Rotta the Hutt

The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau teased that “[Rotta’s] in top form, fighting in the pits, a gladiator of sorts.” He added that Rotta is trying to get out of his father’s shadow. “When you’re trying to establish yourself and your name is famous, when you’re Jabba The Hutt’s kid, what does that do?” Favreau said. “How has that affected his trajectory? I get a kick out of that.“

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) lends his voice to the character, and although we will hear him speak “a little bit of Huttese,” most of his performance will be in Basic.

Is Disney Worried?

The release of The Mandalorian and Grogu is just two months away, with the film set to hit theaters on May 22. However, it doesn’t feel like the movie is generating the excitement it should, especially as it will be the first new Star Wars movie in theaters in over six years.

A report last week mentioned that The Mandalorian and Grogu is “something of a question mark” for the studio. Additionally, given that the film is based on a streaming series, it “may not seem like a big-screen proposition for any but the most die-hard Baby Yoda lovers.“

This came on the heels of the film’s Super Bowl commercial, which felt like a real misfire. It leaned into a nostalgic, old-school Super Bowl commercial vibe, complete with narration by Sam Elliott and featured a pack of Tauntauns pulling Din Djarin and Grogu. This was the chance to introduce the film to one of the biggest audiences in the world, and it really should have been the proper trailer, which they ultimately released a week later.

I’ve got my fingers crossed that The Mandalorian and Grogu will be a fun time at the movies, but we also have Star Wars: Starfighter to look forward to next year.

The post Rotta the Hutt is absolutely ripped in new look at The Mandalorian and Grogu appeared first on JoBlo.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

In a Variety article about the new Disney CEO, Josh D’Amaro, it is mentioned that The Mandalorian and Grogu is “something of a question mark” for the studio. Additionally, given that the film is based on a streaming series, it “may not seem like a big-screen proposition for any but the most die-hard Baby Yoda lovers.“

The Super Bowl commercial felt like a misfire. It leaned into a nostalgic, old-school Super Bowl commercial vibe, complete with narration by Sam Elliott and featured a pack of Tauntauns pulling Din Djarin and Grogu. This was the chance to introduce the film to one of the biggest audiences in the world, and it really should have been a proper trailer.

While I doubt that The Mandalorian and Grogu will become a billion-dollar blockbuster, it really doesn’t need to be. The film boasts a modest budget (by Star Wars standards) of just $166 million. Plus, I have a feeling that seeing Baby Yoda on the big screen will put some butts in seats. The film will hit theaters on May 22.

Star Wars: Starfighter Has Good Buzz

The same report states that Disney has higher hopes for Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, which is reportedly “more likely to satisfy fans.” Sources who have seen footage from the film have plenty of praise for Ryan Gosling’s performance and tease that Levy has “recaptured the franchise’s spirit of fun.“

We still don’t know all that much about the film, but earlier this year, it was revealed that Tom Cruise stepped in to help film a scene featuring a lightsaber duel while he was visiting the set. In addition to Gosling, it also stars Mia Goth, Matt Smith, Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, and Flynn Gray. It will be released on May 28, 2027.

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The long wait is over. The first Star Wars film to be hitting the big screen since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker is on its way. Lucasfilm has just dropped the new trailer to the film The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is the continuing adventures of the mega-popular Disney+ series, The Mandalorian. This time, the trailer showcases a bit more of the story. Din Djarin seeks out the vile gangsters, the Hutts, and he and Grogu will be flying headfirst into harm’s way.

The official synopsis from Disney reads,
“The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu. Directed by Jon Favreau, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu also stars Sigourney Weaver and is produced by Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, with music composed by Ludwig Göransson.”

As stated by the synopsis, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, who were both instrumental in making the series on Disney+, return to bring the story to the big screen. And Sigourney Weaver joins the fray. There are yet to be further details revealed. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.” Fomer Lucasfilm head, Kathleen Kennedy, added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.”

“The Mandalorian has changed his priorities,” Favreau said. “One of the last things we say [in Season 3] is, like, ‘I don’t want to go out there and just be a hired gun. I want to work for the good guys.’” This means that Mando will be working more closely with the New Republic, which includes Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) and Zeb Orrelios. “Now we get to really have fun with him,” Favreau teased. “He’s such a compelling character, even if you’ve never seen Rebels, between the voice, the swagger, and the physical ability.“

The Madalorian and Grogu has also been filmed for IMAX and will be releasing in theaters on May 22, 2026.

