One celebrity you can always count on for a good quip is Harrison Ford. The actor has spent his career being blunt and honest, even giving George Lucas “crap on the Star Wars set” and advocating for Han Solo’s demise. Some adore his grumpy personality, while others list him with other actors who hate their own fandom. So, naturally, he had a funny and blunt comment when he was asked which of his movies was his favorite.

When Ford recently showed up on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to discuss the newest season of Shrinking and talk about the lifetime achievement award he received, I knew we were in for a treat. However, the conversation delightfully pivoted when the host asked the actor to pick his favorite movie from his own filmography, leading the Indiana Jones actor to share an A+ quip:

Well, I'd expect nothing less or more from Harrison Ford. The interview started strong as he told the audience to “knock it off” when they were cheering. It only got better when his favorite movie came up following a few compliments by Kimmel about his award, which was presented by Woody Harrelson at the Actors' Awards.

This conversation about his lifetime achievement award led to more talk about the movies Ford has been in. In fact, Kimmel asked him what it was like to see a montage of his career on a big screen. In response, the 1923 actor dropped another great take, saying:

The interview focused on his achievements, which include his time on one of Apple TV's best shows, Shrinking, and being honored for his extensive filmography. However, Ford doesn't enjoy being in the limelight, stating he didn’t run his acceptance speech by anyone, not even his wife, Calista Flockhart. He “just wanted it to be over.”

So, clearly, Ford does not want to take a deep look back, and he definitely does not want to pick a favorite project. However, that won't stop me from talking about one of his most recent great works, which believe it or not, isn't a big-screen venture.

The beloved actor can currently be seen sharing the screen with Jason Segel on Shrinking (which is returning for Season 4). One thing Ford said he enjoys about being on a TV show is that he never knows what to expect, especially with his character having Parkinson’s Disease. Season 3 explored this further with Michael J. Fox playing a significant role alongside Ford. This is a storyline that has become dear to Ford, and he has nothing but lovely things to say about it.

Overall, when it comes to Shrinking (which you can stream with an Apple TV subscription), he's been praised for the humor and heart he brings to his character Paul, and there's 100% a reason he got an Emmy nomination for it.

Work like this is why the actor has been honored with a lifetime achievement award, and why people ask him which of his own movies and shows are his favorite. However, while fans might have strong opinions about that topic, don't expect Harrison Ford to.

Olivia Cooke is now arguably one of TV's big names, thanks to her impeccable work on House of the Dragon. So, as Season 3 airs on the 2026 TV schedule, it's wild to think that the actress who plays Alicent Hightower could ever lose out on a job. Of course, every actor has a role that got away and, as I just learned, Cooke missed out on a job of a lifetime in Star Wars after bombing an audition.

During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Cooke revealed that she was in the running for a big role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and fans can probably guess which. While there's always still a chance she can show up in upcoming Star Wars movies, it won't be as Rey Skywalker, since she blew her chance at that role:

As we all know, everyone and their dog fell short, and Daisy Ridley became the new face of Star Wars. That's sad for Olivia Cooke but, obviously, everything happens for a reason, and who knows if she'd be crushing it as Alicent in House of the Dragon had she gotten picked over Ridley. Ironically, Emilia Clarke and Gwendoline Christie both did GOT and Star Wars, and I'd love for there to always a reality in which both could've happened for Cooke.

Of course, considering Cooke's talent, I was most surprised to hear her take on how the audition went. Based on the comments she shared with podcaster Josh Horowitz, the Ready Player One star's attempt to land the role was quite rough. Cooke ran down how it all transpired and gave props to Ridley for actually landing the job:

What's interesting is that while she allegedly "bombed" her Rey audition, Olivia Cooke remained in conversations to appear in Star Wars years later. She was rumored to join the cast of The Last Jedi. Based on the character description that was shared at the time, the role seemed to be Rose Tico, who was played by Kelly Marie Tran. Yet Cooke actually clarified that she never auditioned for that role and didn't know where the rumor came from.

It all worked out, of course, and she's now playing the character who might be the most traumatized in House of the Dragon. Honestly, I'd argue that the role has prepared her for what it could be like if she ever eventually joined Star Wars down the road, especially when it comes to handling the passionate fans. It's not easy being a star of a sci-fi or fantasy series, especially in the age of the internet when fans have more access than ever to stars.

We'll see if the stars ever align and we get Olivia Cooke venture into the galaxy far, far away. In the meantime, though, catch her on House of the Dragon, which airs on HBO on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET and is streamable with an HBO Max subscription. And, of course, fans can also check out Daisy Ridley's performance as Rey by streaming the Star Wars movies with a Disney+ subscription.

The Star Wars prequels occupy a fascinating place in pop culture. When The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith first arrived, reactions from longtime fans were, let's just say, spirited. Jar Jar Binks became a punching bag, midichlorians sparked endless debates, and plenty of viewers who grew up with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo weren't shy about voicing their disappointment. As it turns out, George Lucas apparently saw some of that coming.

During a panel at Spacecon 2026 (via Popverse), (somehow) Emperor Palpatine actor Ian McDiarmid returned and recalled the filmmaker's mindset. According to the actor, Lucas understood that the generation raised on the original SW trilogy might be difficult to win over. McDiarmid explained:

McDiarmid continued by revealing what Lucas considered his real measure of success. He continued:

As a middle-aged millennial raised on the prequel trilogy, I think that makes a lot of sense. Looking back, it’s remarkable how much the conversation around those movies has changed. They may not land on everyone’s list of the best prequels of all time or even on their favorite Star Wars films, but the kids who watched The Phantom Menace in 1999 are adults now. Those of us who loved Darth Maul, podracing and Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi grew up to become some of the loudest defenders of that era.

Suddenly, lines that were once mocked became beloved memes. Hayden Christensen returned to universal applause. Entire generations embraced characters that older fans initially rejected. In other words, Lucas may have understood something many fandoms forget: today's children eventually become tomorrow's nostalgic adults.

The cycle has already started repeating itself. The sequel trilogy received its own share of criticism, much like the prequels before it. Yet there are now young fans whose entry point into the galaxy far, far away was Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren and BB-8.

Twenty years from now, those fans may be having the exact same conversations. One thing Star Wars has consistently proven is that no single generation owns the franchise. And, if we are honest with ourselves, if you cue up any of the many Star Wars films and TV Shows with your Disney+ subscription and watch them in order, you can find something wrong in every installment. But what is the fun in that?

In short, some fans grew up with the Original Trilogy. Others discovered the prequels. Still, others entered through The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian or the sequel trilogy. I think we can all agree that each era brings different heroes, different aesthetics and different emotional attachments. And perhaps that was always George Lucas' goal.

When news broke that Amazon moved on from the Stargate project it announced last year, I was only mildly surprised. I was even less surprised when I heard the alleged reason was due to its concept, which was deemed something that could only appeal to dedicated fans and not a wider audience. That's because I think this cancellation points to a larger problem that's seemingly impacting a lot of major sci-fi franchises.

The 2026 TV schedule has been brutal for fans of sci-fi television, as Star Trek has zero shows in active production, Doctor Who will reportedly cancel its Christmas special, and The Mandalorian and Grogu is struggling to fight off being overtaken by a horror movie at the box office. Legacy sci-fi franchises are going through it right now, and there are some common threads between all these situations that I think creatives need to figure out quickly.

Core Fandom Support Is Seemingly Not Enough To Make A Show Successful Anymore

One thing all these franchises have in common is their ties to streaming, and it seems the messaging is clear. While there may once have been a time when a franchise's fandom could support a series on its own, those days are gone. I've theorized that different generations of fans with different beliefs have segmented fandoms and made it difficult to unify what they all want in a series.

A simpler expectation is that older fans are dying, and one Star Trek actor confirmed as much. I guess it makes sense, as some of these franchises reach the 60-year mark and beyond that a few would be lost along the way or simply fall off. Then limiting access to streaming subscriptions feels like it further sections off who can watch, with the bottom line seemingly being that executives aren't keen on relying on the small population of fans who will stream.

Changing A Treasured Franchise Is Not The Key To Success Either

It is frustrating to hear that Amazon allegedly passed on Stargate because it felt too niche and not something that appealed to a wider audience. While I don't know anything about the plot, I do know the person responsible for it, Martin Gero, made the revival of Quantum Leap. That probably landed him the job with Stargate, because he did about as good a job as possible at creating a revival that honored the original show while still being accessible to casuals.

We've also seen plenty of shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Wars: The Mandalorian strive to prove there is a way to walk the tightrope between serving fans and the masses.

However, it sounds to me as though Amazon is seeking someone to take the concept of Stargate and make it something new, and if that's the new corporate playbook for success, I'm worried for the rest of the legacy sci-fi franchises.

We'll see what becomes of Stargate as Amazon reportedly looks for someone else to bring the franchise back to life. As for the rest, we may hear more on Star Trek and Doctor Who when San Diego Comic-Con rolls around, and I'm hoping we'll finally see some good news.

The box office knives are already out for the 2026 movie calendar release, Masters of the Universe, which is probably inevitable when a big, expensive-looking He-Man movie heads into theaters with soft tracking attached. A lot of the early review chatter has framed Amazon MGM’s fantasy reboot as a likely flop before it even has a chance to lift the sword. I get the instinct, but I also think that framing misses much of what makes this release interesting and why it should be seen as less of a disaster than The Mandalorian and Grogu’s second week in theaters.

