It is fair to say that "The Mandalorian" has breathed new life into the struggling Star Wars universe. Fans quickly fell in love with Din Djarin and Grogu, and an interesting villain was likewise introduced in the form of Moff Gideon. So far, there are already three seasons of the series, plus Mando's appearances in "The Book of Boba Fett". At Star Wars Celebration 2023, Dave Filoni announced a dedicated movie that would bring the Mandoverse together. And then came the big news: Disney announced the production of the film "The Mandalorian & Grogu". So, let's take a look at the known information and speculate a little about the plot!

Production

The Fate of The Mandalorian Season 4

Let's talk about the elephant in the room first: what happened to season 4? The production was originally due to start in 2024. In fact, the script was already completed before the third season even came out. Dave Filoni wrote the first drafts during filming in order to link the storylines together as much as possible.

There is still no word on the extent to which the surprisingly announced movie will affect the plans for season 4: While some fear that the movie will simply replace the continuation of the series, others believe in a parallel production. In an interview with Ash Crossan, Filoni was asked about season 4 and he said: "There's so much spinning in the galaxy right now" and that he's not the type to commit to just one thing. That sounds fairly vague, but it certainly doesn't sound like there are any plans to scrap season 4.

The Team Behind The Mandalorian & Grogu

The Mando movie will be made with little experimentation: "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau, who has been part of the series from the beginning, is set to direct the project. He will of course continue to be supported by Dave Filoni, although he's very busy: After all, his pet project "Ahsoka" is also set to get its second season and he has his own Mandoverse film to make. As usual, the movie is being produced by Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy.

Cast

Up to now, there have been no cast confirmations. However, it is as good as certain that Pedro Pascal will reprise the role of the Mandalorian. Unfortunately, there's one person we won't be seeing again: Carl Weathers. The actor playing Greef Karga sadly passed away in February 2024 at the age of 76 and it can be assumed that, as with other actors, Disney will refrain from using CGI to reanimate him. Although his role was extremely popular, it shouldn't be too much of an issue to continue developing the plot without the character.

Plot

Details of the plot are not yet known. It will surely also depend on whether the screenplay for the feature film roughly corresponds to the original ideas for season 4 or whether an independent version is being developed. At the end of season 3, Mando and Grogu take on a new mission: More or less officially, they are to keep order on the Outer Rim of the galaxy on behalf of the New Republic. It is quite probable that they will still have to fight against the Empire.

Mando and the Clone Troopers

One possibility would be that cloning becomes more of a focus: As we know from Episode Seven through Nine, the Empire is working to create a clone of Emperor Palpatine who can also use the Force. The first seasons of "The Mandalorian" have already shown that they need Grogu in order to do this. Moreover, the topic has just been addressed again in the final season of "The Bad Batch".

The Mando Movie as a Spin-Off

Another possibility would be that we will experience more of a stand-alone, typical bounty hunter adventure. This would have the advantage that the movie could also work regardless of the series' plot - after all, not everyone who goes to the movie theater will have seen the series on Disney+.

Appearance of Familiar Characters

Whether a crossover with other characters is planned is still unknown. There may be a reunion with the Mandalorians or characters from the New Republic. However, it seems rather unlikely that we'll see Ahsoka or Ezra: These storylines are not planned to merge until Dave Filoni's movie. However, it is certain that, unlike in season 3, the focus will be back on the duo of Din and Grogu.

Release Date of The Mandalorian & Grogu

Until we can enjoy "The Mandalorian & Grogu" in theaters, there is still some time to go. What is already certain, though, is that it will be the next "Star Wars" film to be released in cinemas. To be more precise, the release is scheduled for May 22, 2026, and all other planned movies, such as the new one featuring Rey, will only be released afterwards. For fans of the series, this would mean quite a long wait until they can join their heroes on further adventures. But who knows: "The Mandalorian" season 4 might actually come out before then.