, and Andor are all distinct, capturing different sections of its audience in their own inimitable style.

Next up on the big screen in a galaxy far, far away is Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy. As announced at SDCC, the pair will reunite in the MCU for 2028's Ghost Rider.

For more, check out the upcoming Star Wars movies currently in the works.

Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni appears to have crushed any remaining hope for the Adam Driver-led movie Hunt for Ben Solo.

During a Variety interview at D23, Filoni was asked about the scrapped Star Wars project. He responded that it wasn't happening "right now", before offering a curious gesture involving a Jedi mind trick.

Unfortunately for those clinging to the unlikely comeback story, Filoni was far more definitive in a later chat with Deadline.

“It’s not here; you won’t find it here. The Force is not with us in that regard," Filoni said. "I love the love you feel for it."

The Hunt for Ben Solo has become a white whale for Star Wars fans in a galaxy far, far away – but it seems to be dead in the water after Disney's previous rejection.

Last year, Adam Driver suddenly revealed details of the top-secret production, which would have been directed by Steven Soderbergh.

“We took it to [then-Disney CEO] Bob Iger and [Disney Entertainment chairman] Alan Bergman and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that," Driver told AP News.

In a statement, Soderbergh said, "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it."

Next up for Driver is a villainous franchise role of a very different kind – as Mister Sinister in Marvel's new X-Men movie. Driver recorded a video message for fans at D23 as the cast was unveiled.

Over on the Star Wars side, a Starfighter teaser was shown behind closed doors. Luckily for you, we were there and have an exclusive description.

For more, check out all the latest news on the upcoming Star Wars movies and upcoming Marvel movies in the works.

At D23, Star Wars: Starfighter finally revealed a first look at the Ryan Gosling-starring movie. The catch: it's not going to appear online anytime soon, and was only for people in the room. However, we were on the ground and can bring you an exclusive description.

The teaser footage starts with Flynn Gray's as-yet-unnamed young character throwing the cover off a starfighter. Gosling, whose character was confirmed as Kade Auberon, tells him not to touch, it's a decommissioned Imperial model and the fastest ever built. Kade says there's a reason Gray's character has never heard of such a vessel, despite it's capabilities. Quick flashes of action, include flying/gliding across water, turning an ignition and, of course, plenty of flying.

Starfighter, directed by Deadpool and Wolverine's Shawn Levy, stars Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Aaron Pierre. It is the first Lucasfilm movie to take us beyond The Rise of Skywalker on the Star Wars timeline.

"In a rebuilding galaxy, a solitary pilot becomes entangled in a crucial mission as new threats emerge. Their journey may alter the future of the Force itself," reads the synopsis.

"It is different in that it is an all-new non-sequel, non-prequel adventure," Levy has said previously of the film. "It's new characters, it's a new timeline. It inherits legacy themes, but it's really trying to give Star Wars [fans] – and just movie audiences – something fresh, something new. And with a spirit of play and big-hearted adventure with moments of real levity that, frankly, A New Hope had in a revolutionary way."

Starfighter arrives May 28, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's in the works.

You can keep up on more announcements and reveals with our D23 liveblog.

Marvel Studios will be appearing at D23 as part of the company's major panel today. But when exactly is it?

It feels like only yesterday that Kevin Feige headed to San Diego Comic-Con 2026 for a host of big announcements, but Marvel still has more up its sleeves. They'll appear in the Disney Entertainment Showcase, which takes place at the annual convention for the House of Mouse, D23.

This is set to be a bumper event featuring the latest from Marvel, as well as announcements from Star Wars and Lucasfilm, Pixar, and other upcoming Disney projects. Happening live from Anaheim in California, we're expecting some big news covering everything from Ahsoka season 2 to VisionQuest.

So when does it all kick off and how can you keep up with the latest news? We've compiled a guide below for everything you need to know about the D23 Marvel panel below. And if that wasn't enough, check out our guides to all the upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Star Wars movies for what might be in store.

When is the D23 Marvel Panel?

The D23 Marvel Panel forms part of the Disney Entertainment Showcase. This kicks off on Friday, August 14th at 7pm PT. It runs for two hours, concluding at 9pm PT.

If you're watching on the East Coast, this means it starts at 10pm EDT. In the UK, this means you'll have to tune it on Saturday, August 15 at 3am BST.

Disney don't release the exact running order for their panel so if you're hoping to tune in for only the Marvel Studios announcements, it might be a bit tricky to navigate. They'll probably only have around 20-30 minutes of the allotted time too, which could come at any point during the timeframe.

How to watch D23

Unfortunately, the Disney Entertainment Showcase is not streamed live. This means that you won't be able to watch along as it happens. Some panels are streamed during D23, but this is not one of them.

This means that if you want to follow along with all the news and announcements, then you'll need to keep an eye on our live-blog as well as Total Film's Twitter for live updates.

What will be announced at D23?

We're not yet sure what will be announced at D23 but some early details in the convention hall have given us a bit of an idea. The Ahsoka season 2 costumes have been on display so we'd hedge our bets that a trailer might be imminent for the Star Wars show.

VisionQuest also has an installation, featuring an intriguing tease about a new character. We're yet to have a trailer from the show, despite it arriving in just a few months. D23 might be the perfect time for that.

Other potential announcements could come around the upcoming X-Men movie. The project was largely absent from Marvel's San Diego Comic-Con panel and there have been some casting rumors circling.

Other upcoming projects sure to get a mention include Star Wars: Starfighter and Avengers: Doomsday.

In terms of other Disney news, there are rumors that a new Pixar movie will be announced and we expect to hear some details from the upcoming Frozen 3.

Check out our guide to all the new Disney movies coming in 2026 and beyond.

At a time where Star Wars desperately needs a cinematic win, IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond has heaped praise on the upcoming Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighter.

"I've been on set of [Star Wars: Starfighter] and that's a throwback to the Harrison Ford kind of Star Wars," Gelfond said on The Town with Matt Belloni.

When Belloni replied that The Mandalorian and Grogu tanking doesn't help their case, Gelfond said, "I'm on a limb on this one. I'll tell you, take it to the bank… I think it's going to be good."

Right now, Star Wars is on shaky theatrical ground. We're seven years removed from The Rise of Skywalker and the bad taste it left in the mouths of audiences still lingers. The Mandalorian and Grogu was also a notable box office flop, even though Disney felt it was a success in other areas.

Precious little is known about Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy. A new synopsis reads, "In a rebuilding galaxy, a solitary pilot becomes entangled in a crucial mission as new threats emerge. Their journey may alter the future of the Force itself."

Thrillingly, Tom Cruise also arrived on the set of Starfighter – and even helped direct an action scene. If Mr. Movies is onboard, that already feels like a good omen.

Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Aaron Pierre, is released in cinemas on May 28, 2027.

For more, check out the upcoming Star Wars movies currently in the works.

After appearing in the trilogy of Star Wars prequels, Natalie Portman says "no director" wanted to work with her.

Quotes from a 2014 piece in New York Magazine have recently resurfaced thanks to Far Out Magazine. There, Portman recalled the fallout from playing Padme Amidala in The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.

"Everyone thought I was a horrible actress," Portman said. "I was in the biggest-grossing movie of the decade, and no director wanted to work with me."

The Phantom Menace grossed over $1 billion dollars upon its release, but Episode One, and the subsequent movies in the trilogy, were widely panned by critics – and used as shorthand for unnecessary prequels thanks to its melodramatic twists, middling CGI, and move away from what made the original Star Wars trilogy so popular.

A separate 2008 interview in The Independent also saw Portman recall a negative backlash to her stint in the Star Wars prequels, but had a measured approach to her performances.

"With almost every performance, I feel like I've failed on some level," Portman said at the time. "But I also think it's very human to feel that when you mess up, you get more out of it than when you succeed."

Thankfully, Portman soon turned her career around with acclaimed performances in 2003's Cold Mountain and 2004's Closer, the latter of which netted her a Golden Globe win and Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

The 2010s proved more of a success for Portman, with the actor winning Best Actress for Black Swan. She even dipped back into franchise waters as Jane Foster in Thor and Thor: The Dark World, before reprising the role for a (seemingly) final time in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Portman is next appearing in Good Sex, the Lena Dunham-directed romcom, alongside Mark Ruffalo.

For more, check out the rest of 2026's biggest movie release dates.

These days, it's easy to look at a movie's box office number and declare it a success or, in the case of both live-action remake Moana and Star Wars feature The Mandalorian and Grogu, a dismal failure.

New Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro clearly doesn't subscribe to such binary thinking, declaring on the company's earnings call (via Variety), "Even when our franchise films don’t meet our box office expectations, as with The Mandalorian and Grogu and the live-action Moana, our investments in these core properties fuel other parts of our company."

Disney CFO Hugh Johnston added, "Theatrical performance is important to us, of course, and we certainly aspire to deliver consistent financial results for our films. But the nature of the film industry is such that it is more of a portfolio game. The good news for us is our diversified business helps us basically cover the volatility that comes out of the film business."

As the pair of Disney leaders allude to, The Mandalorian and Grogu and Moana aren't film-only concerns. There is, of course, immense value in adding them to streaming on Disney Plus. That's without factoring in merchandise and synergy with Disney's theme park and cruise ship businesses.

Released on May 22, The Mandalorian and Grogu marked the next chapter in Din Djarin's journey in a galaxy far, far away after three seasons on Disney's streaming success.