What did you think of the trailer? Are you excited?

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One of the Super Bowl commercials last weekend was technically for The Mandalorian and Grogu, but fans hoping for footage from the upcoming Star Wars movie didn’t get it. Instead, the ad leaned into a nostalgic, old-school Super Bowl commercial vibe, complete with narration by Sam Elliott, leaving many viewers disappointed. Perhaps as a result, an all-new trailer is set to drop tomorrow, with Lucasfilm releasing a tease you can see embedded above.

Lucasfilm Explains What They Were Going For

Lucasfilm’s marketing brand lead Ryan Stankevich told Variety that they wanted a Super Bowl spot that felt “instantly iconic, cinematic, and quintessentially ‘Star Wars.’“

“Our creative and marketing team landed on a unique concept that gave a nod to classic Big Game spots of years past,” Stankevich said. “It captured the warmth, humor, and emotional connection between these two beloved characters and was the perfect next step for our campaign as we lead up to their big screen debut this summer.”

Jackson George, Disney’s executive VP of creative marketing, added, “Grogu is more than a character; he’s a pop culture phenomenon. Riding alongside the heroic Mandalorian, he brings lightness, humor, joy, and an instant emotional connection that transcends the moment. This Big Game spot celebrates how deeply we love and connect with these characters, reminds us of the fun, heart, and spectacle that defines ‘Star Wars,’ and offers a bite-sized promise of the experience audiences will get when they see these two beloved icons on the big screen.”

The Mandalorian and Grogu Super Bowl Commercial

It isn’t immediately apparent that the Super Bowl commercial is for Star Wars. It opens with an obscured wagon being pulled through the snow by creatures we can’t quite see. “Sometimes we choose our path,” said Elliot’s voiceover. “Other times the path chooses us. Through it all, we keep pushing forward, driven by a deeper purpose, guided by an unseen Force. The journey never gets any easier. The bond just gets harder to break. This is the way.” It’s then revealed that a pack of Tauntauns are pulling Din Djarin and Grogu, and that’s… pretty much it.

Here’s the “controversial” spot in question:

It was cute, but for fans anxious to see more from the film, it was definitely a disappointment. That said, I’m sure tomorrow’s trailer will be more exciting. The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to hit theaters on May 22.

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Tonight’s Super Bowl action is so anticipated that the game is being broadcast even in a galaxy far, far away. In between plays, a new promo for Disney and Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu debuted, showing the dynamic duo trudging through a wicked snowstorm while being pulled by Tauntauns. Complete with narration by Sam Elliott, the spot plays like a car commercial as Din Djarin and Grogu let the Tauntauns do all the heavy lifting (so to speak) through the snow.

Sam Elliott uses the Force

“Sometimes we choose our path, other times the path chooses us,” Elliott says in the promo. Of course, this phrase is a play on Elliott’s dialogue from The Big Lebowski, in which his character, the Stranger, tells the Dude (Jeff Bridges), “Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you.”

What’s The Mandalorian and Grogu about?

The official synopsis for The Mandalorian and Grogu reads: “The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.”

Jon Favreau on how Mando has changed

Late last year, Jon Favreau teased to Empire that Din Djarin’s priorities have changed since the Disney+ series.

“The Mandalorian has changed his priorities,” Favreau said. “One of the last things we say [in Season 3] is, like, ‘I don’t want to go out there and just be a hired gun. I want to work for the good guys.'” This means that Mando will be working more closely with the New Republic, including Colonel Wedge Antilles (Sigourney Weaver) and Zeb Orrelios. “Now we get to really have fun with him,” Favreau teased. “He’s such a compelling character, even if you’ve never seen Rebels, between the voice, the swagger, and the physical ability.”

However, the primary focus is still on Din Djarin and Grogu. “That central relationship, as they go off and face adventure together, that’s the underpinning of the film,” he said. “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.”

I’m still not sold on The Mandalorian and Grogu. Maybe I’ve got Star Wars fatigue, but the trailers are doing little to excite me. Of course. I say this now, but the real test will be whether I can resist FOMO once the film arrives in theaters on May 22, 2026. I’ll probably cave and see it. After all, Star Wars is like pizza; even if it’s bad, it’s still pretty good.