According to Boxoffice Pro’s Long Range Forecast, Masters of the Universe is tracking for a $30 million to $40 million domestic opening when it opens on June 5. That would be a muted start for a major franchise play, especially one built around a legacy toy brand with Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Jared Leto as Skeletor and Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn. Still, a soft opening for an Amazon MGM movie does not mean the same thing as a brutal second-week drop for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Masters Of The Universe Just Got An IMAX Boost

One curious late development is that Masters of the Universe picked up IMAX screens at the last minute. IGN reports IMAX made room for the film after The Mandalorian and Grogu opened up space earlier than expected, with tickets going on sale just one week before the movie’s release.

That is good news for fans who want to see Eternia on the biggest screen possible, and it suggests Amazon MGM is still giving this thing a real theatrical swing. Unlike Netflix, which often treats theatrical releases like a velvet rope outside a streaming premiere, Amazon is putting Masters of the Universe into theaters for an actual run.

It may not explode out of the gate, but there is value in a streamer-backed studio still treating theatrical as something worth doing.

Early Buzz Could Give Masters Of The Universe Some Muscle

The good news is that early buzz has been warmer than the “this thing is doomed” chatter might suggest. Film commentator and critic Perri Nemiroff posted on X that Masters of the Universe could be one of her biggest surprises of 2026, saying she was swept away by its “super vibrant, weird and gleeful” energy.

Critics have been saying similar things. Mashable’s Kristy Puchko admitted her expectations were low before ultimately saying she really enjoyed Travis Knight’s take on the material, while The Irish Times called the film “all solid good fun” and “a minor miracle.” That doesn’t guarantee a breakout, but it sounds, by all accounts, the movie may have more going for it than tracking alone can show.

If families, nostalgic He-Man fans and curious folks with a Prime Video subscription hear the movie actually works, Masters of the Universe may have a better shot at hanging around than the early doom cycle suggests.

Amazon’s Math Is Not Disney’s Math

Of course, Amazon would love a hit. Nobody spends this much money on producing a big-budget fantasy flick because they hope for “decent enough.” But Amazon also has Prime Video waiting in the background, which changes how the movie should be judged.

A theatrical release can bring in real money, but for Amazon, it can also act as an awareness campaign before the movie eventually becomes a Prime title. That does not make the box office irrelevant. It just means a softer opening is not automatically a flaming wreck.

The challenge is that audiences know this, too. Amazon has trained many viewers to expect its movies to stream later. Even with a full theatrical rollout, some people will look at Masters of the Universe and decide to wait for the couch.

The Mandalorian And Grogu Has Heavier Baggage

That is why the Mandalorian and Grogu box-office comparison is a bit of an "apples-to-oranges" comparison. If Masters of the Universe opens soft, it is a stumble for a franchise trying to regain theatrical relevance. If a new Star Wars movie falls hard in Week 2 and gives up premium-format space sooner than expected, that feels like a warning light on a much bigger machine.

Star Wars is not supposed to be a bonus add-on for a Disney+ subscription. It is a legacy brand that has been around for decades. It's one of the first major film franchises that, in many ways, taught Hollywood how to think about blockbusters. The Mandalorian began as a streaming phenomenon, but bringing that story to theaters was meant to prove it could return to theaters.

That is a harder ask than what Masters of the Universe is facing. He-Man has nostalgia and a passionate fan base, but it is not carrying the same burden as Star Wars. So, yes, Masters of the Universe may have a soft opening weekend, but if it gets a real theatrical run, builds awareness and becomes a splashy Prime offering later, that is not the same kind of problem as Mando and 'Baby Yoda' losing altitude after one weekend.

Emilia Clarke is a phenomenal actress who will forever be remembered for playing Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. Not only is it considered one of the best peak TV era shows, but the British actress received four Emmy nominations for playing the Mother of Dragons. However, Clarke would be the first to admit that not every project she's done has been a hit. To that end, she didn’t exactly hold back on her Marvel and Star Wars gigs being negatively received. And I see where she’s coming from.

Critics and fans may have loved Game of Thrones’ epic run, but they didn’t exactly feel the same way with Emilia Clarke’s forays into other massive franchises. The London native was also cast in Terminator Genisys as Sarah Connor, joined the Star Wars universe via Solo: A Star Wars Story and scored a major role in Marvel’s Secret Invasion series. While none of those projects were highly praised, Clarke shared a refreshingly honest take with Variety:

There’s no denying that Solo underperformed at the box office, with its reception being worse than Disney anticipated. Also, the Rotten Tomatoes scores for every episode of Secret Invasion scream “yikes,” with numbers as high as 52% and as low as 10%. Terminator Genisys didn’t do any better, being one of the lowest-rated movies from the franchise at 26% and a box office bomb. However, Clarke admitted she was “relieved” of the movie’s underperformance if it meant not having to do another sequel.

Sometimes, the popularity of a franchise doesn't guarantee a film's success. At the same time, though, Clarke also explained about why she wouldn't let criticism or box office bombs get to her:

That’s a great way of looking at it. I’d like to believe it would have been more disappointing if Game of Thrones hadn’t done well, since Emilia Clarke and her cast were at the forefront of a new TV franchise inspired by George R.R. Martin's fantasy book series. So, all in all, the Star Wars, Terminator and the MCU franchises haven't defined Clarke's career, and I'd like to think she'll still get plenty of other offers down the road.

Fortunately, Emilia Clarke started the year right with the Peacock spy thriller series Ponies, which got strong reactions from critics in the best way. With a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, the show is proof that the Emmy nominee does well with material where she can lead a project on her own terms.

The Me Before You star also has plenty of upcoming projects she’s revved up for. For example, not only does she star in the 2026 movie schedule release Next Life, but she’s also be the producer. Clarke will also be in the upcoming Amazon Prime crime series Criminals, in which Clarke plays an armed robber who's “all tits and gold chains.” Given Clarke's post-GoT work, I have a feeling Daenerys Targaryn won’t be the only memorable role in her filmography by the time her career is all said and done.

Of course, there's also still the chance that Emilia Clarke could land a role in yet another major IP. Whether or not she would accept, though, is unclear. Still, if anything, I’m glad Clarke doesn’t take the poor criticism of her past projects personally and that she continues to land work that highlights her exceptional acting skills.

Not too long ago, I wrote about how I wasn’t hyped for The Mandalorian and Grogu, and I was genuinely not going to see it. However, the other day, my best friend said, “Hey, do you want to see The Mandalorian and Grogu?” And I said “Sure!” since I haven’t seen my friend in a long time.

But, boy howdy! The Mandalorian and Grogu is SO GOOD! Sure, I know some fans wish it had more twists and that it didn’t just feel like three episodes of The Mandalorian stitched together, but I actually loved how it kind of felt like a throwback to the OG Star Wars trilogy.

In fact, it’s now my SECOND favorite Star Wars movie ever, right after Rogue One. Here’s why!

It Has VERY Minimal Jedi Stuff

You might have been surprised that my favorite Star Wars movie isn’t The Empire Strikes Back, since that seems to be everybody’s pick for the best Star Wars movie. Instead, I much prefer Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It's probably not hard to make the connection between why I love Rogue One and why I also love The Mandalorian and Grogu, and that’s because there’s none of what I like to call “Jedi nonsense” in either of them.

Sure, Rogue One has a character who believes in the Force - who just so happens to be one of the coolest recent Star Wars characters in memory - as well as Darth Vader, but otherwise, it’s mostly a Force-free Star Wars movie (aside from a couple of moments from Grogu), just like The Mandalorian and Grogu. Honestly, my favorite aspects of Star Wars are all of the things AROUND the Force and the Jedi, like space battles, lone warriors, and the boots-on-the-ground rebellion.

The Mandalorian and Grogu has all of that! As I mentioned up top, I know people don’t like that it felt like episodes of the TV series stitched together, but before the third season, which I didn’t even finish, I really loved The Mandalorian.

And, this movie hits all of the notes that I used to love about the show. The Mandalorian himself is badass when he’s out on assignments, and the movie almost feels like a western at times, with characters shooting from the hip and moseying on into town (or rather, onto different planets). I also love how Grogu’s bond with Din Djarin is strengthened even more with this movie. This lack of the Force (For the most part) is just ONE of the main reasons why this is my second favorite Star Wars movie. Here’s my other reason.

The Hutts Play A Major Role In This Movie, And Jabba Is One Of My Favorite Characters

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. When it comes to the original trilogy, my favorite movie isn’t A New Hope, nor is it The Empire Strikes Back. It’s actually Return of the Jedi (I know. The worst one!). While I do know that it’s the most childish of the original trilogy, I don’t mind that, because in a lot of ways, I’ve always felt that Star Wars is for children.

So, yes, I like the Ewoks. I like the Speeder Bike stuff on Endor, and I love Jabba the Hutt the most. He's definitely in my top three favorite Star Wars characters of all time (The others being Bor Gullet and Boba Fett). And in The Mandalorian and Grogu, we get A LOT of the Hutt family.

We get Jabba’s son, Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White), as well as Rotta’s aunt and uncle, called "The Twins," who are running the crime syndicate now.

The Hutts are pretty much the primary characters that most of the narrative centers around, and I love that we’re not really seeing the Galactic Empire here, but rather the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe, which I absolutely love! So, little to no Jedi stuff, the Hutts, and The Mandalorian kicking butt? Heck yes. Second best Star Wars movie ever!