Unfortunately, a low-stakes plot and general disinterest in the series led to disappointing takings at the box office, with the Star Wars movie only grossing $345 million – a record low for a live-action film in the franchise.

The Moana remake fared less well when stacked up against the gold rush of Disney live-action movies in recent years.

It's currently only just made more than its $250 million budget, a stark contrast to last year's Lilo and Stitch remake ($1.03 billion). It's not a disaster Disney is sweeping under the carpet, but it's certainly one the House of Mouse is taking positives from.

For more, check out the new Disney movies in the works, plus all the movie release dates we still have to look forward to in 2026.

Given that Star Wars has been around for almost 50 years now, you’d be forgiven for being a little off in remembering certain portions of the beloved franchise. That’s the very issue one fan highlighted on Reddit, which sparked plenty more replies about revealing sequences that didn't play out like they originally imagined.

"What's one of those things that you swear you remember happening in the movies that isn't actually from the movies at all?" wrote the fan, with plenty coming back with their own rather odd encounters with the Star Wars saga.

One moment was an obvious one, given that the whole world had seemingly been hit with the Mandela Effect when it came to The Empire Strikes Back. "There isn't one I can’t think of for myself, but 'Luke, I am your father' is probably the most famous historical example of this," wrote the fan, referring to the sequel's big reveal, which is often misquoted. It's "No. I am your father."

Another fan chimed in, saying that they misremembered the outcome of Luke's test. "When I was a lad I didn't understand that Luke's face was in Vader's mask in the Dagobah vision scene. I thought that was Vader." One fan also added the double-take that had lasted decades: that C-3PO was all gold, when in fact he had a silver leg instead of a matching pair. Clearly something we overlooked, what with being near-sighted scrap piles and everything.

Admittedly, given that there are various versions of the movies up to this point, we'd understand how some scenes are a little sketchy in the old memory banks.

For our list of favorite Star Wars moments, head on over here and see which one of yours makes the cut.

Star Wars creator George Lucas is the latest prominent voice to come out in support of AI in the creative arts, comparing its rise to that of the invention of the automobile.

Lucas's full-throated embrace of AI despite its inherent ethical and environmental risks – not to mention Yoda's outspoken skepticism of paths that are quicker, easier, and more seductive – is disheartening, but the Star Wars visionary says there's no point in resisting. It's "the future," in his words.

"Artificial intelligence means it's much easier for us to make movies," he tells A Rabbit's Foot. "It's very much like sitting here saying, 'Well, I believe the horse and the buggy is really where it's at. These cars, they break down, they need gas, there's all kinds of problems with them and pretty soon they'll be making them into tanks, and then they'll be killing people. It's terrible.' There's nothing you can do about it."

The car analogy is one of the most common rationalizations for AI complacency in the ongoing debate about the technology's role in various mediums, an inevitability one would be wise to adapt to or risk being left behind. But most analysts still see the worst implications of AI as far from inevitable, which is why in the video game industry many prominent developers refuse to use it at all. Meanwhile, other filmmaking auteurs are outright rejecting AI in movies, like The Odyssey director Christopher Nolan, who just recently praised Gen Z for its "rapid wholesale dismissal of a supposedly foundational jump in technology."

Lucas acknowledges that AI has its risks, but argues that it's smart enough to self-correct. "If you want AI that tells you when something is fake and where it came from, AI can do that," he says. "Humans can't, we're not that smart. The whole idea is you're a human being, you're responsible for what you say and what you do, and if you're doing something that's illegal you should be punished for that. Whatever you do, you should be recognised. It's just like real life."

Of course, Lucas is one of the most prolific, enduring, and beloved filmmakers of his generation, known for pushing technological boundaries and revolutionizing the film industry's approach to visual effects. If anyone's allowed a bullish take on an emerging technology, it's him, even if film buffs and creatives alike are grimacing at the implications.

Star Wars creator George Lucas says film studios nowadays care more about "what the fans think" rather than trusting filmmakers

Star Wars creator George Lucas has been around long enough to see the film industry change and shift into what it is today, and feels thta studios nowadays care more about the audience's opinion than the filmmaker's original vision.

“I don’t like focus groups,” said Lucas in an interview with A Rabbit's Foot. "The audience doesn’t know what they want to see. If they don’t like a character, that’s interesting, and as a filmmaker I want to find out why. But when the studios hear that, they take the wrong message."

The legendary director added, "They let the audience actually make the movie. Of course, now they go crazy with that. Now, it’s all about what the fans think. That isn’t how you make the movie. You make a movie by finding someone that knows how to make movies, that has a story to tell and is passionate about it.”

But in an industry run by box office sales and Rotten Tomatoes scores, Lucas still values the artistry in filmmaking. "You go to the movies because the stories move you emotionally,” he said. “Art is an emotional medium.” Lucas thought back to the criticism he received when he was making the first Star Wars trilogy in the late '70s, and if he had listened, we wouldn't have some of the most beloved characters in the galaxy far, far away.

"The critics and the fans who were 10 years old when they saw the first one and 13 when they saw the second one complained that they didn’t want to see a children’s film," recalled Lucas. "Oh, that’s terrible. Jar Jar Binks is terrible!... Everyone said the same thing about R2-D2 and C-3PO. At the beginning, there was a huge push for me to get rid of C-3PO, and then in the third one [Return of the Jedi], people said the same thing about Ewoks."

However, despite admitting "I’m a stubborn man," Lucas will take criticism from his lifelong friends who just so happen to be celebrated filmmakers in their own right. "I had a group of friends I went to school with: Marty Scorsese, Francis [Ford Coppola], Steven [Spielberg]. We were all students at the same time, and we all know each other really well," said Lucas. "When I show them a movie and they make comments, I know where they’re coming from."

For more, keep up with movie release dates and new movies heading your way.

It's time to discuss the Star Wars prequels like it's 1999.

Speaking on the Class Clown podcast (H/T Variety), Peter Serafinowicz – who voiced Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace – recalled his displeasure with the experience.

"The design of it… I wasn't that into it," Serafinowicz said of Maul's Dathomir look. "When I saw the film, it was the biggest disappointment of my life at that point. It really was."

Serafinowicz, who was replaced as the voice of Maul by Sam Witwer in future projcets, even revealed how Star Wars creator George Lucas compared him to Darth Vader's voice actor, James Earl Jones. It didn't seem to go down that well.

"Suddenly there I was with George Lucas, and he was like saying, 'Well, Peter, you're the new James Earl Jones,' and I was like, 'Fucking hell, am I? Then why are you paying me such shit money, George?'"

Whatever Serafinowicz's opinion, it can't be doubted that Darth Maul emerged from the prequels as one of its most iconic aspects. The twin-blade lightsaber-wielding Sith went on to play a key role in Star Wars: The Clone Wars before starring in his own Disney Plus animated series, Maul – Shadow Lord.

Recently, fellow Star Wars villain actor Ian McDiarmid has revealed that Lucas once had plans for a Palpatine TV show, seemingly charting his life from Chancellor to Emperor. But that's not a story Disney will tell you.

For more from a galaxy far, far away, check out the upcoming Star Wars movies currently in the works.

The Mandalorian and Grogu star Brendan Wayne has defended the movie's box office performance – and also hinted at Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni's grander plan.

Wayne is one of the Din Djarin suit performers and has played Mando since season 1 of the Disney Plus show.

Speaking to Brandon Davis, Wayne was asked what makes Filoni the right man for the top Lucasfilm job. As part of his answer, Wayne explained: "Dave's understanding of like, 'Hey, we're going to tell a story, and we're going to tell it over, three movies, or this next episode, this next season of Ahsoka.' He understands that it's not all about, did we open well against Solo, or whatever it was? We were amazing because we didn't have the budget of those movies, and we still did something."

The Mandalorian and Grogu debuted to a $165 million opening weekend on a budget of a matching $165 million, and its total global gross now stands at $297 million. While it has made almost double its production budget, it is the lowest grossing Star Wars movie ever, behind Solo's $392.9 million.

What's especially intriguing about Wayne's answer, though, is the concept of telling a story over three movies and the next season of Ahsoka. Whether Wayne is just speaking hypothetically, or whether there really is a plan for more movies, remains to be seen…

What is clear, though, is that Ahsoka season 2 is going to have huge ramifications for the galaxy far, far away.

"Anybody who saw the sequels knows that there's a First Order coming in, like, 20 years from where we are now in the storyline," Jon Favreau has previously teased. "And then Ahsoka season 2 is coming out – which I've seen all of – and that's definitely more dealing with the larger [picture], a higher level. That's about the officers and we're the enlisted men – this is more of a ground-level experience of what's going on. You're seeing the backdrop – which, by the way, is what the first Star Wars started off as."

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

Jon Favreau says The Phantom Menace inspired a tiny detail in The Mandalorian and Grogu.

In the in-theater director commentary, Favreau revealed that the red laser barriers in the stadium where Din Djarin is forced to fight Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White) were inspired by the Duel of the Fates sequence in The Phantom Menace (H/T Laughing Place). Remember those laser gates on Naboo in the infamous fight scene where Obi-Wan Kenobi faces off against Darth Maul? It's a subtle reference, but a cool one nonetheless.

Favreau also revealed that the video game Star Wars: Jedi - Fallen Order was used as a reference for what the inside of an All Terrain Armored Transport, aka an AT-AT walker, looks like. The worlds depicted in various Star Wars graphic novels also helped the art team figure out what the planet of Nal Hutta should look like.