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Theodore

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple by artbyscnry

Avengers: Doomsday by Diamonddead

The Devil Wears Prada 2 by Luis Felipe

Dune Part Three by Ryan Layah

Michael by Fabrizio Evangelista

The Odyssey by Simone Ferraro

Scream 7 by Alex Neuhedel

Spider-Man: Brand New Day by Ahmed Gamal

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu by Aurelio Lorenzo

Supergirl by John Dunn

The post Awesome Art’s 2026 Preview With Avengers: Doomsday, The Odyssey, Scream 7, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Supergirl appeared first on JoBlo.

“The Mandalorian has changed his priorities,” Favreau said. “One of the last things we say [in Season 3] is, like, ‘I don’t want to go out there and just be a hired gun. I want to work for the good guys.’” This means that Mando will be working more closely with the New Republic, which includes Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) and Zeb Orrelios. “Now we get to really have fun with him,” Favreau teased. “He’s such a compelling character, even if you’ve never seen Rebels, between the voice, the swagger, and the physical ability.“

However, the primary focus is still on Din Djarin and Grogu. “That central relationship, as they go off and face adventure together, that’s the underpinning of the film,” he said. “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.” Empire also dropped a new image of the two heroes.

The official synopsis reads: “The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.“

While I’m sure the film will be fun, the teaser trailer left me strangely unmoved. What we saw struck me as more of an extended episode than something that needs to be seen on the big screen. Perhaps that’s a testament to the excellent production values of the series, but I still can’t help feeling like I wanted more. I know, it’s just a teaser, and a lot can change between now and when the film is released. Speaking of, The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026.

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The long wait is over. The first Star Wars film to be hitting the big screen since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker is on its way. Lucasfilm has just dropped the teaser trailer to the film The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is the continuing adventures of the mega-popular Disney+ series, The Mandalorian. The poster has also been released and the look of the marketing seems to be going for a retro 50s B-movie look with its poster design and throwback title design.

The official synopsis from Disney reads,
“The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu. Directed by Jon Favreau, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu also stars Sigourney Weaver and is produced by Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, with music composed by Ludwig Göransson.”

As stated by the synopsis, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, who were both instrumental in making the series on Disney+, return to bring the story to the big screen. And Sigourney Weaver joins the fray. There are yet to be further details revealed. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.” Kathleen Kennedy added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.”

In addition to The Mandalorian movie, we’ve also got Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s post-Rise of Skywalker film about Rey (Daisy Ridley) rebuilding the Jedi Order. Dave Filoni is also said to be developing a New Republic movie, which will tie together the stories featured in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett.

The Madalorian and Grogu has also been filmed for IMAX and will be releasing in theaters on May 22, 2026.

What did you think of the trailer? Are you excited?

The post The adventure continues as the teaser trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu premieres online appeared first on JoBlo.

The Materialists, Eddington and The Fantastic Four: First Steps all open in a six-week period and IndieWire reports on Pascal’s talk with the Associated Press about this incredible run of projects. Pascal admits he’s enjoying it all as he explains,

It is the best time of my life. Just, I don’t know… look around, and it’s an incredible reflection of… what I’m experiencing right now. I’m having a really amazing time.”

While he’s starred as the villain in a Wonder Woman movie prior, Pascal realizes the weight of being the patriarch of the Fantastic Four, “I think that sometimes the outside will find you, no matter how much you try to protect yourself from it. It just comes with the territory. I think maybe my nerves were bigger than they usually are, and so I think I just was a little bit more sensitive to the love that people have for stories like this, because I know that they wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the love that people have for these characters.”

Let’s not forget he makes his return to the Star Wars universe in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Pascal is putting it on himself to deliver for his part in the franchises that he has become a part of, “I think that it’s just very important for me that expectations be fulfilled… but I also know that the only way to do that is to give it all my focus and all my heart and my body and my soul and… that was the best I could do.”