There are popular film franchises, and then there's the Star Wars movies. Generations were brought up on the galaxy far, far away, including both big screen adventures and live-action shows that are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The latter started thanks to The Mandalorian, and now Jon Favreau has brought both he and Grogu to the big screen. And while promoting the movie, the director has weighed in on the years-long AT-AT debate.

Critical response to The Mandalorian and Grogu has been mixed, although the audience reaction has been much kinder. The movie opens with Mando taking out three AT-ATs by himself, and while speaking with Fandango Jon Favreau was asked which is the right way to pronounce that Imperial vehicle. He responded with the following:

There you have it. While Jon Favreau thinks both pronunciations are acceptable, he does personally call it A.T.A.T, rather than the more colloquial (and phonetic) AT-AT. That's just one man's opinion, but the fact that he directed a sequence with the hulking vehicles does give his opinion a bit more weight.

While AT-ATs would cost millions in the real world, I assume that the debate about how to pronounce their name would still rage on. And even with Jon Favreau weighing in, both versions will likely still be uttered by Star Wars fans out there. In the same conversation, Favreu went on to share the origin of his preferred pronunciation, offering:

AT-ATs made their debut in Empire Strikes Back, which is considered one of the best Star Wars movies of all time. While audiences were originally unsure about its contents, it's usually at the top of the franchise's movie rankings. The giant vehicles made their way through Hoth, and they've returned to the big screen in projects like The Last Jedi and (most recently) The Mandalorian and Grogu. And the fact that Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin managed to take out three single-handedly was an epic way to start Jon Favreau's blockbuster.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see where AT-ATs pop up in the franchise next.

The Mandalorian and Grogu’s box office debut last weekend may not have been groundbreaking for the Star Wars Universe, but the movie is definitely a crowd-pleaser for those who decided they wanted to see the streaming-era duo on the big screen. I know I’m not alone in loving the ways in which the movie felt like a throwback to the original trilogy, but there’s something else many fans are talking about regarding the movie. And, it’s got me thinking about a move I want to see The Walt Disney Company do next.

A Lot Of Fans Of Mandalorian And Grogu Are Loving The Same Thing

It’s no surprise people are talking about all the best Baby Yoda/Grogu moments in the latest of 2026 movie releases, but there was a clear trend when I’ve been looking over my Threads feed in recent days. Check it out:

• “There’s a sequence in The Mandalorian and Grogu where it becomes a full-on puppet show…in the best way. Like, not since The Dark Crystal have I seen a bunch of puppets speaking gibberish and acting off each other with no humans in sight in a mainstream movie. And it was extra cool to see that kind of high-tech puppetry in IMAX.” - @yaytime
• “This movie really feels like ‘what if we made a movie where everyone is a muppet and Pedro Pascal was the only human’” - @_bdazzler_
• “Give me 100 more muppet movies thinly disguised as Star Wars, this was absolute gas” - @lukastarnold
• “The Mandalorian and Grogu was basically a muppet adventure & I loved every single second” - @sadieohbaby
• “As someone who watched the muppets daily as a child, this movie truly fed my inner child.” - @leoslovelytreasures

These are definitely akin to thoughts my partner and I had when we saw The Mandalorian and Grogu. While it’s not the whole movie, there’s a point midway through when the entire movie is being carried by puppet/animatronics, and it’s reminiscent of a Muppets movie. This aspect of the movie is getting a lot of good vibes from audiences who were clear about how much it reminded them of how much they missed seeing these sorts of characters in movie theaters.

It’s Time To Revive The Muppets For The Big Screen

Earlier this year, I was hyped to see Disney+ revive The Muppets Show for a single episode, and I pitched why we need the streaming series to continue. However, after seeing The Mandalorian and Grogu and seeing all this excitement over puppeteering, I actually think the clear move is Walt Disney Studios greenlighting a new The Muppets movie. It’s been over a decade since we’ve had a movie from the franchise hit theaters (in the form of Muppets Most Wanted) – which means an entire generation of kids haven’t seen Kermit the Frog before his own theatrical release.

While Muppets Most Wanted was sort of a flop, it was a lesser sequel to 2011's The Muppets, which made $171.8 million against a $45 million budget. That’s pretty dang good if we're talking green. To me, it feels like we’re in a weird moment where a lot of Disney franchises are getting stale. The Muppets movie revival would be such a great follow-up to The Mandalorian and Grogu, in addition to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows already on the way.

Spoilers below for parts of The Mandalorian and Grogu, so be warned if you haven’t yet watched the 2026 movie release.

Despite a certain amount of doubt in Disney’s decision-making skills for its Star Wars content, The Mandalorian and Grogu surpassed expectations to dominate the box office in its opening weekend, and with a story that feels as timeless to me as any franchise entries since the original trilogy. Not only did it largely avoid needless fan-service connections and twists, but it was also exciting, funny, and filled with adorable Grogu moments, natch.

What I wasn’t expecting at all, however, was for a nerve-jangling Mandalorian and Grogu action sequence to make me want to writhe my way out of the theater, while also being one of the coolest action sequences in the entire franchise. I mean, who could possibly expect such a dichotomy being spurred by a Star Wars movie? Discussion cannon: armed and firing…

Star Wars Action Doesn't Get Much Bigger Or Better Than That Mountainside Battle With The AT-ATs

As someone who's loved this George Lucas-crafted franchise since childhood, while being a fandom-centrist in general, I had a capped-level of excitement for Jon Favreau's first Star Wars movie. Like many, I think The Mandalorian Season 1 is a high point whose next two outings provided diminishing returns, but I figured Disney wouldn't take yet another high-budget swing without a Hutt-family-reunion-sized confidence in his and Dave Filoni's storytelling skills. The IMAX of it all didn't hurt, either.

So I wasn't necessarily surprised that The Mandalorian and Grogu kicks off with a huge action sequence, but I was taken aback by just how great and effective the whole shebang is, especially once the AT-ATs come into it. The scale is so grand that the rest of the movie can't quite match up, which is fine, since the mountain-set battle counts among the best Star Wars action scenes of all time. Is it the best of the entire modern era? I'll allow for some recency bias here.

One big reason this explosive scene easily stands out to my brain is because it utilizes the vertical scale in a way that this franchise usually doesn't. Nearly all of Star Wars' most memorable scenes play out either on a flat, horizontal axis (Endor landspeeders, lightsaber fights, podracing, etc.) or in free space (X-Wing battles, the Battle of Scarif, etc.). Luke's dramatic fall down the shaft on Cloud City is an exception, but certainly doesn't match up.

For Mandalorian and Grogu, Jon Favreau wisely set the AT-AT conflict on a relatively thin strip of mountain pathway, without the room for the giant mechs to maneuver sideways. (Not quite sure how they got out there in the first place.) Obviously Mando and Grogu fly horizontally from one to the next, but it's the up-and-down scale that blew me away, with the human characters looking so miniscule compared to the vehicles that it hurt my head to think about how tall they actually were, which is where the anxiety clawed in.

As Much As I Love It, The Sequence Made Me Legitimately Squirm With Anxiety

One of my lesser-explored brain tics can get stirred up when objects of drastically different sizes share the same space, to the point where just the scale alone feels dangerous in some way. It's somewhat akin to the idea of getting stuck atop the highest hill of a roller coaster, or looking inside a skyscraper that's completely hollowed out. It's not always so much about height as it is about vastness, but the AT-ATs themselves were enough to immediately send my mind reeling, since they are essentially walking high-rises.

Thinking about climbing one of them out there on that mountain is enough to make me stay inside my home office until the next ice age. Which goes double when I imagine flying around those giant bastards. It's just hard enough to comprehend that panic creeps in.

But my gawd, it's when the AT-ATs are falling that I was the most awash with unease, mainly due to how long it takes, given how honking big they are. Imagining myself as one of the people inside the "head," knowing that death is imminent but not here just yet, that's pure dread to me.

As well, I don't mean to trivialize any real-world tragedies, but watching that one AT-AT falling over the edge of the mountain and down into the rocky abyss tapped into the same "this can't be happening" sense as seeing buildings and cities destroyed by natural disasters and/or warfare. If I would have been vacationing on that planet in a cabin on the opposite side of the mountains from the battle, and saw the AT-AT fall, I'd never stop freaking out about it.

But that's just me and my neurotic brainy-poo. Thankfully, or not, everything else in The Mandalorian and Grogu was scaled so that my anxiety levels could once again level out, and I could enjoy Babu Frik's arrival in full, baby.

Spoilers for The Mandalorian and Grogu lie ahead!

The 2026 movie schedule has graced the public with the first new Star Wars movie since 2019, The Mandalorian and Grogu. Directed and co-written by Jon Favreau, the explosive sci-fi flick continues the story of Din Djarin and his surrogate son, Grogu, as they complete missions for The New Republic. There’s an old-school charm to the film, though it also incorporates newer elements from the lore, including the character of Zeb. I’m glad Zeb’s featured in this story, but I also have a problem with his inclusion.

Why I Have An Issue With Zeb’s Role In The Mandalorian And Grogu

Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios originated in the animated series Star Wars Rebels and, throughout the show’s four-season run, he became a fan favorite. So there was a lot of excitement when he made his live-action debut in The Mandalorian Season 3, where he was once again voiced by Steve Blum. Since the events of Rebels, Zeb has become a member of The New Republic Defense Fleet, and that’s what leads to his dealings with Mando and Grogu in their new movie.