The director commentary is available in over 6,000 US theaters via the TheaterEars app, and is currently only available in the United States. The commentary itself, and more, will likely arrive with the later streaming and VOD release of the film. As the movie is still in theaters, we likely have quite a while to wait before that happens.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has shared which scene from the Star Wars movie was filmed first, and it's my favorite moment.

In the director's commentary currently available to moviegoers via the TheatersEars app, Favreau revealed that the very first thing shot for the film is the plate of the ocean at Adelphi Base, where Grogu and Rotta the Hutt play in the tides together (via Laughing Place).

Now, if you're not up on filmmaking lingo, a plate shot is something filmed to be used in a VFX shot. So, this means the ocean itself was filmed, and Grogu and Rotta added later.

The scene is my favorite in the whole movie – which might come as a surprise, considering all the action, or that beautiful sequence involving Grogu fending for himself. But, the brief, adorable moment acts to emphasize the growing friendship between Rotta and Grogu (one of the reasons Rotta is my MVP of the movie), and, as Din Djarin watches on, it's a sweet reminder that these two get to play in the surf because they have a protector willing to save them from the galaxy's villains.

The director's commentary has revealed all kinds of fun behind the scenes facts about the Star Wars movie, including that Favreau sought George Lucas's permission for one part of the film, Edgar Wright had some advice regarding Embo the bounty hunter, a Luke Skywalker reference was added last minute, one of the best lines was improv, the Droid Gotra were inspired by a scrapped Star Wars game, and Jedi: Fallen Order helped with one action sequence.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

The Mandalorian and Grogu may be a standalone movie, but the Star Wars film includes a flurry of nods to the franchise and has brought up many discussions within the fan base, including how powerful the Hutts are.

Over on Reddit, one fan pointed out how the new movie shines a new light on the Hutts after Jabba made a rather weak first impression in the original trilogy. "For the longest time, I've heard about how Legends paints the Hutts of Old as these great warriors," said the fan, "I never really believed it when my only point of reference was the likes of Jabba and the Hutt Council… Then I saw how Rotta was moving in the new movie and completely understood all of it."

Let's face it, when we meet Jabba in Return of the Jedi, we see a bloated, idle crime lord who, yes, has immense power, but he is not exactly a warrior. The sluggish villain made it hard to understand how he got into such a position. Enter Rotta the Hutt in The Mandalorian and Grogu. The new movie gives us insight into what the Hutts can do at the peak of their power, which is demonstrated in the arena scene, where we see a jacked Rotta, voiced by Jeremy Allen White, show off his talents.

"Sure, he's still probably not beating anything in a foot race," added the fan, "but the sheer intimidation factor of this Slug Hulk charging at you like a demon, followed by the strength to lift some of the most deadly creatures in the galaxy and toss them around like toys… Combine all of this with the aforementioned blaster-resistant hide, and I can finally understand why these guys are so feared even before their empire."

Other fans seem to agree, as one replied, "Hutts are like tongues, pure muscle, but leisurely life makes them fat," and another added, "Honestly, Rotta has become one of my favourite new characters just because of how he makes people realise how dangerous Hutts are when they aren't fat and lazy."

When the movie first hit screens, our writer singled Rotta out as the real MVP of The Mandalorian and Grogu, writing, "from the moment Rotta is introduced in the film, it's obvious he's going to be a ton of fun."

The Mandalorian and Grogu is out in theaters now. In the meantime, check out our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order, and keep up with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows heading your way.

Star Wars stories in a galaxy far, far away often take inspiration from wider media in the iconic franchise. But we didn't expect this.

As Jon Favreau revealed during a cinema-exclusive director's commentary on The Mandalorian and Grogu, the cancelled Uncharted-like Star Wars 1313 was influential to the droid group guarding the Nal Hutta palace.

As per Laughing Place, the Droid Gotra were 'borrowed' from the scrapped LucasArts title, which would have centred around Boba Fett on Coruscant.

Perhaps the most famous Star Wars video game that never was, 1313 was dropped after Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm and the shuttering of LucasArts. Perhaps it's no surprise that remnants of the project live on, however.

Ex-Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy told Slash Film back in 2015 "we don't want to throw any of that stuff away" in regards to 1313 or George Lucas' ambitious TV show Star Wars: Underworld.

The Mandalorian also has previous history with repurposing 1313 concepts. So, even if we never get to play as Boba Fett in a fully-fledged rampage through the galaxy's criminal underworld, some of the game's legacy stretches out into streaming and big-budget blockbusters.

The curious case of the in-cinema director's commentary, meanwhile, has thrown up several gems for those listening via the TheatreEars app – including why director Edgar Wright gets a thank you in the credits and how a Luke Skywalker reference was added on the day of filming.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is now in cinemas. For more, see our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

Filmmaker Edgar Wright had one key note after watching an early screening of The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it has to do with the movie's evil bounty hunter, Embo.

According to the director's commentary provided by Jon Favreau, which movie-goers can listen to in-theater thanks to the TheaterEars app, Wright suggested that the best way to introduce Embo in the film was to have him appear earlier (H/T The Holo Files). Initially, our live-action introduction to Embo was when he breaks into Din and Grogu's house to capture Din on the orders of the Hutt Twins. Having him subtly appear in the corner of the screen when Din and Grogu fly back to Nevarro makes things a little more ominous (especially with his overall sinister appearance), and sets up the danger to come.

We first met Embo in The Clone Wars season 2 episode 17, and his arc ended with him and his anooba Marrok joining the Fett syndicate. It's also worth noting that Embo has a different anooba (his wolf-like hunting partner) in The Mandalorian and Grogu.

The director commentary is only available to United States fans (at least for now), as the TheaterEars app is available in over 6,000 US movie theaters. The commentary itself, and more, will likely arrive with the later streaming and VOD release of the film.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

A Luke Skywalker reference in The Mandalorian and Grogu was added during filming, Jon Favreau has revealed.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is still in theaters, and now you can listen in on Favreau's director's commentary with the TheatersEars app. As you might expect, the commentary is revealing all kinds of interesting details about the film.

During the movie, when Mando is injured and Grogu must fend for himself, we see Baby Yoda seated on a tree trunk and meditating. It's a call back to Grogu's stint training as a Jedi Padawan with Luke Skywalker, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett: in episode 6 of that show, we saw Luke and Grogu meditating together.

According to Favreau (via Laughing Place), he had the idea for the meditation scene in The Mandalorian and Grogu on the day of filming, and he used some spare time to capture the moment. He explained that he thinks Grogu learned to meditate from Luke, and the former-Padawan could be "continuing Jedi training on his own."

During The Book of Boba Fett, Luke gave Grogu the choice to either continue his Jedi training or return to Din Djarin. Grogu chose Mando, and now Grogu is officially a Mandalorian apprentice.

"He's not on the typical Jedi path of a youngling, but he has trained with some of the best Jedi teachers that there are," Favreau told us of Grogu's Jedi journey before the film's release. "We know for sure he's studied with Luke Skywalker. There's implications that he may have crossed paths with Yoda, because he does recognize the name, is what we imply. And he also was there at the Jedi Temple before Order 66.

"So, it's a big part in talking to Dave Filoni, and by extension, to what he learned from George [Lucas], which is that the Force is about training," he continued. "It's about refining, just like an athletic ability or any skill. And we do see that, although Grogu is not serving under somebody who is teaching him, he still clearly is meditating and going through some version of the Jedi discipline. So, I think that his Force use has definitely leveled up a bit. Luke Skywalker didn't study under Obi-Wan for very long, but still refined his skills. So, I think that that's part of the path that's available to Grogu, as per what we've already learned from the previous Star Wars films."

This might not be the only reference to Luke in the movie, either: one fan spotted what could be R2-D2 being lifted from an X-wing in the background of the movie's opening credits.

In the same director's commentary, Favreau also revealed that he sought George Lucas's permission for a specific aspect of the film, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order provided inspiration for a major action sequence, and the movie's best line was improv.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. You can check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review to read our verdict on the film, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

It turns out everyone's favorite line from The Mandalorian and Grogu was actually some genius improvisation.

That's according to Jon Favreau, who revealed the behind the scenes tidbit in the new director's commentary for the film, which is available via the TheatersEars app.

In the new Star Wars movie, Din Djarin is captured and taken to Nal Hutta by Embo the bounty hunter, and Grogu and his Anzellan pals set off on an adventure to rescue him. This involves climbing up to a pipe that leads deeper into the Hutt palace. As the camera pans down the long, dark tunnel the tiny friends will have to traverse, one of the Anzellans observes: "Big pipe, huh?"

It's a line that has taken on a life of its own online already, and Favreau shared in the commentary that it was improv from Shirley Henderson, who provides the voices for the Anzellans (H/T The HoloFiles).

Favreau has also previously revealed that he reached out to JJ Abrams about the Anzellans, since Babu Frik debuted in Abrams's The Rise of Skywalker. "When I was working with the Anzellans, I called up JJ," he explained. "And JJ came to the set. Because you want him to know that, you know, 'I appreciate what you did. Can we – do you mind? Are we handling this well? Are you happy?'"

In the same director's commentary, Favreau also revealed that he sought George Lucas's permission to use the original Red Jammer model, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order provided a key piece of inspiration for a major action sequence in the film.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. You can check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review to read our verdict on the film, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

Boba Fett actor Temuera Morrison was hoping to make an appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it actually would've made a whole lot of sense.

