Star Wars fans got some big news recently. First, the full cast was announced for Star Wars: Starfighter, which hits theaters in 2027. Before that, though, Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin will move from the small to the big screen in The Mandalorian and Grogu in May of 2026. And that film just got a teaser trailer! In many ways, these two movies represent a new era for Star Wars on film, and we’re excited about it. Let’s talk about the reasons why!
For me, it begins with the stories. The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Star Wars: Starfighter will be different from every Star Wars film we’ve seen so far. They will be the first films in the franchise that are not a part of the Skywalker family saga or do not feature a character from the Original Trilogy. (At least, as far as we know.) Aside from brief cameos, the live-action Star Wars television series have done this. But it will be new territory for the films. I’m very excited about this prospect.
MORE: If you need a reminder about where we left Din and Grogu, just read our review of The Mandalorian 3×08!
My favorite thing about Star Wars is the fact that the good-versus-evil plot is wrapped up in an entire immersive, created world. Star Wars is set in a galaxy that feels detailed and lived-in. Besides entertaining the audience, these films created the feeling that the viewer could go anywhere in that galaxy and find new characters and stories.
The live-action television series in this franchise began to do this with The Mandalorian in 2019. The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew later continued the trend, and all three series were well done overall. When The Mandalorian and Grogu premieres in theaters, it will be the first Star Wars film to take viewers beyond the events and characters of the Original Trilogy. (Yes, I know Luke briefly trained Grogu, but again, that was only a cameo.) According to what we know so far, Star Wars: Starfighter will do the same. This is a thrilling possibility. Expanding this universe will keep the franchise fresh and relevant.
Besides the plot and characters, the settings also offer new terrain for the stories in these two films. They will explore time periods in the Star Wars galaxy that we haven’t seen on the big screen before. The Mandalorian takes place in the years after the fall of the Empire in Return of the Jedi. In other words, it will fill in a bit of that time between the Original Trilogy and the Sequel Trilogy. I hope we’ll gain more insight into how the First Order rose from the ashes of the Empire. Also, Shawn Levy, the director of Starfighter, revealed that it will take place in a period that the films haven’t explored yet. I am looking forward to this! Adding to the history of the universe strengthens the world-building of the franchise.
MORE: The most recent Star Wars was some of the best of the franchise. Read our review of Andor Season 2, Episodes 10-12!
The casting is another area where these films are widening Star Wars’ horizons. Sigourney Weaver is in the cast of The Mandalorian and Grogu, while Ryan Gosling is taking the lead of Starfighter with Amy Adams in one of the supporting roles. These are critically beloved performers with many award nominations under their belts. Yet the general perception is that casting them in a space opera is unexpected. The ironic thing is that all three of them have left their mark on the science-fiction genre before, and Gosling even played real-life astronaut Neil Armstrong. However, the closest any of them has come to a big space adventure like Star Wars is Weaver’s entertaining 1999 comedy Galaxy Quest. Their casting may be a bit surprising, but for me, their talent outweighs that. I am just looking forward to the skills they will bring to this fictional world I love.
Of course, the content we’ve seen from the actual films is what generates the most excitement. The Mandalorian and Grogu just got its first trailer. With Grogu being typically adorable, a Hutt roaring to a crowd, and an Imperial AT-AT walker collapsing in a snowy landscape, this film feels like the earliest Star Wars in the best way! See it below!
The Mandalorian and Grogu | Official Trailer | In Theaters May 22, 2026
In addition, Shawn Levy released on-set photos from Starfighter and they whet our appetite for this film. One photo hints at a pirate vibe that we are here for. That should be fun, if nothing else. (It worked for Skeleton Crew.)
For these reasons, the future of Star Wars on the big screen looks bright. The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22, 2026, can’t come fast enough. Then Star Wars: Starfighter will follow in 2027. Our anticipation for both couldn’t be higher, and having something to look forward to nowadays is worth celebrating. If you want to keep the Star Wars franchise moving forward, this is the way.
The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026. Star Wars: Starfighter hits theaters in 2027.