Unfortunately, Zeb plays a somewhat minimal role in the film, as he mainly accompanies Din and his young ward on missions for ideation purposes. Zeb does help Djarin raid Imperial faction leader Janu Coin’s compound and capture him, but that’s pretty much the only sequence viewers get in which Zeb truly gets in on the action in a big way. And, after that’s all settled, Zeb doesn’t return until the last bit of the third act, in which he and a New Republic squadron arrive in Nal Hutta to destroy the Hutt Twins’ palace and droid forces.

I understand that the film is called The Mandalorian and Grogu for a reason, as it’s meant to focus on them and their relationship. Still, it feels weird for an imposing and cool character like Zeb to play such a minimal role. I’m honestly conflicted because, while it’s great to see Orrelios on the big screen, his role is basic enough that another character could’ve easily been swapped in instead.

Although I find the size of Zeb’s role in this Mando movie to be somewhat underwhelming, there is a silver lining to consider. Zeb can indeed return at some point, and, given what’s on the horizon for Star Wars, it feels like it won’t be too long before the Lasat warrior is seen again.

Where Might Zeb Show Up Down The Road?

The Mandalorian Season 4 was scrapped in favor of the film, so it’s unknown whether new episodes of the show might be produced at some point. However, Ahsoka Season 2 is one of the titles on the schedule of upcoming Star Wars shows. Those who’ve seen Ahsoka likely know the series includes several Rebels characters, like Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla and Ezra Bridger.

Plot details on Ahsoka’s much-teased second season, which drops in early 2027, are being kept tightly under wraps, but it would just make too much sense for Zeb to appear on the show and reunite with his allies of the Ghost crew. There’s definitely still plenty to be done with Zeb, and it would certainly be a shame if producers Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau and co. opted to keep him mostly relegated to the sidelines.

Regardless of the size of Zeb’s role in the movie, fans should still check out The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is playing in theaters now. Fans can also check out both The Mandalorian and Star Wars Rebels now by grabbing a Disney+ subscription and streaming them.

Minor spoilers ahead for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

There are major IPs and then there's Star Wars. Generations grew up with the Star Wars movies, as well as the live-action shows that are available for those with a Disney+ subscription. Fans waited years after The Rise of Skywalker's ending for the franchise to return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu. Jon Favreau was behind the camera for the new blockbuster, and explained why it wasn't full of crossovers or cameos from the likes of Ahsoka and/or Thrawn.

There were big expectations for The Mandalorian and Grogu, especially from fans who watched the Star Wars movies in order. But rather than being an expansive narrative full of connections to other projects, the movie was a contained story about one specific mission. While speaking with EW, Favreau explained why he didn't bring in big crossovers from the Mando-verse, offering:

Honestly, I get it. Because while I would have loved to see Ahsoka, Thrawn, or Bo-Katan pop up in The Mandalorian and Grogu, these types of crossovers might have actually excluded moviegoing audiences. They could have appeared in a season of the TV show, but the movie had to be accessible for casual fans who might not be caught up on all the Star Wars lore from the shows. So Favreau and company left crossovers and bonus characters out of the movie.

Lots of Star Wars characters have shown up on The Mandalorian over the years, to the joy of the hardcore fans. But the character's pivot to the big screen meant new rules, require a story that was more easily digestible for folks who aren't as well-versed in the galaxy far, far away. I enjoyed how capsulated the story was, even if I was originally expecting to see characters like Moff Gideon show up.

It should be interesting to see if upcoming Star Wars movies follow The Mandalorian and Grogu's example in this way. It looks like Shawn Levy's Starfighter will be another standalone story, rather than one interconnected to various entries in the franchise as a whole. So it remains to be seen when the movies will become more serialized like the Skywalker Saga.

The Mandalorian and Gorgu is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll have to wait and see if/how the story continues, either via another movie or a new season of TV. Only time will tell.

Not every acting role is destined to be witnessed by millions of joyous fans around the globe, just like not every role has the power to transport an actor back to their youth. However, The Mandalorian and Grogu co-star Jonny Coyne was able to enjoy both of those distinctions as Star Wars antagonist Janu Coin. The English actor talked to CinemaBlend about being so "very excited, very humbled" to be in a big-screen Star Wars movie (one that's crushing in the box office) nearly 50 years after seeing A New Hope in theaters.

First appearing in The Mandalorian's third season as a hologram, Janu had a more direct impact on Din Djarin and Grogu's well-beings in the 2026 movie release, but we won't get into spoilers for those who haven't yet watched. To that end, Coyne also had to keep details close to the villainous vest when I asked whether he knew when signing on for the role that he'd have more appearances down the line. He told me:

If I'm lucky enough to live to be 100, and Jon Favreau's grandson asks me to play a tree (sans makeup) in Star Wars: The First Ewok or whatever, I'd do it in a heartbeat. An erratic, questionable heartbeat. So I certainly get where Coyne is coming from on that front, and I'm not even an actor by trade, or by anything else.

When I asked if he was a fan of the franchise overall, the Blacklist vet confirmed that he was definitely part of the targeted audience for George Lucas' Episode IV: A New Hope when it came out in 1977. Just maybe not the youngest demographic within that targeted span. In his words:

Though the franchise can often be geared for younger viewers, readers and gamers, that's certainly not the case for all corners of the galaxy, nor for all upcoming Star Wars projects. When A New Hope introduced the world to Luke Skywalker and his loyal droids, Hollywood wasn't yet in that mindset, and so there were definitely older teens and grown-a-s adults filling those theater seats in 1977 and beyond.

I can't imagine anyone at the time could have predicted Star Wars would become a billion-dollar industry unto itself, not even Jonny Coyne. (No offense, J.C.) But succeed it did, to the point where, nearly 50 years later, the actor was walking on sets, learning official jargon, and mixing it up with Grogu behind the scenes.

When I asked about the scale of Mandalorian and Grogu's sets, practical and otherwise, Coyne seemed to conjure up some of that wistful magic when he answered, saying:

To Coyne's point, a lot of TV and movie sets will inevitably feel like TV and movie sets, regardless of how well-designed they are, usually due to cameras (or the spaces required to fit cameras) helping break the illusion. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Star Wars movie sets can go above and beyond in that respect, to the point where a more full sense of immersion can sink in before reality rears its head again.

Outside of the actual acting experience, Jonny Coyne also voiced how excited he was to extend the Star Wars fandom down to younger generations within his own family, as The Mandalorian and Grogu makes for a big milestone for his grandchildren. Here's how he described it.

I can only (new) hope that Lord Janu Coin wasn't too scary for his grandchildren, and that they don't hold grudges against him for holding Grogu captive for a while. Those kinds of grudges can stick.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now, and with more than enough adorable Baby Yoda moments to inspire return viewings. And don't even get me started on Babu Frik and his li'l buddies!

Generations of moviegoers have grown up on the Star Wars movies, as well as the live-action shows that have been released for those with a Disney+ subscription. After years away, the franchise is back on the big screen thanks to The Mandalorian and Grogu hitting theaters, coming from the minds of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. And those two filmmaker recently debated one of the biggest questions in the galaxy: which order should one watch the Skywalker Saga in?

Favreau and Filoni are Star Wars super fans, who are responsible or bringing together the wildly popular Mandalorian franchise. In an interview with Collider about their new movie, the pair of filmmakers were asked to settle the debate: should Star Wars be watched chronologically or in the order they were released? Favreau weighed in first, with the Elf director saying:

Some points were made. In addition being able to see how technology advanced, watching the Star Wars movies in the order they hit theaters also allows for its story to play out the way that George Lucas originally intended. We first meet Darth Vader as the villain of the 4-6, before the prequel trilogy shows how Anakin Skywalker went from a Force Sensitive young boy to the terror of the galaxy. This was the way many of us longterm fans watched the story play out, and Jon Favreau appears to be a bit of a purist in this regard.

In the same interview, Dave Filoni also shared his two cents about the ongoing Star Wars debate. In his words:

Another solid point. Star Wars is an embarrassment of riches, and there's something positive to take out of watching the Skywalker Saga in both chronological and release date order. As Filoni put it, it's basically a win-win situation.

While fans might continue debating this "controversial" question, there likely isn't one definitive answer. As Filoni pointed out, both watch orders have something to offer, and there's no "bad" way to watch the Skywalker Saga. It's just a matter of preference for whoever is pushing play.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. The movie wasn't super connected to the overall franchise, and it should be interesting to see if Starfighter follows suit.

If you’re deep in Star Wars lore, you probably caught quite a few Easter Eggs in The Mandalorian and Grogu when it finally hit theaters last weekend on the 2026 movie schedule. I’ll admit I’m not the most versed in every aspect of that deep lore, but I have watched the original Star Wars about 1000 times (give or take). That meant that I definitely caught what I would say was the biggest Easter Egg in the whole more: The Dejarik fight on the planet Shakari.

Holochess Comes To Life

Even casual fans of the Star Wars franchise know what Dejarik is, even if they don’t know the name. For many years, it was simply called “Holochess” or “that game that R2-D2 and Chewbacca are playing on the Millennium Falcon” in the original movie. The game made a reappearance in non-hollow form in Rogue One, and we saw the holochess version in Solo: A Star Wars Story. In fact, that was the same board seen in the original, canonically. It’s been mentioned or seen in other places throughout Star Wars’ various shows as well.