"I was hoping to pop in there, too, and maybe help [Din Djarin and Grogu] out with something," Morrison told a fan who said that he hoped Boba would've made an appearance. "They might want him back one day… you never know."

It wouldn't have been out of the realm of possibility for Boba Fett to appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu given that he appeared in The Mandalorian season 2, specifically in episodes 6, 7, and 8 (though his subsequent survival after falling into the sarlacc's mouth is implied in episode 1).

You might also recall that Boba's arc ends with him sitting upon the throne that once belonged to Jabba the Hutt. Given that The Mandalorian and Grogu takes place on the Hutts' planet and involves a rescue mission for Jabba's son Rotta... it would've actually made perfect sense for Morrison's bounty hunter to make an appearance, and, as Morrison said, help Din Djarin and Grogu out with something.

The Book of Boba Fett ran for just one season on Disney Plus back in 2022, with Morrison previously saying that the show's reception "seems to have impacted the future of the character in the franchise." As a staunch defender of The Book of Boba Fett and the Star Wars Christmas Special (where Boba made his first official on-screen appearance), I have full faith that we'll see the bounty hunter again.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

Over the past decade, Star Wars has focused heavily on the period of time between the prequels and original trilogy, so much so that fans are wondering if it is time to move on from releasing projects set in this era.

When the Star Wars prequels were released, there was no doubt that fans had a lot of questions about what had happened in the 19 years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. But thanks to the ever-growing franchise, many projects have filled in the blanks and introduced lots of new characters. But when is enough enough?

"Considering the sheer amount of media we've gotten that takes place between III-IV, is there STILL some plot holes that need to be addressed? Or is it finally time to move on?" asked one fan on Reddit. Many others agree, as one pointed out, "Personally, I’m over the timeline between Ep1-6... give us the Luke Han Leia story post-6. Take some heavy swings at the lore. Dig deep and do some mythological heavy lifting."

Many fans are seeing the funny side of Lucasfilm and Disney's overexploration of The Dark Times. "There's still a dude in the back of the Mos Eisley's cantina in ANH we don't have a full 3-season show about," joked one fan, and another added, "You joke, but the Tales From Mos Eisley Cantina literally gave us the backstory of Han Solo's vest."

There are now 10, yes ten, projects set between the prequels and the original trilogy, and that's not counting Tales of the Jedi, which has episodes set slightly before. On the Star Wars timeline, Tales of the Empire, Tales of the Underworld, The Bad Batch, Maul – Shadow Lord, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Star Wars Rebels, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story all take place during that 19-year gap.

It doesn't look like Lucasfilm is quite finished with the period known as the Reign of the Empire, as Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 is already in production, and a third Star Wars Jedi games is expected to continue the story of Cal Kestis in this period. However, the franchise is exploring pastures new in Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, which will take place approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker. Starfighter hits cinemas on May 28, 2027.

For even more, check out our guide on how to watch Star Wars movies in order, and keep up with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows heading your way.

The Mandalorian and Grogu might be directed by Jon Favreau, but Star Wars creator George Lucas was still involved in one specific way.

Moviegoers are currently able to listen to Favreau's director's commentary for The Mandalorian and Grogu while watching the film in theaters via the TheatersEars app, and Favreau reveals plenty of fascinating details about the flick.

In the commentary, Favreau explains that he was at Skywalker Ranch, using the parking lot to film a Razor Crest miniature, when he learned that the original Red Jammer Y-wing starfighter model was being prepped for display at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Favreau then obtained the permission of George Lucas himself to use the model in the film (via Laughing Place).

The Red Jammer was created as a reference for A New Hope, but the model itself never appeared in the film. The Mandalorian and Grogu marks its first appearance in Star Wars.

"After a lengthy negotiation, George Lucas gave us permission to borrow the model," visual effects supervisor John Knoll previously told VFX Voice (via ComicBook.com). "We shot two motion-control elements of it. It's in the movie and will go by quickly. Unless somebody points it out, you won't notice it, but there are two photographed elements of a 1976 original model from Star Wars, which has never been seen onscreen before."

The Red Jammer shows up during The Mandalorian and Grogu ending, in the Nal Hutta X-wing action sequence. It's being piloted by filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung. For more The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs and cameos, check out our guide through the link.

Lucas's American Graffiti was also an inspiration for The Mandalorian and Grogu, Favreau shared, specifically Mando wanting to boost the Razor Crest's speed by stripping his new ship of restrictors.

Favreau has also previously revealed that he reached out to JJ Abrams about using the Anzellans again, since Babu Frik debuted in Abrams's The Rise of Skywalker.

Plus, during the commentary, Favreau explained how Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order helped inspire a key sequence in the film.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. You can check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review to read our verdict on the film, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is still in theaters, and moviegoers are currently able to enjoy an audio track of Jon Favreau's director's commentary running alongside the film via the TheatersEars app.

As you might expect, the director's commentary lifts the lid on plenty of interesting details about the latest Star Wars film – including a link to the game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Per Laughing Place, Fallen Order was used as a reference for the look of an AT-AT walker's interior. The Mandalorian and Grogu's action-packed opening sequence sees Din Djarin and Grogu battling Imperial remnants across three different walkers, destroying the giant vehicles as they go.

In Fallen Order, Cal Kestis climbs inside of an AT-AT on the Wookie homeworld planet, Kashyyyk, and he even uses the walker itself in a showdown against his Imperial foes.

That's not the only way Fallen Order figures into the movie, either: on Adelphi Base, BD unit droids can be spotted wandering around (they made their live-action debut in Peli Motto's garage in The Mandalorian). For more The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs, check out our guide through the link.

Recently, it was confirmed that Cal Kestis's story is not over, and a new Star Wars book even revealed that Luke Skywalker knows Cal survived Order 66 by 34 ABY on the Star Wars timeline (AKA after the Death Star's destruction). What might be next for Cal remains to be seen, but here's hoping he returns sooner rather than later.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more on the film, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get up to speed on the galaxy far, far away.

Shawn Levy may be busy working on Star Wars: Starfighter, but he has an idea for another story in the universe. It's all inspired by Backrooms, the new world-of-mouth horror movie from YouTuber Kane Parsons, which sees a shopkeeper get lost in an endless stretch of rooms that he can't escape from.

Speaking at a screening of the film, which Deadpool and Wolverine director Levy was an executive producer on, he revealed that he'd love to explore something similar in a galaxy far, far away.

"Right now, I'm making a movie called Star Wars: Starfighter, and so I very much have Star Wars on my mind," Levy told Vanity Fair. "And I can't help but be captivated by a Backrooms, Star Wars mashup and, luckily, I've got a little bit of involvement in both, so I'll see what I can do."

It's definitely a fun idea. Part of the appeal of Backrooms, and why it has already been winning over audiences at the box office, is that it is a unique, original idea. We'd love to see this kind of thinking brought into the Star Wars universe. It wouldn't be the first time that the franchise has expanded beyond its core story, finding success with original stories like Andor, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew.

While these genre experiments have had mixed success, we'd love to see more of them. It's true too that horror is not a style that Star Wars has explored yet – and this isn't the first time that it has been suggested.

Andor creator Tony Gilroy previously shared his hopes that the franchise would lean into genre. "I always fantasised that the show would break new ground, that someone would be able to make a three-camera sitcom in Star Wars or a horror movie," he previously told SFX magazine.

"I think the first thing I said to Kathy [Kennedy, Lucasfilm president] when she said they wanted to open a line, was, 'Could you do a courtroom drama?' And why not? We've worked really hard on Andor to make our lane, and it's up to other people now to find another way to do it."

For more on the galaxy far, far away, check out our guide to upcoming Star Wars movies and shows and our breakdown of the Star Wars timeline.

Before making his live-action debut in The Mandalorian and Grogu, we first met villain Embo in The Clone Wars series. However, Lucasfilm boss Dave Filoni says the bounty hunter was actually supposed to appear way earlier, in George Lucas' scrapped series Star Wars: Underworld.

"While we were writing and creating The Clone Wars, George was also developing a live-action series called Star Wars: Underworld," said Filoni to StarWars.com. "He had a lot of visual development done where he was exploring new designs for ships, planets, droids, and aliens. When we would meet to discuss upcoming Clone Wars [episodes], George would use some of that visual inspiration for our stories."

First announced at Star Wars Celebration 2005, Star Wars: Underworld was supposed to be a live-action show that would bridge the gap between the prequel and original trilogies. Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, Lucas wanted the series to take on a more mature tone than the space opera. Over the next few years, the team built huge set pieces and wrote over fifty scripts. However, in 2010, the project was abandoned due to budget constraints.

Just last year, producer Rick McCallum shed a little more light on why Underworld was cancelled. McCallum told Young Indy Chronicles podcast that the show would have cost upwards of $40 million per episode, adding, "each episode was bigger than the films... It would’ve blown up the whole Star Wars universe, and Disney would’ve definitely never offered George to buy the franchise."

It is not clear what part Embo would have played in Underworld, but it was the first piece of concept art that prompted both Lucas and Filoni to include him in The Clone Wars. "I gave Embo the species name 'Kyuzo,' which was a character from the Seven Samurai played by Seiji Miyaguchi," added Filoni. "I really liked that character so I gave a nod to the performance in Embo's character." That was just the beginning, as Embo went on to make more appearances in the show and even gained a trusty companion, a dog named Marrock.