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Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) slowly unveiled his sinister plan over the course of the three seasons of The Mandalorian. However, in the third season finale, Gideon and his Force-sensitive cloning facility seemingly went up in flames due to the efforts of Din Djarin and his fellow Mandalorians. Death is not always final, and Espositio seems confident that Moff Gideon will return to the Star Wars franchise. I mean, the man was heavily involved in cloning.

“There is a big movie coming out that’s focusing on Mando and The Child. I can’t say it’ll be that,” Esposito told Empire. “But I hope to be able to join that franchise again, because I think there’s more road for Moff Gideon.“

The movie Esposito speaks of is The Mandalorian & Grogu, which will be the first new Star Wars film to be released in theaters since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Pedro Pascal stars as Din Djarin, but we know surprisingly little about the rest of the cast. Sigourney Weaver will be featured as the character who sends Djarin off on his mission, but the actress really signed on because she got to have a scene with Grogu. “I get to have scenes with a little Grogu which is probably why I did the movie,” Weaver told GamesRadar. “And he’s a little badass too. It’s going to be wonderful for people to see what Grogu is up to now because he’s grown up a little bit and is capable of much more than maybe we think just watching the series.“

Jeremy Allen White is also involved and will lend his voice to Rotta the Hutt. The character is the son of Jabba the Hutt and was first seen in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie when he was just a wee lad. Jonny Coyne will also return as the unnamed Imperial Warlord who appeared on the Shadow Council in The Mandalorian season 3. The Mandalorian & Grogu recently wrapped production and will be released in theaters on May 22, 2026.

Do you think Giancarlo Esposito will return as Moff Gideon in a future Star Wars project?

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Here’s a little Star Wars news for you on this fine Monday afternoon. While appearing on The Kristian Harloff Show, scooper Jeff Sneider revealed that Jeremy Allen White will join the Star Wars franchise in The Mandalorian & Grogu. He even said he knows which role The Bear actor will be playing, and it’s probably not what you’re expecting.

Sneider has heard it will be a voice role, with White helping to bring Rotta the Hutt to life. That’s right. The character is the son of Jabba the Hutt and was first seen in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie when he was just a wee lad. Deadline has since confirmed White’s involvement in The Mandalorian & Grogu, adding that it will be a “notably sized role” and not a mere cameo. As this will be a voice role, it would leave White open to a live-action role in the franchise at some point down the road.

Beyond Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin/The Mandalorian, the only other confirmed cast member is Sigourney Weaver. It’s not clear who the actress is playing in the movie, but she has said that she got to meet Grogu.

White has a number of big projects on his slate. In addition to the highly anticipated fourth season of The Bear, he’s also set to star as Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me From Nowhere. The movie will be about “Bruce Springsteen and the long effort to put together his seminal Nebraska album, which started to take shape as he and the E Street Band were laying down tracks for his massive hit album Born in the USA.” It will be an adaptation of Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska by Warren Zanes, which was published last year. Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) will write and direct.

The Mandalorian & Grogu recently wrapped production and will be released in theaters on May 22, 2026. It will be the only Star Wars film released that year as Disney has pulled the other Star Wars movie off the schedule. It was never clear which project that was, but it was believed to be the one that would feature Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey.

What do you think of Jeremy Allen White joining the Star Wars franchise as Rotta the Hutt? I can’t say I expected that casting.

The post Jeremy Allen White joining the Star Wars franchise, and it’s not a role you’d expect appeared first on JoBlo.

After three seasons on Disney+, The Mandalorian will be making the leap to the big screen with The Mandalorian & Grogu. It remains to be seen where the character will go next, but Giancarlo Esposito believes that the Mandalorian movie will be the first of a new Star Wars trilogy.

The actor, who plays Moff Gideon in the series, spoke to fans during an appearance at Dragon Con (via Culture Slate). “As in the MCU… Disney will figure out how to join all of these characters into one really great movie or TV show. That’s my sense of where it will go,” Esposito said. “Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau have a new vision, continuing on with a Mandalorian movie… My sense is that it’s all going to converge at one point or another and we’re going to have another set of… [a] trilogy, or more, of films.“

The Mandalorian remains one of the most popular Star Wars projects produced during the Disney era of the franchise. This is just Esposito’s opinion, but it’s easy to believe that The Mandalorian (as well as the other shows that take place in the post-Return of the Jedi timeline) could take the lead for a new trilogy.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is currently in production under the direction of Jon Favreau. He will also produce alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.” Kathleen Kennedy added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.” Aside from Pedro Pascal as the titular Mandalorian, Sigourney Weaver is the only other confirmed member of the cast thus far.