In The Mandalorian and Grogu, the game board and, most frighteningly, the monstrous creatures that make up the pieces, are lifesize. And by life-size, I mean huge and scary. We first hear mention of Dejarik when Mando and Grogu arrive on Shakari ostensibly to rescue Rotta the Hutt. Mando finds out from Janu Coin, the crime boss on the planet and owner of Rotta’s contract, that Rotta’s final match will be a “Dejarik match.” I’ll admit, I didn’t catch it at first, until I got a jab in the ribs from my friend sitting next to me. “That’s the game from the Falcon,” he whispered.

The Battle Royale Doesn’t Disappoint

The plot point that sees Rotta’s life owned by someone else, and being more or less forced to fight in the pits, is reminiscent of Gladiator, but instead of other gladiators and lions, Rotta and Mando must fight all of the monsters first seen in Chewy’s and Artoo’s game in Star Wars. While I wasn’t expecting a lot of franchise-shifting twists in The Mandalorian and Grogu, I did expect a few Easter Eggs, and this was by far my favorite.

The fight was awesome, as Mando and Rotta battled it out on the pit floor, which was modeled after the game as well. There are a lot of details, and the first thing I did when I got home was to pull up the original with my Disney+ subscription and look hard at the game of Dejarik. That confirmed for me how much care went into giving The Mandalorian and Grogu an old-school Star Wars feel, and making reference to the OG movie in a really fun way is a big reason the film surprised me with how much I enjoy it (and I’m not alone).

Pedro Pascal may be the face and voice most audiences associate with Din Djarin, but the 2026 movie calendar release, The Mandalorian and Grogu, appears to be giving some serious love to the performers, like Brendan Wayne, who physically bring Mando to life inside the armor. And honestly, fans are very much noticing. That's evident due to the fact that many are taking to social media to give props to the two guys who really wear the suit for most of the runtime.

A theater-shot image of the movie’s cast credits started circulating on X, showing Pedro Pascal billed as The Mandalorian, followed immediately by Brendan Wayne as “The Mandalorian Suit Performer” and Lateef Crowder as “The Mandalorian Stunt Performer.” That’s notable because Wayne and Crowder have long been major parts of the character’s physical performance, with Wayne handling much of Mando’s in-suit presence and Crowder contributing stunt and action work.

That credit placement has now sparked its own little Star Wars debate. Is it unusual for a suit performer and stunt performer to be billed so prominently alongside the star of the movie? Fans can’t seem to agree, but a lot of them are happy to see Wayne and Crowder get that kind of recognition.

Fans Respond To Top Billing For Mando Suit Performers

The original post from Best of Star Wars on X pointed out that it is “highly irregular” for stunt performers to share top billing with the lead actor or actress, before asking how often Pascal was actually on screen during the film. That question kicked open the usual Star Wars discourse sarlaac pit, but a lot of fans focused on something more positive: Wayne and Crowder getting visible credit. Some of the reactions included:

• @MegaTalinArt: “I love that they even were listed high in the opening credits as well, very respectable to the guys bringing Mando to life.”
• @ponton20: “Shouldn’t it be celebrated more the suit and stunt guys are up there, than using it to bash Pedro??”
• @NightWolve75: “So the Mando ‘suit wearers’ did most of the on-screen work then, fair/makes sense they’d get credited at the top like this.”
• @joeyscocoa: “Pedro did say in one of the interviews published yday or so that he was on set ‘quite a lot’ even when the stunt ppl were, but he also never holds back his praise for them bringing Mando to life with him, so ye.”

That last point feels important. Pascal has often spoken warmly about the people who help create Din Djarin, and this credit placement feels less like a weird demotion of him and more like a cool acknowledgment of how collaborative this character has always been.

Star Wars Has A Long History With Shared Physical Performances

Of course, because this is Star Wars, fans immediately started pulling historical receipts. One user, @Brahbocop, posted a classic credit image showing Frank Oz performing Yoda, James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader and David Prowse as Darth Vader. Another fan, @feline_ranger, called the Mando crediting “a posthumous apology to David Prowse,” arguing:

That comparison is not perfect, but it does get at why this is interesting. Din Djarin is a masked character for most of his screen time. Voice, body language and stunt work all matter.

Not everyone understood the arrangement. @RedWingsDoc asked, “Wait, am I naive in thinking that Pascal was in the suit the whole time?” Meanwhile, @Scareywrestrock even admitted to only just hearing the term “suit performer” for the first time. Fair questions, honestly. The best masked characters can make the labor behind the performance easier to miss.

That’s what makes the credit placement so cool. It pulls the curtain back just enough to remind fans that one person does not create Mando, as it's a group effort. Pedro Pascal gives him the voice, Wayne gives him that lived-in gunslinger presence, and Crowder helps sell the action when called for.

So, yes, fans can argue about who was in the suit and when. That’s the internet’s favorite little swamp hobby. But the bigger takeaway is simpler: The Mandalorian and Grogu seems to have given Wayne and Crowder the kind of visible credit that performers behind masked characters do not always get, and that’s worth celebrating.

The newest Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is playing in theaters now, so be sure to check your local listings for show times. Or, if you want to revisit all the other SW mainline shows, spin-offs and television series in order, all you need is a Disney+ subscription.

Look, I know critics are divided on The Mandalorian and Grogu, and they took some fair shots, but I just don’t agree, because I had a blast. When I left the theater, not only did I find myself perfectly content that there weren’t any franchise-changing twists, but I also want to point out another aspect of the movie that really made an impact on me: the effects.

The Mandalorian Felt Like The Handmade Star Wars Movies Of The Past

I love how much practical filmmaking was clearly involved in The Mandalorian and Grogu. It made me feel like I was watching something from the OG era of the franchise, and after years of CGI effects in Star Wars movies and other sci-fi space epics, I was genuinely moved by it. Whether it be the puppetry used for Grogu, models and stop-motion action, it felt like Jon Favreau and the other filmmakers and craft artists working on this implemented the kind of movie tricks that really made movies more special back in the 1970s and 1980s.

When I had the chance to go on a set visit for The Mandalorian and Grogu recently, which was filmed completely in Los Angeles, we were shown to a room that exemplifies the kind of practical effects and props used on the new movie. Check out some highlights below:

After years of seeing Star Wars movies that look more like video games, the love and care around The Mandalorian and Grogu was so clear to me, even if it doesn’t have the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of the franchise. While sitting in the theater, there were times when I felt like I was watching one of those Ray Harryhausen movies my parents showed me as a kid, like the Sinbad movies or 1981’s Clash of the Titans.

Practical special effects like those feel like a dying art, but were absolutely part of the original trilogy. Back then, they implemented mechanical models, miniatures, puppets and matte paintings to illustrate the settings rather than the computer-generated technology that’s become so popular nowadays, and now that we’ve moved away from it, I see how effective it can be when a modern movie uses it.

Now I Want To Watch A Whole Movie With Grogu And The Anzellans

I think because the main character of The Mandalorian and Grogu is helmeted for most of the movie, the scenes that moved me the most were when Grogu and/or the Anzelans were the only characters in the frame, and I was watching storytelling unfold predominantly through the use of practical effects.

I literally could have watched an entire movie full of more adorable Baby Yoda moments because I think there’s something so precious about seeing these practical puppets/animatronics in front of you and knowing all the work that went into bringing them to life. It reminded me of The Muppets at times in the most complementary way, which I love for the same reasons.

I truly hope more upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows decide to go back to this more practical, handcrafted filmmaking that feels true to the spirit of why we still love and adore A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

For a certain kind of Star Wars franchise fan, the opening crawl is practically sacred text. You hear the blast of John Williams’ score, see those yellow words drift into space and immediately feel like someone opened the door to the galaxy far, far away. So, when The Mandalorian and Grogu hit the 2026 movie schedule without the classic crawl, it was bound to raise some eyebrows. But why doesn’t it appear in the newest Star Wars movie?

Despite former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy previously telling fans that future films would continue to use the crawl, that has not been the case. Instead, Mandalorian and Grogu opens with light blue stationary text against a starry background, and Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni explained the decision during Entertainment Weekly’s Debunked video series. First, Filoni, the newest president and chief creative officer of Lucasfilm, said:

That was Filoni’s explanation and, honestly, I get it. The classic crawl is not just a block of exposition. It is one of the franchise’s biggest ceremonial objects, somewhere between a movie opening and a church bell. The second it appears, it tells audiences they are watching one of the capital-letter Chapters.

Favreau made a similar point, noting that the crawl has traditionally belonged to the Skywalker saga films. He pointed out that the standalone Star Wars movies, Rogue One and Solo, did not use the classic crawl either, despite being theatrical releases. Farvreau added:

All fair points, especially since there really is so much Star Wars now. There are live-action shows, animated series and spinoff movies. Not only that, but side characters have become lead characters, and some timelines look wildly different from one another, with those available to stream with a Disney+ subscription. If every project uses the same opening ritual, that ritual starts to feel less like a thunderclap and more like brand wallpaper.

What makes this especially interesting is that The Mandalorian and Grogu is in a strange middle place. It is a big-screen Star Wars movie, but it is also continuing a story that started on Disney+. Din Djarin and Grogu have their own rhythm, their own tone and their own visual grammar. However, some of the critical response to the flick has been less than positive, all pointing to the fact that the movie feels like several episodes of the series edited together for a theatrical release.

Filoni’s Ahsoka example is useful because it shows Lucasfilm is not abandoning the idea of opening context. It is just playing with form. Ahsoka had its own version, using red vertical text instead of the classic crawl. The Mandalorian and Grogu uses a stationary light blue setup. The franchise is still giving audiences the “previously in this galaxy” information, but it’s holding out the holy yellow scroll for mainline entries.