After the Clone Wars, Embo retired and went to live a quiet life on the planet Felucia. In The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is set around 30 years after the end of The Clone Wars, we meet Embo in a new era, where he has a new pet and is quickly pulled back into the bounty hunter life. Embo is just one of the antagonists against Din Djarin and Grogu in the new movie, as the pair join forces with the New Republic in order to save what the Rebellion fought so hard for.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is now in cinemas. For more, check out our guide to The Mandalorian and Grogu ending, plus a look at the full Star Wars timeline.

The Way isn't just a nifty catchphrase. For Din Djarin and his fellow Mandalorians, it's a way of life that adds 'never showing your face to an enemy' to its list of many rules and regulations.

Pedro Pascal's Mandalorian has already broken that creed on multiple – albeit necessary – occasions, but The Mandalorian and Grogu movie has unmasked the Star Wars character for longer than at any point in Din's prior history across three seasons on Disney Plus.

As per numbers crunched by Star Wars Holocron, Din Djarin is unmasked for 270 seconds in The Mandalorian and Grogu. By comparison, The Mandalorian seasons 1-3 offer a shade fewer moments of unmasked action, clocking in at 259 seconds.

Towards the movie's third act, The Mandalorian and Grogu sees Din Djarin pulled in front of the Hutt Twins and his helmet removed – a moment that Pedro Pascal said made "perfect sense."

"When we got to that part, all I can say is that it made perfect sense, and it was what I was hoping would be the reason," Pascal told Empire. "If I were to pitch something, I would say, ‘The only thing that makes sense is...’ And that’s exactly it. He filled that blank. I said immediately, ‘Jon, that’s exactly what I was hoping to hear!’"

Previously, Mando has taken off his helmet to say goodbye to Grogu, as well as showing his face to IG-11 after being seriously wounded at the tail-end of the first season. This is the first time he has been forcefully unmasked, however, which is probably why we saw Pedro Pascal's face for so long.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is now in cinemas. For more, check out our guide to The Mandalorian and Grogu ending, plus a look at the full Star Wars timeline.

The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has revealed he got in touch with J.J. Abrams about using the Anzellans again.

The very first Anzellan brought to screen was Babu Frik, everyone's favorite little guy from The Rise of Skywalker – which was directed by Abrams (he also helmed The Force Awakens).

Speaking to SFX magazine about bringing Dave Filoni's creation Embo into live-action in The Mandalorian and Grogu, Favreau explained: "We were developing the live-action version of him and showing Dave versions – we've got to show Dave. Because there's a special thing, when you use a [character] – even though it belongs to Star Wars, if somebody came up with the character, you go [to them].

"Like when I was working with the Anzellans, I called up JJ," he continued. "And JJ came to the set. Because you want him to know that, you know, 'I appreciate what you did. Can we – do you mind? Are we handling this well? Are you happy?' And with Embo, same thing with Dave."

Now, the Anzellans first returned in The Mandalorian season 3, so it's not totally clear if Favreau reached out about the Anzellans for the show or the new movie. But, J.J. Abrams is thanked in the credits of The Mandalorian and Grogu, so it seems this story explains why.

The Anzellans end up having quite the pivotal role in the first Star Wars movie in seven years, too, so we're sure Abrams is very happy with how the little guys are doing.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which has an early 2027 release window.

Until then, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review or our guide on how to watch all the Star Wars movies in order.

It's been almost a decade since Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi hit screens, but one eagle-eyed fan has spotted a big difference between the final cut of the movie and the trailer.

The trailer for The Last Jedi, which landed on Star Wars' YouTube page in October 2017, includes a shot of Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 approaching the Jedi Temple only to find it destroyed and on fire. However, one Reddit user has found that the shot in the trailer does not include the many bodies strewn all over the ground in front of the temple, which is shown in the movie. "In the final version for The Last Jedi, you can see [dead] bodies in this shot, unlike in the trailer version," pointed out the fan.

The scene is actually a flashback from Luke's memory, as he recalls finding the bodies of the students he placed in his Jedi temple between Return of the Jedi and The Last Jedi. He believed that Kylo Ren killed the students. Kylo's motivations stemmed from his paranoia and dark thoughts due to his shift to the dark side. He thought that his uncle wanted to kill him after finding Luke standing over his bed one night with his lightsaber drawn.

The post has opened up a big discussion. One fan pointed out, "At the time the film came out, I think the implication was that the Knights of Ren are what some of the surviving Jedi students became, because Luke says, 'When I came to... the temple was burning. He had vanished with a handful of my students. And slaughtered the rest.'" Another added, "It would also better explain why Luke gave up. He trained all these people only for the dark side to rise in some."

It is thought that Skywalker had brought Padawans to the temple to train, including his nephew, Ben Solo. Luke's sister, Leia, had previously expressed her wish for her Force-sensitive son to be trained under Luke, after she discovered a dark presence attempting to influence him. But after Skywalker entered Ben's room one night and briefly considered slaying him, Ben lashed out, creating a lightning storm that destroyed the temple and killed almost all of the students. However, in the movie, we don't actually see Kylo causing the destruction or harming the students.

Since The Last Jedi in 2017, the Galaxy Far, Far Away's cinematic universe has grown with movies Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Rise of Skywalker. This year, the first Star Wars movie in seven years hit the big screen. The Mandalorian and Grogu follows Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu, who join forces with the fledgling New Republic after the fall of the evil Empire.

For more, check out our guide to the Star Wars timeline, and keep up to date with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows heading your way.

One Star Wars fan has given us all a full tour of the Din Djarin and Grogu homestead, and now I'm wondering if Mando is accepting applications for roommates.

The homestead was introduced at the end of The Mandalorian season 3, when Din Djarin and his newly adopted son, Din Grogu, settled down on Nevarro. In the show, though, we only got to see the house from outside.

The duo return to it in The Mandalorian and Grogu, and this time, while we get to see inside, it's only a glimpse before Grogu is forced to flee (with his Anzellan pals) and Mando literally blows up the roof to get to bounty hunter Embo.

But, thanks to the Fortnite collaboration, we can see the entire household. In the video, which you can watch below, we can see the grounds outside, including two blurrgs outside in a callback to season 1. The N-1 starfighter is also parked nearby, and there's a target range behind that. Round the front, you can even see Mando himself sitting next to the front door and enjoying some downtime, in a reference to the season 3 finale.

Inside, the house is simple, but very cozy. There's a bed against the wall and what looks like a smaller bed for Grogu on the floor beside it. On the other side of the house, there's a fireplace – with Mando's blaster mounted in pride of place above it – and a small kitchen and dining area. The whole interior is pretty spartan, but there are some rugs for decor. Check it out below.

Honestly, the whole place looks adorable, and I hope someday – in a potential The Mandalorian season 4 or somewhere else – we get to see Mando and Grogu spending a peaceful stretch of time in their homestead together.

"We wanted to build something that, yes, was a gaming experience, and you drop in with, I think, up to [12 players], and it's a fun adventure, but the backdrop is a very immersive one," Jon Favreau told us of the Fortnite collaboration. "And you could choose to go on the adventures within it, but you could also choose to explore. And we even developed other areas that we had either explored [or] thought about, so that you can actually explore and go throughout that planet."

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or our roundup of how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

The Mandalorian actor has reacted to the positive reaction of The Mandalorian and Grogu. We're not talking about Pedro Pascal though, but instead the man inside the suit, Brendan Wayne.

Wayne took to Instagram to thank fans, writing, "The audiences have been heard from and we are overwhelmed by the positive response. We loved what we were making and hopefully now we can make more!!!"

The movie currently stands at 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it seems like fans are loving it a lot more than critics, as the movie holds an 88% audience score. In our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, we called the movie "a lot of fun with Baby Yoda's sheer adorableness doing a lot of heavy lifting."

Wayne booked the role of Din Djarin for the first season of Disney Plus series The Mandalorian back in 2019, and has helped bring the bounty hunter to life for three seasons, and now in the new movie. But wait, you might be thinking, 'I thought Pedro Pascal played the Mandalorian?', which is true, but it actually takes a number of actors to play Mando. Pascal provides the voice of Mando, and is who we see under the suit whenever he takes his mask off, which has only been four times so far.

However, most of the time, when the hero is in full metal armour, it's Wayne under there. When it comes to the stunts, mixed martial artist Lateef Crowder takes the wheel. Thanks to Mando following the strict creed that all Mandalorians live by, which involves never revealing their faces out of fear of banishment, you never really know who is under there.

Pascal, Wayne, and Crowder all return to play the bounty hunter in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Set after the fall of the evil Empire, which has displaced Imperial warlords throughout the galaxy, the movie follows Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu as they join forces with the fledgling New Republic. Directed by Jon Favreau, the movie also stars Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Ward, Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, Steve Blum as Zeb Orrelios, and Jonny Coyne as Lord Janu.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is currently in theaters. For more, check out our guide to the Star Wars timeline, and keep up to date with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows heading your way.

Cal Kestis still has more to come, according to Lucasfilm.

Cameron Monaghan's Jedi is the protagonist of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (and the novel Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars), but he hasn't been seen in canon elsewhere just yet (he had a non-canon appearance in Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy).

"Never say never. We've got his lightsaber in the park. We've got more Cal stories coming," a Lucasfilm representative (also identified as a Disney representative in the report) told GameRant.

