‘I’m Focusing On The Feature’ The Mandalorian Creator…

Summary

The Mandalorian & Grogu will be a cinematic Star Wars film directed by Jon Favreau, continuing the Mandalorian series with an epic big-screen adventure.
Fans may have to wait longer for new TV seasons as priority shifts to the film, offering stunning IMAX visuals and a lean narrative approach.
The film faces the challenge of catering to both existing fans and newcomers, likely addressing big questions about Grogu's past and future.

Star Wars fans are getting a Mandalorian movie. However, a television series is taking the backseat to the upcoming feature.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is an upcoming film featuring Din Djarin/The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal). It was announced in January 2024, with Jon Favreau directing and co-writing the movie with Dave Filoni. Favreau and Filoni are also producing with Kathleen Kennedy, Ian Bryce, and Karen Gilchrist. The film will serve as a continuation of The Mandalorian series created by Favreau. The Mandalorian and Grogu stars Pascal as the titular character, The Mandalorian; Sigourney Weaver as a veteran pilot for the Rebel Alliance; Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt; and Jonny Coyne as an Imperial Warlord. While fans are thrilled about the upcoming film, it comes with a cost.

A promotional image of Din Djaran carrying Grogu on his jetpack in The Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Has To Give Audiences Something They Can't Get At Home

The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to be the next big-screen Star Wars film, but in order to be a success, it'll have to prove it's more than a TV show.

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By Will Jones

Favreau spoke with Collider on the red carpet at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan. The American actor and filmmaker clarified that The Mandalorian movie was his priority, so fans could not expect another season of the TV show anytime soon or maybe not at all. "Right now, I'm focusing on the feature because we still have another year of the story," Favreau shared. "You discover so much as you edit a film and put it together with visual effects. Right now we're really locked in on the big screen story that's coming." The upcoming film was shot in digital IMAX format for a more cinematic take on the galaxy far, far away. According to Favreau, they did tests to see what looked great in IMAX and teased:

A lot of stuff in space looked great, and a lot of sets we built taller to really embrace the opportunity.

Although The Mandalorian and Grogu is a continuation of the series, its cinematic format allows them to develop a "lean, propulsive adventure," unlike in the TV show, where they rely on cliffhangers. This shift in approach is not the most difficult part because the director said making the film work for both the long-standing fans and newcomers is the real challenge. Favreau acknowledged that many people are familiar with the characters but haven't watched the show. So, they have to create the movie in a way that caters to those who haven't watched The Mandalorian and honors those who do. "We want to reward people who've been there since the beginning, but also invite new audiences in," he added.

The Mandalorian has been a successful series in the Star Wars franchise. It has received positive reviews from critics and audiences since it debuted in 2019. The second season received higher ratings from both critics and audiences — 93% and 91%, respectively. However, Season 3 received a slightly lower score from the critics, with an 85% score and mixed reactions from the audiences, with only a 50% rating. Favreau previously confirmed that the script for the fourth season was ready, but Lucalfilm's priorities changed. Instead of pushing with The Mandalorian Season 4, they decided to continue the story in the upcoming film, The Mandalorian and Grogu. There's no confirmation whether a fourth season will be canceled, but what's certain is that Din and Grogu's adventure will continue on the big screen.

Fans could take this differently. Ardent supporters could consider this a big-screen upgrade, or they could complain about it being short. Of course, it's challenging for a two-hour film to tie everything together. There are concerns about rushed storytelling in the film because of its shorter runtime compared to a TV series. Each season of The Mandalorian has eight episodes and each episode is typically around 25 to 56 minutes. So, a TV show can cover more stories in-depth, but the film will receive the epic Star Wars visuals and actions reserved for the big screens. The film could work if it addresses long-standing questions like Grogu's history, where he came from, and what his future holds. Will he choose the path of the Jedi or the Mandalorians? Will Din retire or make major sacrifices for Grogu? Hopefully, the film will answer these questions.