That may frustrate some fans, especially after Kennedy’s earlier comment suggested the crawl would be part of future films, but Favreau and Filoni’s explanation makes sense as a way to preserve the original device's power. The crawl should feel special. If Lucasfilm slaps it onto every movie, show and side quest, it becomes less of an event. For a franchise already stretched across so many formats, saving a few sacred tricks for the saga might be one of the smarter calls.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. Check your local listings for showtimes.

There’s no shortage of Star Wars content in the galaxy right now. From Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, which just premiered on the 2026 movie schedule, to Star Wars: Starfighter, which stars Ryan Gosling and is slated for release in May 2027, the franchise is everywhere. Now, Disney Parks has joined the excitement with a brand-new mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which debuted yesterday at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, featuring none other than Mando and Grogu.

I had the chance to experience the new adventure this week, and while stepping into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon never gets old, I was surprised to discover my favorite role is no longer the Pilot. Starting now, I’d gladly fight for the chance to be the Engineer.

CinemaBlend was invited to Walt Disney World this week to preview the upcoming offerings for Cool Kids' Summer, beginning May 26. That includes the updated Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets, a limited-time new flight called Soarin’ Across America, a Bluey and Bingo dance party at Animal Kingdom, and, of course, the new adventure on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

The Engineer Role Has Been Updated

When I was waiting in line and got assigned the role of Engineer, I have to admit, I was initially disappointed. For starters, you’re seated in the back of the cockpit, meaning you’re the furthest from the screen. But more importantly, in the original mission on Smugglers Run — which has been in place since Galaxy’s Edge first opened — the role never felt especially important. Outside of collecting cargo for Hondo Ohnaka or patching up the Falcon when it took damage, it often felt like you were just along for the ride.

And clearly, I’m not the only one who has felt that way over the years. The Engineer role has had a bit of a reputation among guests, so when I got the chance to chat with a Disney Imagineer Morgan McDowell about the updated mission, I was curious how much guest feedback actually played into the changes. Turns out: quite a bit, as she explained:

I can confidently say the feedback was heard, because the second the mission started, I immediately felt like I had somehow lucked out by getting the Engineer.

Why I Loved Being The Engineer

What shocked me most was just how much more there is to do now. Engineers still repair the ship and collect cargo, but they also now help determine where the mission actually goes. One of the Engineers is randomly selected to choose between Tatooine, Endor, or Coruscant, and wherever they pick becomes a huge part of the adventure that follows. So instead of feeling like you’re just pressing buttons in the background, the Engineer now plays a major role in shaping the mission.

And that’s not even the best addition. Engineers now also get their own dedicated “Grogu button,” which calls Grogu onto the screen during the mission. Honestly, that alone might make it the superior role.

To Disney’s credit, all three positions feel more dynamic now, with additional elements added, but the Engineer is definitely front and center, as McDowell also pointed out:

The Engineer easily became the highlight for me. Apparently, I enjoy being in control and responsible for babysitting Grogu. If you’re heading to Disneyland or Walt Disney World for Cool Kids’ Summer — running May 26 through September 8 — make sure to check out the new Smugglers Run mission for yourself. Just maybe don’t bring snacks aboard the Falcon, because Grogu absolutely will try to steal them, and definitely don’t blow any kisses at stormtroopers.

There are major IPs, and then there's Star Wars. Generations grew up with the galaxy far, far away, including both the Star Wars movies and the live-action TV shows that are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The Mandalorian was the first of the latter category, becoming an instant hit and making Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, a phenomenon. The little green guy just made the Force jump to the big screen and steals every single scene he's in. But there are 5 moments in particular that really made me "aww" in the theater.

What we knew about The Mandalorian and Grogu had been kept under wraps, but now Jon Favreau's movie is officially on the silver screen. In it, we see the two title characters on a mission for Jeremy Allen White's Rotta the Hutt, and face high-stakes repercussions. Along the way, Grogu is insanely adorable, thanks to the writing, practical effects, and incredible puppetry used to bring him to life. But if I had to pick my favorite bits, they would be the following.

Grogu Banging On Mando's Helmet In The AT-AT Battle

The opening action sequence of The Mandalorian and Grogu starts the movie with a bang. In it, Pedro Pascal's masked protagonist single-handedly takes out multiple AT-AT walkers, all while Grogu comes along for the ride. At one point, Pascal's Din Djarin takes too long to exit one that's full of bombs, and our beloved Baby Yoda panics and starts repeatedly hitting Mando's helmet with his little hands. Give me the GIF ASAP.

Rolling Up On The Anzellans

Another huge contributor to the new Star Wars movie's cuteness and comedy is the group of four Anzellans (like Babu Frik) that show up around halfway through its brisk 132-minute runtime. They're originally not fans of Grogu, aka "the baby"; we learn this when the little guy runs his little pitter-pat feet over to them upon arrival, and they freak. What can I say? Something about seeing Grogu run cracks me up.

Chowing Down At Rotta's Fight

On their mission to find Rotta for The Hutt Twins, Mando and Grogu travel to Shakari. While originally thinking they were there to rescue him, they find the son of Jabba the Hutt in the fighting pits. Obviously, Grogu is always hungry, and I laughed every time there was a shot of him chowing down on his arena snack while watching the show.

Sleeping On Rotta The Hutt

It turns out Rotta is a softy at heart, and he and Grogu develop a cute friendship throughout The Mandalorian and Grogu. After winning the little guy over by feeding him fish (that appetite is no joke), the two end up taking a nap together later in the movie. Grogu lies like a cat on top of Rotta's giant body, and it's all very cute.

Saluting Sigourney Weaver's Ward

Sigourney Weaver plays a supporting character as Ward, a colonel of the New Republic who employs Mando as a bounty hunter. She's yet another character who guards her food from Grogu, but comes through in a major way in the third act. That's when Grogu gives her the tiniest salute, and for a moment, all was right with the world.

Obviously, there are a ton more moments in this movie where Grogu will make you chuckle; it's an embarrassment of riches. I could really watch a movie of just him and the Anzellans. The above moments were just especially memorable for me.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Star Wars is back in theaters, and we still have Ryan Gosling's Starfighter to look forward to.

For my entire life (and probably yours too), Star Wars movies have been the kind of films I just have to go see in theaters. But, since all of the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows in the past seven years have been available to watch at home with a Disney+ subscription, I think it’s changed things for us collectively. My excitement about The Mandalorian and Grogu has been middling, if I’m being honest. Even so, there was something in me that just didn’t feel right about skipping out on my lifelong tradition of seeing the newest Star Wars movie in theaters.

I’m so happy I did, and one big reason why is that it was a different kind of experience than we’ve been used to in Star Wars movies.

Big Twists Have Become The Norm In Star Wars Movies

Now that I think about it, because The Empire Strikes Back gave audiences one of the best twists in movie history, I think every filmmaker who’s made a Star Wars movie has been trying to recapture the feeling of watching it by having big reveals in subsequent movies. But with that, we’ve kind of found ourselves in a plot loop over the years – Kylo Ren killing his father Han Solo, Rey being a Palpatine, and so forth.

Understandably so, going into the first Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker, I thought maybe The Mandalorian and Grogu was hiding some massive twist that I wanted to experience for myself before the internet did for me. However, as critic reactions have already suggested, “This isn’t a galaxy-shaking epic”.

You may be bummed to learn this, but having seen the movie, I have to say, I appreciated watching a Star Wars movie that didn’t feel like it needed to have a moment where it needed to shock me with some family-related big reveal. It was refreshing, even.

I Enjoyed The Mandalorian And Grogu For The Low Stakes Movie It Is

The Mandalorian and Grogu is one of the more accessible Star Wars releases we’ve had in a while. You don’t have to have seen The Mandalorian TV show, or anything else before, to really appreciate it, and if you don’t see it, you’re not missing any franchise-shattering reveals. Sure, that might give some Star Wars fans permission to skip out on it, and that's totally OK! I think if you do, though, you might be missing out on something that makes it special.

While watching it, I just had fun. The cool stylized action and the Star Wars aesthetics definitely have precedence over the character development, but it definitely gives Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) more to do than ever, and it was worth the price of admission for me to see the cutest darn thing Star Wars has ever thought up have a feature-length adventure alongside the cowboy-inspired Mandalorian. It's got some gorgeous set design, fun moments and feels like a true escape for its runtime.

It’s not a perfect movie for sure, and I totally get why it's divided critics, but from my perspective, I can say I saw this movie a week ago and have thought back on it multiple times with warm and cozy thoughts about the good memories I made watching it. And, I honestly wouldn’t blink at seeing it again if given the chance. It feels like it will become my Star Wars comfort movie as well.

I also like that it feels nostalgic in a sense of it being a movie I would have loved and watched over and over when I was a kid, and less so in a way of trying to recycle a Star Wars movie I’ve already seen before, with beats it feels like it needs to hit.

I totally recommend The Mandalorian and Grogu if my thoughts get you excited for it, and it's in theaters now!

On the felt-covered surface, one might not automatically link the Star Wars universe and Jim Henson's Muppets characters, but such connections exist. The Mandalorian and Grogu gives fans of both a reason to cheer, thanks to the more adorable half of the film's title. (Sorry for the sour grapes, Pedro Pascal.) But as eager as I was to see him on the big screen, I'm always equally enthused to learn what working with Grogu is like behind the scenes.