What that might mean is a mystery, but it might be hinting at another game, another novel, or even a live-action debut for Cal. It all remains to be seen.

Recently, Star Wars confirmed in a new book that Luke Skywalker knows Cal Kestis survived Order 66.

In the book Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi: The Chronicles of Luke Skywalker by Marc Sumerak, Luke writes: "Order 66 might have seemed like a quick and efficient method of eliminating the Jedi, but not every member of the Order succumbed to this act of betrayal. A small handful of Jedi managed to escape execution, such as Master Jaro Tapal's Padawan Cal Kestis, but their numbers continued to fall during the years that followed."

So, whatever might happen next for Cal Kestis, Luke Skywalker at least knows about him by 34 ABY on the Star Wars timeline (AKA 34 years after the Death Star blew up). Cal has already made quite a name for himself in his appearances so far, which could explain how Luke comes to learn of him, or the two Jedi could even cross paths in a future Star Wars project. We'll just have to wait and see.

Up next for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which has an early 2027 release window. Next year also brings with it Star Wars: Starfighter, while The Mandalorian and Grogu is currently in theaters.

You can keep up to date with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

When Grogu first debuted way back in the first season of The Mandalorian, he was a tiny, green, and very defenceless youngling.

Over the years, the Child has done some serious growing: his bond with Din Djarin has flourished from bounty hunter and target to father and son, and his mischievous, wilful, and snack-obsessed personality has made itself known. Along the way, he's moved from a baby stuck in his pram, to a Jedi Padawan – for a little while, anyway – and now to a Mandalorian apprentice with his own Beskar armor and a wrist-mounted (paintball) blaster. Grogu might still be tiny (and green), but he's no longer defenceless.

It's in his latest adventure, The Mandalorian and Grogu, that Grogu really comes into his own, too – and proves that he's so much more than just a cute sidekick.

The young protect the old

In the first half of the new Star Wars film, Grogu spends his time hanging out on Din Djarin's shoulder, occasionally jumping into action to destroy a mouse droid with the Force, or to shimmy up a building and unlock it from the inside. He also has plenty of lovely little moments that are guaranteed to make you aww aloud, like sneezing after the snowy AT-AT action scene, jumping on the bed of the new Razor Crest and giggling, or waddling through the Adelphi Base on his teeny legs.

It might seem, then, that Grogu's only purpose in his first big-screen outing is to help out Papa Mando and look adorable while he does it. But, halfway through the film, everything changes. Din Djarin is taken captive by the ruthless bounty hunter Embo after crossing the Hutt Twins, and Grogu and his Anzellan pals watch in dismay as Mando is taken away to Nal Hutta.

Back in The Mandalorian season 3, Grogu faced a similar dilemma when Din Djarin was attacked by a gruesome cyborg on Mandalore. Baby Yoda jumped into Mando's N-1 Starfighter and asked its astromech to pilot him to Bo-Katan Kryze, and, in this way, he was able to rescue his father. This time, however, Grogu and the Anzellans take on the challenge of saving Din Djarin all alone.

Grogu suits up in his Beskar armor and heads to Nal Hutta with the Anzellans, and, together, they manage to sneak into the Hutt palace, where Mando is battling a dragon snake for his life. Grogu fixes a bomb – yes, really – onto the bars of the dragon snake's lair, which frees Mando (and spares him a grisly fate as a snack). When it becomes obvious Din Djarin can't fit into the Anzellan's ship to escape, Grogu stays behind to save him, even though Mando told him to go.

Grogu Force heals Mando's wound, but the dragon snake's poison isn't so easily vanquished. Here, the film shifts to a beautiful, meditative sequence showcasing some stunning puppetry work, in which Grogu, completely alone on a planet where danger lurks in every corner, nurses Din Djarin back to health. Grogu – who, don't forget, is just a baby – builds a mud hut for Mando and uses the Force to slide him into it (with a few head bumps), collects water for them both, and manages to steal some fish from a nearby stranger.

This stranger turns out to be friendly, and he makes Grogu a poultice to cure Mando, which the Child dutifully feeds him. It works, and Mando wakes up – and, naturally, gets right back to holstering his weapons.

In a touching moment, Din Djarin also affirms that Grogu, by saving his life, is following the Mandalorian Creed: "The old protect the young, and then the young protect the old. This is the Way." It's hard to think of any higher praise for a Mandalorian apprentice.

Your turn, Grogu

Of course, that's not to say that Grogu has ever just been "shoulder candy," as one of the movie's bad guys calls him. Grogu has always been at the heart of The Mandalorian: the entire show revolves around the hugely meaningful father and son bond that grows between the Child and Mando himself, and all the ways it changes them both. Just compare how brutal and merciless Din Djarin was back when he was introduced to the paternal ease with which he confiscates Grogu's macarons until after dinner in the movie.

But Baby Yoda's adventure in The Mandalorian and Grogu is the biggest responsibility he's ever had on his tiny shoulders, and it proves how much potential he has as he continues to learn the Way of the Mandalore and grow older. At the end of the film, he's able to use his Force powers to rescue Rotta the Hutt from falling into the dragon snake's pit – back in season 1, lifting the mudhorn to save Mando knocked him out for the entire episode.

The film even ends on a note that sets up the future. As the duo flies away from Adelphi Base, Mando calls Grogu up to the controls and lets him push the button that sends them to lightspeed. "Your turn," he tells his adopted son, in a very clear passing of the torch.

Grogu probably isn't ready to become a fully fledged Mandalorian just yet – he's still pretty small, after all. But it's obvious that, whatever comes next, Grogu has plenty more ahead of him, both as his Force powers get stronger and as he learns more as a Mandalorian apprentice. They really do grow up so fast…

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or our roundup of how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is out in theaters now as it takes Star Wars back to the big screen for the first time in seven years. The film follows Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu on an adventure around the galaxy, but there's one moment that fans think could be setting up the little green guy's future.

This revolves around the scene when Mando is brought back in front of the Hutt twins after his betrayal. They show him that they've caught Rotta the Hutt and they're keeping him in a state where they can torture him constantly. They tell Din Djarin that he'll be in pain for centuries as the Hutts can live for many, many years.

This has sparked a theory from a Twitter user called RebelScum_MF, who wrote: "I'm calling it, Rotta will be the one to take care of Grogu after Din is gone. They put the line that the Hutts can live centuries for a reason!"

Grogu is a member of Yoda's species, which means he can live for centuries. Indeed, by the time he died in Return of the Jedi, Yoda was 900 years old. Unfortunately, Mando won't be able to live that long, as his species has the same life span as humans. This means – and we shudder at the thought – he will die long before his ward Grogu.

Grogu is still just a youngling in the show and the movie, and it's not clear when he will reach maturity. If it takes many more years, then it does seem like Rotta could step in. The pair certainly had a good bond in the new film, especially when it comes to snack sharing.

Other Star Wars fans have been reacting to the theory – and it seems the responses are pretty mixed. "Does he not become a grown ass man at some point? Bros already pushing 60, it’s about time to grow up," wrote one, while another added: "Was thinking that! Love it!!! wonder if they were part of the Resistance against the First Order."

Meanwhile, a third pointed out: "It’s foreshadowed in the movie about a growth spurt, which is likely what will happen with Grogu by the next installment. Rotta was the example…" Jon Favreau has opened up about the character's future in the Star Wars universe, saying he has "a lot of plans" for him. So we'll just have to wait and see…

In the meantime, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, as well as how to watch Star Wars in order.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is now in theaters as it reunites Din Djarin with his young apprentice Grogu. The pair are now both working as bounty hunters for the New Republic in the new Star Wars movie, which focuses on their mission to find Rotta the Hutt.

The movie stays in the present with the duo and doesn't feature any huge reveals or flash forwards to the future of these two characters. However, in a new special debunking fan theories, it seems like something around showing Grogu's future in the franchise may have been considered.

Entertainment Weekly showed director Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni a theory from a user called 4forlore that suggested a post-credits scene could show Grogu as a grown-up member of Yoda's species.

While this doesn't happen in the final film, Favreau teased: "There are things that 4thelore has brought up that we have actually…" At this point, Filoni cut in to add: "He's not that far."

The pair don't reveal anything more about what they discussed, but when Pedro Pascal adds that, "If Grogu ever gets that old I'll be long dead," Favreau clarified that the user was "saying a flash forward, that you would get a glimpse of the future." Could this be what the Star Wars filmmakers might have considered?

We do know that Favreau has thought a lot about Grogu's future on screen. In an interview with GamesRadar+, he revealed: "Creatively, I have a lot of plans, and I have a lot of thoughts about these characters, especially for Grogu. Grogu is a character that is – his species lives for centuries. He's on a path to be both a Jedi and a Mandalorian. He's making certain choices and decisions, and he has a great teacher now. And so, as he develops and grows, there's opportunities for stories that would emanate from that."

It's not yet clear where these characters will end up next. The Mandalorian season 4 hasn't been announced, nor has a return for Din Djarin and Grogu in another project. So it seems like we'll have to just wait and see whether we'll ever see a grown-up Grogu in the Star Wars franchise. Here's hoping…

While we wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows as well as our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

It's been three years since The Mandalorian season 3 ended on Disney Plus, but one fan has found a way to continue the story by splitting up new Star Wars movie The Mandalorian and Grogu into chapters as if it were The Mandalorian season 4.