In addition to The Mandalorian movie, we’ve also got Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s post-Rise of Skywalker film about Rey (Daisy Ridley) rebuilding the Jedi Order. Dave Filoni is also said to be developing a New Republic movie, which will tie together the stories featured in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett.

There will also be a project directed by James Mangold (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) that takes place 25,000 years before the Skywalker Saga and explores the first Jedi and the discovery of the Force. “It was something that Jim [Mangold] immediately sparked to, and I think it’s a really nice compliment to what we’re doing with moving into the future with Rey, and then understanding a bit more of where this all came from,” Kennedy explained. “Because it will be at the heart of creating the new Jedi Order, so to get a real sense of where that might have began with the dawn of the Jedi could be pretty cool.“

The Mandalorian & Grogu will be released in theaters on May 22, 2026.

The post The Mandalorian & Grogu could launch a new Star Wars trilogy, according to Giancarlo Esposito appeared first on JoBlo.

It was reported earlier this year that Sigourney Weaver was in talks to join The Mandalorian & Grogu, which would continue her domination of the science fiction genre. While speaking with Deadline, Weaver confirmed that the Star Wars film is her next project and teased she actually got to meet Grogu.

“I’m playing a role in The Mandalorian & Grogu [which will be directed by Jon Favreau],” Weaver said. “I got to meet Grogu for the first time the other day. I’m filming that before I go to London for The Tempest at the end of the year.” There’s no word on who Weaver will be playing in The Mandalorian & Grogu, but she’s always a fine addition to any project, so I’m pumped to see her join the Star Wars universe.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is currently in production under the direction of Jon Favreau. He will also produce alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.” Kathleen Kennedy added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.” Aside from Pedro Pascal as the titular Mandalorian, Sigourney Weaver is the only other confirmed member of the cast thus far.

In addition to The Mandalorian movie, we’ve also got Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s post-Rise of Skywalker film about Rey (Daisy Ridley) rebuilding the Jedi Order. Dave Filoni is also developing a New Republic movie, which will tie together the stories featured in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett.

There will also be a project directed by James Mangold (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) that takes place 25,000 years before the Skywalker Saga and explores the first Jedi and the discovery of the Force. “It was something that Jim [Mangold] immediately sparked to, and I think it’s a really nice compliment to what we’re doing with moving into the future with Rey, and then understanding a bit more of where this all came from,” Kennedy explained. “Because it will be at the heart of creating the new Jedi Order, so to get a real sense of where that might have began with the dawn of the Jedi could be pretty cool.“

The Mandalorian & Grogu will be released in theaters on May 22, 2026.

The post Sigourney Weaver confirms role in The Mandalorian & Grogu appeared first on JoBlo.

In a galaxy far, far away, no one can hear you scream…Sigourney Weaver — who is certainly no stranger to sci-fi — is reportedly in talks to join the cast of The Mandalorian & Grogu, set to be the first new Star Wars film in seven years by the time it arrives in 2026.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Sigourney Weaver is possibly near a deal to become part of the Star Wars Saga with The Mandalorian & Grogu, which is huge and exciting news for fans of both. And considering her history in the sci-fi and fantasy genre – Alien franchise, Ghostbusters, Galaxy Quest, Avatar, etc. – she would absolutely be a natural addition.

The next few years will be crucial for Star Wars, with a new set of movies that will further build on the franchise and the series that the studio has invested in. As far as The Mandalorian & Grogu goes, Jon Favreau is on board to direct this continuation of the Disney+ series, particularly following season three, which concluded last year. Favreau, who created The Mandalorian, previously expressed his excitement for the film by saying, “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created. The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”

Following The Mandalorian & Grogu’s May 22nd, 2026 release, we’ll also get a wealth of other projects being helmed by the likes of ​​Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Dave Filoni, James Mangold, Taika Waititi, Rian Johnson, and more, although release dates have yet to be announced for any of these films. One of the biggest challenges those behind Star Wars will face is not coming across like they’re bombarding fans, which it can feel like. We’ve seen “superhero fatigue” hit audiences, so it would be a true shame if it takes over the Star Wars Saga…if it hasn’t already. But news of Sigourney Weaver being in talks for The Mandalorian & Grogu is a major boost in hopes for the continuation of the franchise, especially since season three of The Mandalorian was a serious disappointment to fans of the first two.

