The Mandalorian Din Djarin and his foundling Din Grogu are set to reignite Star Wars at the cinema.
The history of entertainment media is littered with television shows which reached for the big screen and fell short. However, we can be fairly certain that the latest Star Wars project from Disney/Lucasfilm has a solid chance.
After three successful series on their Disney+ streaming platform, and a number of faltering movie projects on their movie slate, The Mandalorian is leading Star Wars back to the big screen.
Directed by Jon Favreau, and produced by Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, and Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian & Grogu goes into production this year.
Favreau said:
“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created. The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”
As well as writing and executive producing the majority of the show’s television iteration, Favreau has plenty of box office credit behind him. He helmed the Iron Man trilogy, as well as live-action versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King. Outside of Disney, he’s also directed movies such as Elf and Zathura: A Space Adventure. On television, away from Star Wars, he has directed on numerous television series such as The Office and The Orville.
Fellow executive producer and President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy added:
“Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.”
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’
Kennedy’s comments prompt us to considering quite what that story might be. As a movie, we’ll be expecting something uniquely cinematic, visually and dramatically different from the pair’s weekly Disney+ adventures.
The obvious topic for a movie would be the culmination of Mando’s original quest to reunite Grogu with his own people, although that was (sort of) dealt with in the show when he delivered the tot to Luke Skywalker. Plus, it would potentially involve a suggestion of Yoda’s origins, which is one of the franchise’s sacred mysteries.
The Mandalorian takes place in the post-Return of the Jedi period, so a threat could emerge from the ruins of the Empire, but that’s already the focus of Ahsoka. Equally, we’ve yet to see the Star Wars: Skeleton Crew series from Spider-Man director Jon Watts, also set around the same time.
Either way, it demands a gear change for The Mandalorian, which usually presents a slow-burning story over eight episodes.
The Star Wars movie slate
After a number of false starts since 2019’s Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, we’re hoping that The Mandalorian and Grogu will get Star Wars movies back on track.
Also in the pipeline are a post-The Rise of Skywalker movie, starring Daisy Ridley and directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Rumoured to deal with Rey’s efforts to establish a new Jedi Order, it’s written by Peaky Blinders‘ Steven Knight.
Plus, there’s a Dave Filoni project. Set in the New Republic era, it’s expected to deal with the Imperials remnants led by a resurgent Grand Admiral Thrawn. Filoni will doubtless turn his attentions to the movie after completing Ahsoka season 2. Additionally, there’s a project from writer/director James Mangold taking place some 25,000 years before the Skywalker saga too.
Interestingly, the press release announcing The Mandalorian & Grogu makes no mention of a Donald Glover led Lando Calrissian movie. News broke last year that Glover and his brother were working on the project, which previously mooted as a television series. We hope that one’s still alive!
Television Adventures
On the small screen, the aforementioned Skeleton Crew is up next, due this year and running to eight episodes. Following that, there’s a High Republic era show called The Acolyte from Leslye Headland which is also due in 2024.
Finally, in the pipeline is the second (and final) series of Andor. Across 12 further episodes, the show will lead Cassian into the events of Rogue One. Originally expected this year, the show is now likely to land in 2025.
We’ll keep you posted on Star Wars. This is the Way.