The Mandalorian And Grogu Director Reveals How Din Djarin And Grogu Embrace Star Wars' True Ethos

How Star Wars’ Most Popular Disney Characters Embody The True Ethos Of The Franchise Credit: Disney+ via MovieStillsDB By  El Kuiper Published 25 minutes ago El is a Senior news and reviews writer for ScreenRant, with previous experience as The Mary Sue's UK and Weekend Editor. She holds a Bachelor's in International Media and Entertainment Management, as well as an MA and Ph.D. in Creative Writing. There is little she loves more than discussing her favorite TV shows with fellow fans. One day, she hopes to publish an original fantasy novel. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

As Star Wars gears up to return to cinemas for the first time since 2019, Disney's most popular Star Wars characters will embrace the true ethos of the franchise in The Mandalorian and Grogu. A possible replacement for The Mandalorian season 4, The Mandalorian and Grogu will see Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and the Force-wielding youngling Grogu defend the galaxy as "bounty hunters" for the New Republic.

As the official trailer revealed, there will be plenty of action in the film, including Grogu going for a deep-water dive — potentially to find his new friend, the Mythosaur, briefly glimpsed in The Mandalorian's season 3 finale — bar fights, starship chases, droid battles, and more. And yet, despite The Mandalorian and Grogu's seemingly numerous action-heavy set pieces, the focus will still be on Din Djarin and Grogu's relationship.

The film will deepen the bond between the unlikely but painfully lovable duo, as the threat of the Imperial Remnant and Grand Admiral Thrawn draws near. Director Jon Favreau, who co-wrote The Mandalorian and Grogu with Star Wars' current Chief Creative Officer, Dave Filoni, told Empire Magazine in the January 2026 Issue, "That central relationship, as they go off and face adventure together, that's the underpinning of the film."

Favreau went on to explain how Din and Grogu's dynamic continues one of Star Wars' most important thematic traditions: "Star Wars is always about progression and growth and characters evolving, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. It's about apprenticeship, it's about one generation teaching the next. There's more growth that happens over the course of the film."

Din Djarin and Grogu are indeed the latest in a long line of Star Wars mentor/mentee, father/son relationships, including the likes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker, Luke and his nephew, Ben Solo, Star Wars Rebels' Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger, Jango and Boba Fett, and more.

While The Mandalorian is undoubtedly one of Star Wars' most successful sub-franchises, the series faltered with season 3. It was widely criticized for not focusing enough on Din Djarin and Grogu's relationship. Their reunion after their emotional goodbye in the season 2 finale didn't even happen in The Mandalorian season 3, for instance — instead, it took place in The Mandalorian's first official spinoff, The Book of Boba Fett.

Season 3 used the extra time to focus more on the Mandalorians' quest to recapture their homeworld from the evil, Imperialistic Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), taking away from Din Djarin and Grogu's shared screen time and giving Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) a more leading role. As such, Favreau's comments about The Mandalorian and Grogu are no doubt reassuring.

The Mandalorian and Grogu will pick up where season 3 left off, with Din and Grogu using Nevarro as their home base as they work with the New Republic Rangers, taking orders from, amongst others, Sigourney Weaver's new character, Colonel Ward, and joining forces with Star Wars animation favorite and Rebellion fighter Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios, who will make his proper live-action debut after a short introduction in The Mandalorian season 3.

To what extent The Mandalorian and Grogu will play into the wider New Republic story and other spinoffs like Ahsoka remains to be seen. What's more important is that Din Djarin and Grogu will be at the center of Star Wars' next cinematic story — as they should be.

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters on May 22, 2026.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

Like Follow Followed Not Yet Rated Sci-Fi Adventure Action Release Date May 22, 2026 Director Jon Favreau Writers Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni

Cast

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• Pedro Pascal Din Djarin / The Mandalorian
• Steve Blum Zeb
• Jeremy Allen White Rotta the Hutt
• Jonny Coyne Warlord

Sequel(s) Dave Filoni's Untitled Mandalorian Movie Franchise(s) Star Wars Genres Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action Powered by Expand Collapse

• Movies
• The Mandalorian and Grogu
• Star Wars

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