I was thankfully able to shake a few comments loose from co-star Jonny Coyne (The Blacklist, The Toxic Avenger), who understandably had to stay fairly tight-lipped about anything that happens with his character Lord Janu in the 2026 movie release itself. (Naturally, I talked to him on the very same day my spoilers-related Force powers were at their weakest.) But he did confirm that the puppeteers in charge of handling Grogu share a similar in-character dedication with The Muppets’ squad.

When I asked what FKA Baby Yoda was like on the set, Coyne amusingly implied Grogu is an exception of sorts to a long-held showbiz belief. In his words:

Babies can be whiny, fussy, hungry or a million other non-camera-friendly emotions, while animals have a tendency to do the opposite of what's being asked when filming is happening. But an animal-esque creature that's small and cute enough to be a baby even though it's 50+ years old? That's apparently the happiest medium, and its name is Grogu.

Coyne continued, giving the tech team props for its method approach to keeping the big-eyed character active when the cameras weren't rolling on the upcoming Star Wars movie, which is no doubt inspired by the Henson school of thought.

Operating an entity like Grogu is obviously on a wholly different level from the work that Muppets performers bring to their characters, both on-screen and off. They're more physically involved, as well as more vocally involved, given that Grogu isn't so invested in language at this point. But the mindset behind not breaking character is a bridge between both sets of artists.

Grogu himself is as much a tie to the Muppets as anything, given that Yoda was the voiced and co-performed by Frank Oz, the legend behind other iconic characters like Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal and more. (The Yoda team featured other Jim Henson Company performers as well, such as Kathryn Mullen, Wendy Froud and David Barclay.) Plus, three months before The Empire Strikes Back even hit theaters, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew guest-starred in Season 4 of The Muppet Show. (Check out this fun conspiracy theory based on that appearance.)

And let's not forget that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, friends with Henson, also famously allowed Muppet Babies to use footage, character names and plot points from Star Wars movies (and Indiana Jones) for episodes, strengthening that connection while also unwittingly making it impossible for the animated series to ever hit DVD or streaming.

In any case, when I asked Jonny Coyne about his own personal Muppets fandom, he wowed me once more by bringing up a personal connection.

(Though Coyne didn't namedrop anyone, I believe he's talking about the stage and screen's Louise Gold, star of multiple Muppets series and films, who was part of the cast ensemble that performed at Jim Henson's funeral. But don't quote me on it.)

Hopefully Disney is planning on turning the Seth Rogen-produced Muppet Show revival special into a full-on series, and that Pedro Pascal and Team Grogu have been tapped as guest stars, so we can finally get Kermit the Frog and Baby Yoda in the same room. Can you imagine a feature where Kermit was the one tasked with keeping The Child safe? MAKE THAT MOVIE RIGHT NOW, DISNEY! And put Jonny Coyne in it, whydontcha?

In closing, I think I'd like to introduce a new adage that can one day be spoken of as a classic one: "Everything is better with, and because of, The Muppets."

Now keep your eyes peeled for any Pigs In Space nods in The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is in theaters as of May 22, 2026.

The Mandalorian and Grogu's reviews are out, and I won't lie, I'm a bit worried about the latest Star Wars movie. I expected the feature on the 2026 movie schedule would be its triumphant return to theaters, but it's currently sitting among the lowest-rated films of the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes. I was really concerned, but fortunately, after seeing the rankings of the rest of the movies, I'm not putting much stock into aggregate reviews when it comes to Star Wars.

I hopped on over to Rotten Tomatoes' landing page for the franchise, which will eventually house the scores of every upcoming Star Wars movie as well. I was surprised to see where quite a few movies ranked from top to bottom, and I think readers will be as well.

Rotten Tomatoes' Critic Score For Every Star Wars Movie

Aggregate critic scores can be divisive amongst movie lovers, and yet remain the topic of discussion time and time again when a new blockbuster film comes out. That being said, here is a list of Star Wars movies ranked from top to bottom, and the ranking may surprise a few:

• A New Hope: 94%
• The Force Awakens: 93%
• The Empire Strikes Back: 93%
• The Last Jedi: 91%
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story: 84%
• Return of the Jedi: 83%
• Revenge of the Sith: 79%
• Solo: A Star Wars Story: 69%
• Attack of the Clones: 62%
• The Mandalorian And Grogu: 61%
• The Phantom Menace: 54%
• The Rise Of Skywalker: 51%
• The Clone Wars: 18%

As it stands, The Mandalorian and Grogu is ranked fourth from the bottom. Some might find it fitting, considering one of the major characters, Rotta the Hutt, was also featured in the worst-rated Star Wars movie to date: The Clone Wars. I was disappointed in seeing the score as a standalone, but after seeing it stacked up against everything else, I'm more compelled to think it means absolutely nothing.

Everyone's Star Wars Ranking Is Subjective, And I Doubt Everyone Agrees With The Current Ranking

Immediately, seeing The Phantom Menace below The Mandalorian and Grogu set me off. Sure, it has corny moments, but in light of Maul: Shadow Lord's success, I think we can all agree its beloved and as influential on the fandom as some of the best entries. Maybe it shouldn't be in the top 3, but it almost certainly shouldn't be ranked that low.

As for something that I think doesn't deserve to be in the Top 3, I've long had an axe to grind against The Force Awakens. I never understood the appeal of a movie being praised for being a remake of A New Hope, rather than the franchise's attempt to do something different.

That may be a hot take to some, but I also have people in my personal life who would agree. Out of any major IP out there, I feel no movie ranking list is more subjective from person to person than Star Wars is. There are people who love the original movies and hate the prequels, and there are some who love it all but the sequel trilogy. Hell, there are even people who still wonder why Solo: A Star Wars Story didn't get a sequel.

The point being that aggregate critic scores, box office draws, or anything less of seeing the movie is going to tell me whether or not I like The Mandalorian and Grogu. So I should stop fretting about it and just go to the movie already and jump on the internet and praise/gripe it after.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters, and if you're a Star Wars fan, why not go out and see the latest movie in the franchise? I'm ready to take my child, and curious to see how she responds to it.

It’s been quite a while since we’ve gotten to see the adventures of a galaxy far, far away in theaters, but that’s about to change with The Mandalorian and Grogu set for release on the 2026 movie calendar on May 22. I’d think there’s no better pair to lead Star Wars back to the big screen than Pedro Pascal and “Baby Yoda,” and that’s why I was so shocked at the divided first reactions. Now the reviews are in, and while some critics had a blast, others are questioning if this even counts as a Star Wars movie.

The Mandalorian and Grogu movie comes after three seasons of The Mandalorian (streaming with a Disney+ subscription) and finds Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu on a mission to rescue Jeremy Allen White’s Rotta the Hutt. Our own Nick Venable rates the movie 4 out of 5 stars after a fun outing, writing.

Linda Marric of Hey U Guys also gives it 4 out of 5 stars, saying the movie feels nostalgic without getting trapped in the past. It has some issues, she writes, but it’s too much fun to dwell on any of them for too long. In Marric’s words:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY rates the movie 3 out of 4 stars, saying that the upcoming Star Wars flick embraces both its bizarre and adorable elements for an adventure that harkens back to some of the franchise’s best efforts. The Mandalorian and Grogu offers a new hope to a brand that seems to be readjusting, Truitt says, writing:

Jake Kleinman of Polygon questions what defines a Star Wars movie — lightsabers? Skywalkers? The Force? Kleinman says impressive set pieces, high stakes and a good vs. evil conflict are non-negotiables. The Mandalorian and Grogu, however, has none of these things, but the critic says the movie is a “damn good time” anyway. His review reads:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo borrows a phrase from Yoda to say that The Mandalorian and Grogu chooses “do not” instead of “do” — it doesn’t even try. In trying to make a Star Wars film accessible to even non-Star Wars fans, Lussier says that Jon Favreau has neglected to do justice to those who have followed the franchise for so long. The critic calls this movie nothing more than a side quest, writing:

Tom Jorgensen of IGN echoes that sentiment, as he rates the film a “Mediocre” 5 out of 10. The critic agrees that rather than catering to existing Star Wars fans, The Mandalorian and Grogu feels laser-focused on people who have only heard about the show.

Critics seem to be divided over Jon Favreau’s latest contribution to the Star Wars universe with a 61% Rotten Tomatoes score. However, I think it’s safe to say that fans who have committed decades of their lives to the fandom will likely take a chance on the first big-screen project from the franchise in seven years.

How well it will do at the box office is a different question altogether. Catch The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters starting Friday, May 22.

Dave Filoni seems to know exactly what kind of chair he has stepped into at Lucasfilm as he takes over from Kathleen Kennedy as far as all the upcoming Star Wars projects. The fan-favorite writer/producer/director has a lot of decisions to make now that he's in the big seat. On that note, in a recent interview, Filoni explained why he’s down for crazy” Star Wars pitches, and I’m loving his take, which could bode well for the future of the franchise.

During a red carpet interview with Variety at the Holllywood premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu, Filoni was asked about the craziest Star Wars pitch he has heard since taking over as Lucasfilm co-president. Filoni didn't name a specific idea that had been dropped on his desk. However, his answer explains why the franchise still needs those strange little sparks in the first place. The outlet posted the interview clip to its official X account, and, in it, Filoni can be heard saying:

That is a pretty strong mission statement from Lucasfilm’s new co-head honcho, who officially moved into the Lucasfilm president and chief creative officer role earlier this year alongside co-president Lynwen Brennan after Kathleen Kennedy stepped down from studio leadership. Kennedy is, however, continuing as a producer and has credits on The Mandalorian, Grogu and the Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighter.

