When asking the question in the blog post title, “again” refers to the first time that the Mandalorian and Grogu saved the Star Wars IP—after it debuted on Disney + in November 2019.
This time around, the “save” reference is referring to the big screen—since The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, the last two, and arguably the most polarizing movies in the Star Wars movie franchise to -date.
Financially-speaking…
Here, I think that the answer will be a resounding YES! Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, captured the zeitgeist by storm nearly six years ago. And the hope is that the cute, green alien, along with the stoic, yet affectionate, Djin Djarin (portrayed by superstar actor Pedro Pascal) will be a boon at the box office.
And I think that Disney’s wishe$ will come true on that front.
Creatively-speaking…
Here’s where it gets interesting. I totally understand why Disney is leaning into the “Mando/Grogu” team-up dynamic. It worked on streaming and this movie will feature Star Wars’s most popular new characters.
However, there are more compelling storylines, particularly ones that shows like The Skeleton Crew and The Acolyte laid out.
The Verdict…
The problem—those aforementioned shows didn’t exactly stick. In fact, one, The Acolyte, has been canceled altogether.
Ultimately, “the Mouse,” chose the layup. Will Mandalorian & Grogu save Star Wars? Yes, in terms of box office dollars. Creatively and narratively, I am not so sure.
We’ll find out on May 22, 2026!