How do you feel about Sigourney Weaver joining the Star Wars franchise? Would her casting give you new hope for The Mandalorian & Grogu? Share your thoughts below.

The post Sigourney Weaver returns to space for The Mandalorian & Grogu? appeared first on JoBlo.

I’ve got great news for all of you Mouseketeers out there! Disney has revealed the studio’s 2026 release schedule, with dates for projects like Mandalorian & Grogu, Tron: Ares, Toy Story 5, the live-action adaptation of Moana, and more!

Mandalorian & Grogu is Disney’s untitled Star Wars title, dated May 22, 2026, with Tron: Ares as Disney’s untitled film, dated October 10, 2025. Toy Story 5 is the studio’s untitled Pixar project, dated June 19, 2026. Also, Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana, starring Dwayne Johnson as Maui, is moving to July 10, 2026.

You can see the complete list of film titles and release dates below:

THE AMATEUR (20th) previously dated on 11/8/24 moves to 4/11/25

NIGHTBITCH (Searchlight) is now dated on 12/6/24 (Limited)

MOANA (Disney) previously dated on 6/27/25 moves to 7/10/26

UNTITLED DISNEY (Disney) previously dated on 7/10/26 is removed from schedule

THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU (Disney) is the updated title of UNTITLED STAR WARS dated on 5/22/26

TOY STORY 5 (Disney) is the updated title of UNTITLED PIXAR dated on 6/19/26

TRON: ARES (Disney) is the updated title of UNTITLED DISNEY dated on 10/10/25

The Mandalorian & Grogu will be directed by Jon Favreau, who will also produce alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni. Production is expected to kick off later this year. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said in February. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.” Kathleen Kennedy added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.”

Meanwhile, TRON: Ares “follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.”

TRON: Ares is a follow-up to Disney’s 1982 seminal science fiction film TRON and the 2010 sequel, TRON: Legacy. Jared Leto leads the cast of TRON: Ares, with Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, and Gillian Anderson filling out the primary cast.

TRON: Ares is in Vancouver production and slated for a 2025 release. Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Kon-Tiki, Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) directs from material written by Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird, and Jack Thorne.

We first saw TRON: Ares in February when Disney shared a teaser image from the forthcoming sequel. Speaking about the forthcoming TRON film, Rønning said, “I’m excited to be part of the TRON franchise and bring this new film to fans around the world. ‘TRON: Ares’ builds upon the legacy of cutting-edge design, technology and storytelling. Now more than ever, it feels like the right time to return to the Grid.”

Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana comes promptly after the studio shared the first image from the animated sequel Moana 2. Dwayne Johnson, Auli’i Cravalho, and Alan Tudyk reprise their roles in the forthcoming animated adventure as Maui, Moana, and Hei Hei, respectively. David G. Derrick Jr. directs the project from his own script.

Disney CEO Bob Iger first announced Toy Story 5 in February 2023, though plot details remain a mystery. Reports say the sequel could split the story into two parts, with one half focusing on the toys helping Bonnie cope with the overwhelming demands of school. At the same time, the other could follow Woody, Bo, Ducky, Bunny, Giggles McDimples, and Duke Caboom and their lives at the traveling carnival. The two stories could intersect, though we’ll need to wait for more details.

Other films on the list include the James Hawes-directed action thriller The Amateur. The 20th Century Studios feature follows a CIA cryptographer who manages to blackmail his agency into training him to let him go after a group of terrorists who killed his wife in London. Rami Malek, Laurence Fishburne, Caitriona Balfe, Julianne Nicholson, Rachel Brosnahan, Holt McCallany, and Takehiro Hira lead the cast.

Lastly, Marielle Heller’s horror comedy Nightbitch, starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, and Mary Holland, tells the story of a woman who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom seeking a new chapter in her life and encounters just that when her maternal routine takes a surreal turn.