Warning, the following contains mild spoilers for The Mandalorian and Grogu, so turn back now if you haven't seen the film. But first, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

Over on Reddit, the fan split the new movie up into eight chapters, following on from where season 3 left off with Chapter 24. Chapter 25, which the fan aptly titled 'The Warlord', focuses on the first part of the movie where we catch up with Din Djarin and Grogu on a new adventure, Chapter 26 titled 'The Contract, sees the duo meet Sigourney Weaver's character Colonel Ward and get given their mission to find Rotta the Hut, Chapter 27 titled 'The Heir' introduces us to Rotta, and Chapter 28, titled 'Abduction' sees the Grogu and Mando kidnap Commander Coin.

As we get into the movie's main action, the Star Wars fans' next chapter, titled 'The Hunter,' is when Embo comes into the picture and kidnaps Mando, and Chapter 30, 'The Trial', sees Pedro Pascal's Mandalorian stand before the Hutts, before Chapter 31, 'The Guardian', sees Grogu nursing Din Djarin back to health. Then, to finish the season off, the fan's final chapter titled 'Retribution' finds Mando and Grogu back together again as they kill the Hutts.

Below, other Star Wars fans theorised over whether the movie could span across a whole season, with one reply, "I'd split the movie into 2 chapters: 1: The Old Protect the Young 2: The Young Protect the Old This is the way," and another joked, "And the titles would have leaked before the season came out and everyone would speculate that 'The Guardian' was referencing a Jedi guardian and get hyped that Luke or Ahsoka were going to show up."

However, others were quick to point out that The Mandalorian and Grogu isn't actually a replacement for The Mandalorian season 4, and they're quite right.

Before the movie was announced, director Jon Favreau was working on the fourth season, but the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike and the WGA writers' strike brought production to a halt. Then the plan changed to bring the duo to the big screen.

Favreau looked at The Mandalorian season 4 scripts and decided he could not make a feature film out of them, so he rewrote the whole thing. Moreover, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a standalone Star Wars adventure, which is why the movie steers away from the show. At this point, it is not yet clear when or if the show will return for a fourth season.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, or our roundup on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

Hideo Kojima has shared his latest review, and it's pretty glowing. The video game maestro has watched new Star Wars movie The Mandalorian and Grogu and it seems like he's a big fan.

"I watched Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu in IMAX," the Death Stranding creator wrote on X. "Back in 2019, I had only seen the opening of The Mandalorian while examining the LED-shot "virtual production" technology, but this time I had no problem diving in."

He went on to add: "Action, car chases, close-quarters combat, sword fights, gun battles, death matches, aerial combat, giant monsters, giant mechs. A complete "everything versus everything" showcase. CGI, puppets, special makeup, animatronics, stop motion."

Kojima even went on to add he loved how "the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship feels like it has everything packed in". He concluded: "Nearly every element from across the entire history of the Star Wars saga is in as well. An entertainment spectacle made with craftsmanlike skill by Jon Favreau."

It's a pretty lengthy review from Kojima who either goes all in with his reviews or leaves them brief, like his verdict on Return to Silent Hill...

The Mandalorian and Grogu opened to a solid box office over the Memorial Day weekend taking in $100 million domestically. This is roughly equal to the last cinematic spin off Solo back in 2018, but it's not clear yet whether The Mandalorian and Grogu will continue to grow over the coming weekends.

For more on the film, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review as well as our breakdown of all The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs and what happened in our The Mandalorian and Grogu ending explained.

In The Mandalorian and Grogu, the titular main duo continue their struggle against the galaxy's lingering Imperial Remnants when they're set on the trail of the movie's main villain: an ex-Imperial by the name of Commander Coin, played by actor Jonny Coyne.

In the run-up to release, the bad guy's name was surrounded by mystery: director Jon Favreau even teased to Empire magazine "you'll like his character name when you hear it." While Coyne's character appeared briefly in The Mandalorian season 3's Shadow Council scene, which featured a collection of Imperials scheming against the New Republic, his character was unnamed.

Ahead of the film's arrival in theaters, Coyne's character was identified only as Lord Janu. But, now that the film is finally here, we know Lord Janu and Commander Coin are one and the same – and that Coyne's Star Wars name is very similar to his real name.

"I don't know how my name got involved in the mix," Coyne tells GamesRadar+. "But at some point when I first got introduced to Jon when I was doing the series – well, the one episode that I did of the series – he said, 'Listen, I hope you don't mind, but we kind of like your name, we're just going to maybe call you Commander Coin.'"

There's even more serendipity to this considering that some of Coyne's friends gave him the nickname Commander Coyne when he first arrived in LA, "and, next thing you know, I'm playing that character." Though as for Janu, he says, "I don't know where that came from."

Commander Coin has a double life as a crime lord on the moon of Shakari, where he operates a fighting ring with Rotta the Hutt as his star warrior. "He's running a club where he makes money prize fighting people, a gladiatorial show for people to make money from," Coyne explains. "He's a bad guy, he is from the Empire, but they're all trying to make a living on the side."

While previous Star Wars villains have been lightsaber-wielding Sith Lords, Commander Coin is a different type of bad guy. "I was kind of hoping that I might get a chance to do a much more scary thing, but Jon was very determined to make him a very, very real non-Star Wars kind of character without the [mimes Darth Vader breathing], none of that stuff going on," says Coyne. "He wanted to make him a very real person, and I enjoyed that."

As you might expect from Star Wars, though, the role was shrouded in secrecy, much like the character's name, even for the actor playing him. "I was given the script: one day to read it," says Coyne. "I had to come into Manhattan Studios and take a MacBook, and read it off an iPad, and read it, and then hand the thing back, signed in, signed out. You weren't allowed to take it away with you. So I had the script for two hours, and tried to immerse myself as much as I could into that.

"The rest of the time, I just got the lines piecemeal, literally just like the line across a screen, and I would try and read it and learn it until the day when I had the sides in my trailer, that's when I had the actual paperwork in front of me," he continues. "So, it was really hard to develop a whole storyline, but it was clear what he was, he was a bad guy, and he was still immersed in that world, and they were still working as the Shadow Council to defeat the Rebellion. And what they're up to is not clear, but it's clearly bad, and along the way, these Shadow Council are scattered around the galaxy, and they're doing mischief and trying to make money and trying to make a living out of it."

But, Coyne did get some context courtesy of Favreau when the director pitched him the role after he'd already signed up to the movie. "[He told me] what he plans to do with my character, and he showed me graphics of my sets that I'd be using," Coyne says. "I had very much practical sets, real sets, as opposed to the Volume and green screen, a lot of things like that. So, I got to play on the real stage, as it were, and that, well, for my little mind, it was much more helpful. I need to touch things."

Indeed, Star Wars has a reputation for beautiful hand-crafted sets and critters, which Coyne got to experience first hand. "My club, the arena, my office were all very real places, and yeah, I think I benefited from that, really," he says. "It helped me tremendously."

That classic commitment to practical filmmaking even extended to a large scale action scene involving stormtroopers and a speeder chase, in which Mando, Grogu, and Zeb Orrelios attempt to escape Coin's compound. "What is brilliant about the guys who do these movies, is that they do introduce modern technology, modern techniques into making these movies, but they never forget the old ways, the old techniques," says Coyne. "So, when I'm in the speeder, you just got a couple of guys with big long poles, just shaking it around. You're just being shook by poles. It's old school attached to the new school. How they put it together is brilliant."

Not everything could really be on set, however: Rotta the Hutt is, as you might expect, a CGI creation (his papa Jabba might have been a real puppet, but Jabba never moved like Rotta…). "It is a wonder when you watch it, how it's all going to come together," reflects Coyne. "So, you're working with guys who are standing in for the various creatures that are fighting in that arena, including Rotta, and you think, 'Is that going to be convincing? It's just a guy in a sort of tail, with a tail stuck to him.' But it comes together beautifully, I think. Whatever they do in that magic world of CGI is extraordinary."

As for whether we could ever see Commander Coin again, Coyne isn't getting ahead of himself. "I got to do a Star Wars movie," he says. "I'd be greedy to say, 'Can I have another one, please?' It's great. As far as I'm concerned, I'm made up. I've done as much as most actors would dream of doing, so I'm very happy with my situation. Will there be more? Yeah, bring it on if they can. But, I'm happy where I am."

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, or our roundup of how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

The Mandalorian and Grogu features splashy AT-AT action, a gaggle of adorable Anzellans, and sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver – along with all the loveable father/son antics we've come to expect from our titular duo.

So, I was pretty surprised when, as the credits rolled on the first Star Wars film in seven years, I realized my favorite part of the movie was none other than Rotta the Hutt.

Rotta is introduced as a gladiatorial fighter in crime lord and ex-Imperial Janu Coin's fighting ring, but those who have seen the 2008 Clone Wars movie know him better as Stinky. Baby Stinky was kidnapped by Count Dooku years ago on the Star Wars timeline, and Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano were dispatched on a mission to rescue him. The film plays out like a kind of proto-Mandalorian, with Anakin and Ahsoka escorting the baby through galactic dangers and back to the (relative) safety of his papa Jabba the Hutt. 18 years later, that baby is all grown up.

Comeback kid

I honestly had no idea what to expect of Rotta going into The Mandalorian and Grogu. Not only is he now a seriously ripped adult, he's also voiced by Jeremy Allen White, and director Jon Favreau had somewhat cryptically teased that the movie would explore the psychological weight of being Jabba the Hutt's son.