What do you think of Disney’s 2025-2026 release schedule? Which films are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Disney’s Mandalorian & Grogu, Tron: Ares, Toy Story 5, and more get release dates ahead of CinemaCon appeared first on JoBlo.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that The Mandalorian & Grogu will be the first movie of the new Star Wars slate, which means that it will likely hit theaters in 2026.

Disney currently has two Star Wars movies on the schedule for that year: May 22, 2026 and December 18, 2026. Bob Iger’s comments seem to indicate that The Mandalorian & Grogu will fill that first slot, but as this is Star Wars we’re talking about, anything could happen. We’ve seen more than a few release dates shuffled around.

The Mandalorian & Grogu will be directed by Jon Favreau, who will also produce alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni. Production is expected to kick off later this year. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.” Kathleen Kennedy added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.“

In addition to The Mandalorian movie, we’ve also got Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s post-Rise of Skywalker film about Rey (Daisy Ridley) rebuilding the Jedi Order. It’s likely that film will fill the Dec 18, 2024 slot. Dave Filoni is also developing a New Republic movie, which will tie together the stories featured in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett.

The next project will be directed by James Mangold (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) and take place 25,000 years before the Skywalker Saga and explore the first Jedi and the discovery of the Force. “It was something that Jim [Mangold] immediately sparked to, and I think it’s a really nice compliment to what we’re doing with moving into the future with Rey, and then understanding a bit more of where this all came from,” Kennedy explained. “Because it will be at the heart of creating the new Jedi Order, so to get a real sense of where that might have began with the dawn of the Jedi could be pretty cool.“

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The Mandalorian and Grogu are embarking on an adventure set for the silver screen! Directed by Jon Favreau and produced by Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, and Dave Filoni, this new chapter in the Mandalorian and Grogu’s journey will go into production in 2024.

“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created. The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting,” Favreau shared.

Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.” 

“The Mandalorian & Grogu” will lead Lucasfilm’s ongoing feature-development slate, which includes films helmed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, and Dave Filoni, who is also currently developing “Ahsoka” Season 2, among those in the works.

Since the release (and vitriolic blowback) of Star Wars: Episode 9 – The Rise of Skywalker, Star Wars fans have pondered about when they would return to theaters for another feature-length adventure set in a galaxy far, far away. Thankfully, 2024 is already buzzing with news about Star Wars projects moving into production in the new year. Lucasfilm announced three new upcoming standalone movies at the opening of Star Wars Celebration 2023, including a story about the founding of the Jedi that acts as a finale for the current era of interconnected Disney+ shows.

We also know about Daisy Ridley‘s return as Rey for an upcoming film, which, according to ProductionList.com, goes into production on April 7, 2024, in London.

According to the official announcement posted on StarWars.com in April 2023:

James Mangold’s movie will go back to the dawn of the Jedi, while Dave Filoni’s will focus on the New Republic, and close out the interconnected stories told in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and other Disney+ series. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film will be set after the events of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, and feature Daisy Ridley back as Rey as she builds a new Jedi Order.

Meanwhile, Dave Filoni’s film “will focus on the New Republic and close out the interconnected stories told in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and other Disney+ series.”

Finally, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film will take place after The Rise of Skywalker, 15 years after the defeat of the Sith. The story focuses on Rey attempting to establish a new Jedi Order among the cosmos.

“As you can see by all the television we’ve been doing, we’re exploring a lot of different storylines. This really spawns from what George Lucas said years ago, that he created Star Wars to move forward and backward along a mythological timeline,” Kennedy said. “Now we’re looking to broaden that timeline, building a rich future, expanding upon the present, going deep into the past to tell our stories, and we’re thrilled to be working with some of the best and most passionate filmmakers on projects that will span the past, the present, and the future.”

With Disney shifting to a more significant theatrical model after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that the House of Mouse and Lucasfilm will bring two of its most beloved Star Wars characters to the big screen for a larger-than-life adventure. There’s nothing like experiencing a Star Wars chapter on the silver screen, complete with dynamic sound, overpriced concessions, and hollering fans. If the studios want to send the current Star Wars era out with a bang, The Mandalorian & Grogu movie is a fantastic addition to the plan.

What do you think about The Mandalorian & Grogu movie coming to theaters? Would you prefer to watch the film in the cinema or the comfort of your home on Disney+? Let us know in the comments below.

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