But, from the moment Rotta is introduced in the film, it's obvious he's going to be a ton of fun. Ludwig Göransson's score is consistently excellent, but the composer goes beast mode for Rotta's grand introduction with a thumping, pulsing, heavy electronic sound that perfectly establishes Rotta as a formidable fighting force. Rotta rolls his big, slug-like body around the arena with terrifying speed, then completely overpowers his opponent with a bone-crunching smack of his considerable weight. What an intro.

Rotta's fun physicality (he complains he can't fit in the Razor Crest's cockpit when Mando asks for help, leaving Grogu to navigate the complicated controls to expectedly chaotic conclusions, and gets strung up like a ham to prevent escape) isn't the only standout for the Hutt, though. He also has an unexpectedly deep storyline, which does, as Favreau promised, deal with the reality of being the son of one of the galaxy's most notorious and ruthless crime lords.

Jabba's shadow

When Mando tracks Rotta down to the cell he sleeps in between fights, Rotta – mid-massage – tells Din Djarin that fighting is his way of escaping the toxic legacy of Jabba the Hutt. Grogu, lured by the promise of snacks, slips between the bars, and Rotta reassures a panicked Mando, "Don't worry, I'm not my father."

Later, Rotta explains that, when the crowd heard he was Jabba's son, they booed him, but gradually those boos became cheers as the crowd accepted Rotta was no Jabba. That's what makes it especially sad when Mando, after being forced into the fighting pit opposite Rotta, gets the upper hand against the Hutt, and the crowd cheers uproariously. Rotta's face falling when Lord Janu, who owns Rotta's contract, announces he'll be dying, and the realization that nobody on Shakari really cares about him sinks in, is especially upsetting.

Eventually, Mando takes Rotta into custody, though Rotta argues that the Hutt Twins want him dead, as he's Jabba's heir. Even free of the fighting pits, Rotta still can't escape this terrible legacy. Of course, Din Djarin has always hidden a heart of gold beneath the Beskar, so he ultimately changes his mind and lets Rotta go.

Here, Rotta ties into the still-flourishing father/son bond between Mando and Grogu beautifully. Din Djarin watches on as Rotta and Grogu play in the ocean at sunset together, in a lovely little moment that harkens back to the quiet character beats The Mandalorian show is so adept at (like Mando and Grogu sipping their soup in unison in season 2). This is a glimpse at the quiet, happy life both Rotta and Grogu could have without the galaxy's villains, a sentiment which is surely not lost on Mando, who strove to protect Grogu from bad guys like Moff Gideon for three seasons of the Disney Plus show.

This is emphasized when Rotta reassures Mando that Grogu is "lucky" to have him, because, when Rotta was the same age, he had to fend for himself: as anyone who has seen The Mandalorian knows, Din Djarin would never willingly leave Grogu alone. At the end of the film, Rotta similarly shares some wisdom with Grogu, telling him: "Your dad's one of the good ones." No one could argue with that. The moment also caps off a sweet friendship that blossoms between Grogu and Rotta, beginning with Rotta offering up his snacks and culminating with the duo saving each other from the Hutt Twins in the movie's climactic action sequence.

So, while I had no idea what to expect from Rotta the Hutt, I'm very glad he has such a large role in the film, both literally and figuratively (seriously, he is ripped). Who knew Stinky had such a bright future ahead of him?

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. You can keep up with everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, or see our roundup of how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

The Mandalorian and Grogu brings back Jonny Coyne's mysterious Imperial warlord from his brief appearance in the Shadow Council scene in The Mandalorian season 3.

That scene did not involve the titular duo, though, which means the movie is Coyne's first time appearing opposite Din Djarin and Din Grogu. Of course, the role of Mando is shared between Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder, and Pedro Pascal – Pascal provides Din Djarin's voice and face (on the rare occasions he is unmasked), while Crowder provides the stunts and action work, and Wayne provides the more every day performance in the suit.

We spoke to Coyne, whose character's name is Janu Coin, all about his role in the Star Wars film, and we asked who he worked with the most on set.

"Mostly Brendan," Coyne tells us. "You'd be surprised, you know, Brendan carries a lot of the stuff because he's the silhouette of the Mandalorian in so many ways: the way he walks, the way he behaves. So, he's very much a part of it all. Lateef comes in and kicks everybody around. He's incredible, actually, Lateef, and I did get a chance to see him in action a lot of the time. But, most of my work was with Brendan."

While Coyne didn't work with Pedro Pascal on set, he did eventually get to meet him. "He's a fantastic actor, and so lovely. I met him at the premiere, and he was very charming, and bloody handsome," he laughs.

It's not just the Beskar-clad warrior Coyne shares the screen with, though: he also works with Grogu.

"It's a complete individual. They do say don't work with animals and children, because you'll never get a look in as an actor, and it's true," he jokes. "You've got a beautiful alien child in front of you, and as cute as anything, and when he starts flapping his eyes, lids, and he's flipping his ears and things, it's adorable.

"But the guys who [are] his family, as it were, the people who run him, they're never offline," Coyne adds. "They're kind of off-set, off-screen. You pass by, you give little Grogu a little tickle, and he comes alive. They're on him all the time, they just work him all the time. It's quite amazing to watch, really."

In fact, the scene Coyne shares with both of them in his office on Shakari ended up being his favorite from the entire movie.

"I did like my central scene with Mando and Grogu," he tells us. "That was great fun to play, not least because I get to say all the words, that's always the actor's favorite part. No, it was great to be part of all that, and live on that set and live in that world for a little while."

It helps that Coyne was already a big Star Wars fan, even before his role in season 3. "I have seen every single one of them. I'd seen all the Mando series before I got the job. A friend of mine did actually say to me, 'You should be in The Mandalorian.' I said, 'Well, okay, fine, great, bring it on, but you're not a casting director.' But, I'd seen all the Star Wars movies. I was, I think, 18, 19, when the first one came out. It's very much been a part of my entire life, long before I thought of becoming an actor. And then, at this stage of my career, to get into one of these is brilliant."

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, or our roundup of how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

The Mandalorian and Grogu brings everyone's favorite space dad and his tiny green son to the big screen in the first Star Wars movie in seven years, but originally, the plan was to continue the tale of Din Djarin and Din Grogu on the small screen in The Mandalorian season 4.

While Jon Favreau wrote the entirety of the season, after the dual SAG-AFTRA actors' strikes and WGA writers' strikes brought Hollywood to a halt, the plan pivoted to the film instead.

The movie pits Mando and Grogu against an ex-Imperial by the name of Commander Coin, who returns from the sinister Shadow Council scene in The Mandalorian season 3. As it turns out, though, Commander Coin actor Jonny Coyne was actually initially set to be part of season 4, too.

"There was a time when I was booked to do a whole load of other episodes in season 4," Coyne tells GamesRadar+. "And then that show went away, and then there was an actor strike, and there was COVID, and all sorts of things going on, and it was a difficult time.

"Then I heard the show got canceled, and so I just went, 'Okay, I'll pack my bags, and leave LA,'" he continues. "And then I heard I was going to be part of the movie, and then I heard I was going to be seriously part of the movie, you know, significantly. And then, Jon Favreau called me up and interviewed me, and talked to me about what he plans to do with the character, and I thought, 'Okay, bring it on.'"

But, while Coyne knows he was involved in season 4, he doesn't know if the plan was a similar storyline to what ended up making it to the screen in The Mandalorian and Grogu.

"Never got the scripts for that. Literally, though, the only thing I did with Mando was three lines in the Shadow Council. They weren't particularly significant lines, I don't think so," he says with a laugh, "but somehow it was all an intro to my character into what became the movie. So, I'm thinking maybe there was something along these lines in the series, but who knows."

In the film, Commander Coin, under the name Lord Janu, runs a gladiatorial fighting ring that features Rotta the Hutt as his star warrior. But, as we learned in The Mandalorian season 3, he's also part of the Imperial Remnants, who work in the shadows to undermine the New Republic.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, or our roundup on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

Does Luke Skywalker appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu? One Star Wars fan thinks so.

Way back in 2020's The Mandalorian season 2, Luke Skywalker answered Grogu's call to the Jedi on Tython and arrived in the nick of time to rescue the youngling from Dark Troopers and whisk him off to Jedi school. But, in The Book of Boba Fett, Grogu chose to leave his Jedi training to reunite with Mando – and, since then, we haven't seen Luke Skywalker again.

But, in The Mandalorian and Grogu, one Star Wars fan might have spotted a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo from the last Jedi himself.

In the film's opening credits, we get a good look at Adelphi Base, as the iconic Mandalorian theme tune plays in the background. In one moment, an R2 unit can be seen getting lowered into an X-wing. "Was that R2-D2 on Luke's X-Wing that I saw on The Mandalorian and Grogu" questions the fan.

It's not entirely clear, because the moment goes by fast enough that it's not easy to see the droid. It could just be a droid that bears a strong resemblance to R2-D2 – in fact, we see one of these in the opening credits, too – or it could be the iconic droid himself.

And, honestly, it would make a lot of sense if Luke Skywalker did visit Adelphi Base on occasion. While he's busy attempting to start his new Jedi Order, he'd likely still have strong ties to the New Republic at this point on the Star Wars timeline. Maybe he dropped in to say hi to his former student, Grogu? Who's to say…

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our guide to all the other The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs and cameos, or see our roundup of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.