One of the prime titles on the 2026 movie schedule, The Mandalorian and Grogu marks the first new theatrical Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. The film, directed by Favreau and co-written by Favreau, Filoni and Noah Kloor, is set to open May 22, 2026. That creates a strange balancing act for Lucasfilm. The studio has to protect one of the most recognizable brands in film history while also keeping it from feeling shrink-wrapped. Too much caution, and everything starts to feel like a museum exhibit, and too much chaos could make the mythology feel like an intergalactic junk drawer.

Filoni clearly understands that the answer is not to run from oddball ideas, but to find concepts and projects with real heartbeats that fans will resonate with. That is why The Mandalorian worked so well as a streaming series for folks with a Disney+ subscription. It felt like a dusty adventure with a simple emotional hook. We fans got the chance to follow a hardened warrior protecting a child he was supposed to hand over. Now, Filoni is in a prime position to help shape where those instincts go next.

On that note, Kennedy has described the transition as “seamless” as she has spent years mentoring both of them. She has said in past interviews that she spent a decade encouraging the longtime Star Wars creative to move from animation into live action, while Brennan came out of Industrial Light & Magic and served as Kennedy’s general manager.

So this all makes Dave Filoni’s “crazy is opportunity” comment feel less like a fun red carpet line and more like a glimpse at Lucasfilm’s next chapter. He is no longer just the guy who brought us some of the greatest Star Wars series, like The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, or helped make Grogu work. With that, I'm pumped that he's now one of the people deciding which strange ideas get to become Star Wars.

The Mandalorian and Grogu, the next big-screen chapter in the galaxy far, far away, hits theaters May 22, 2026. Check your local listings for showtimes.

Pedro Pascal has been working in movies and TV since the '90s, but only in the past several years has he truly emerged as one of the biggest stars working in Hollywood. I mean, last year alone, he led three movies along with being on The Last of Us. So, I’ve been curious if he’s looking to step away from his role as the titular character in The Mandalorian franchise anytime soon. Well, on that note, Pascal just recently shared his thoughts on how much longer he might wear that beskar armor.

Pascal reprises his role as bounty hunter Din Djarin in The Mandalorian and Grogu. The upcoming Star Wars movie marks Lucasfilm's first big-screen entry in the franchise since 2019. At the same time, I also have to wonder if the movie signifies the beginning of Pedro Pascal saying goodbye to the role or if he simply sees this as a new chapter. When DiscussingFilm asked Pascal if he’d thought about whether he’s thought about how long he’ll be playing Djarin for. Here’s what he said in a clip shared to X:

While I’d never guess it myself, Pedro Pascal is 51 years old, so it made sense that when the question came up, he talked about how his body’s limitations could eventually impact him playing Mando. However, based on these comments, it certainly seems like the A-lister is here for the long haul and isn’t yet contemplating an end to his Star Wars tenure, which is exciting! Pascal's commitment to the role also speaks volumes, he's seemingly always busy working on another movie or TV show.

Pascal’s comments on playing the role are definitely encouraging to me as a fan, considering I've loved The Mandalorian since it premiered back in 2019. Considering the actor has done three seasons and this movie at this point, a part of me would've thought conversations would now be had about Pascal moving on from Star Wars. Of course, this franchise does have a knack for retaining actors in one way or another. For instance, Mark Hamill cameoed on both Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett within the last few years with help from digital techniques.)

As Pedro Pascal also pointed out, though, Din Djarin's fate will also have to do with whether audiences continue to embrace his character as well as his own interest. The Mandalorian and Grogu had its premiere earlier this week, and the first reactions were divided on it. While some called it “a ton of fun,” “thrilling” and the “ultimate team up” between the titular characters, others called it “action figures mashed together” and “totally inessential.”

We’ll have to see how The Mandalorian and Grogu does at the box office after it hits theaters on May 25 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. I’d also be curious to see if the film inspires another big-screen adventure or if the creatives decide to make Season 4 as was originally intended before the film was made. Regardless, here's hoping Pascal gets to don that costume and chop it up with the artist formerly known as Baby Yoda for as long as he'd like.

It might be hard to believe, but it’s been 10 years since the best Star Wars movie (in my humble opinion), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, came out. In those years, there STILL hasn’t been a cooler character than Donnie Yen’s warrior monk, Chirrut Imwe, in the Star Wars universe.

I mean, yes, you COULD argue (if you want to) that The Mandalorian, which is getting a new movie pretty soon, is a cooler character, but I beg to differ. Chirrut Imwe is just so badass, it makes me want to cry. And, I’m talking Highlander levels of badassness. So, here are just a few reasons why Chirrut Imwe is still the coolest Star Wars character in recent years.

For One Thing, He’s Blind Like Zatoichi And Can Still Kick Everybody’s Ass

Do you like samurai movies? If you answered yes, then you’ve just got to love the blind swordsman, Zatoichi. There have been several different movies and spin-offs based on the character (Including an American version starring Rutger Hauer called Blind Fury), and the concept of a blind swordsman just never gets old.

In that way, how could you not love Chirrut Imwe? While he doesn’t have a sword, he does carry around a Uneti-wood staff and a lightbow, and he uses them with aplomb. Instead of being able to see where the attacks are coming from, he pricks up his ears and listens for them.

This makes him the most memorable character in a line of memorable characters, and it’s no wonder that Donnie Yen plays another blind character in the John Wick series. He’s just too good!

He Also Doesn’t Have The Force, But He Is One With It

This might sound weird, but one thing I hate about Star Wars is the Jedi. I really just hate everything about them (Especially if they have “Skywalker” in their name). This might make you think that I don’t like Star Wars at all, but that couldn’t be further from the truth, since I like everything AROUND the Jedi, and that’s including the force.

Now, the force is cool because you could probably substitute it for any religion. And, what I love about Rogue One (And Andor, you know I love me some Andor) is that it grounds Star Wars. I like this because I don’t actually WANT to see people swinging around lightsabers, or using some form of telekinesis to push stormtroopers over. What I much prefer is the IMPLIED higher power, which we get in Rogue One.

While Chirrut Imwe can’t use the force, he is one with it. He says so himself on many occasions, and that’s just plain cool. In that way, I love the concept of somebody who feels the force, as he has faith, which I think is more compelling than actually seeing the “magic” itself.

Plus, Besides The Darth Vader Moment, He Has The Coolest Scene In The Entire Film

Ask pretty much anybody, and they’ll tell you that the most memorable scene in Rogue One is the incredible Darth Vader scene, and look, I’m not going to argue with those people. Even as somebody who isn’t into anybody with Skywalker in their name, even I have to admit that that’s the coolest scene in the movie. Darth Vader has always been intimidating, but never has he been this scary, and so I won’t take anything from him.

That said, if there’s a second coolest moment in the movie, it’s when Chirrut Imwe walks amongst explosions with complete calmness as he repeatedly utters how he’s one with the force, and that the force is with him. As I just mentioned, the idea of the force being a form of faith comes into full showcase here as he sacrifices himself to get the plans that would ultimately blow up the Death Star.

It’s my favorite moment in all of Star Wars, which ultimately solidifies Chirrut Imwe as the coolest Star Wars character in recent memory.

Star Wars Day may have already passed, but The Force is still strong with the fandom as they prepare for the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu on the 2026 movie calendar. Pedro Pascal reprises his role as Din Djarin, as he and Grogu take their adventures to the big screen. First reactions to the upcoming Star Wars movie are hitting social media, and while there is plenty of positive feedback, I’m actually shocked at some of the criticism it’s getting.

The movie — written and directed by Jon Favreau — is set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, where Djarin and his apprentice are tasked with rescuing Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) in exchange for information on a target. CinemaBlend’s Corey Chichizola caught an early screening, writing on X that the new flick is a “blast.”

He was far from the only moviegoer to comment on that adorable little scene-stealer. Critic Courtney Howard echoed those thoughts as she expressed surprise at how much fun she had. Her post reads:

Simon Thompson is also “pleasantly and genuinely shocked” by how good the Star Wars movie is, writing:

Erik Davis says the franchise doesn’t worry too much about “canon homework” in this one, cutting loose for an enjoyable, pulpy flick made for a Saturday matinee. The critic says:

Other critics remained complimentary while still getting real about some of their hangups with the sci-fi film, including Perri Nemiroff, who says she wasn’t sold on Jeremy Allen White’s Rotta the Hutt:

Wendy Lee Szany also fell prey to the charms of Grogu, but not so much that she could overlook issues of pacing and runtime. In the critic’s words:

Then, there are the critics who were not at all hyped about The Mandalorian and Grogu, with Jonathan Sim calling it “one of the weakest Star Wars movies.” He continues:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo agrees it just felt like a longer version of what we’ve gotten from the series (available to stream with a Disney+ subscription), and not in a good way. His post reads:

Bill Bria of SlashFilm goes so far as to say he despised the Pedro Pascal-led movie, calling it “terminally dull.” The critic’s first reaction reads:

It does seem like The Mandalorian and Grogu has some redeeming qualities, with Grogu being a consistent bright spot amongst early audiences. Only time will tell if this will be a franchise win or a failure for Disney at the box office. The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on Friday, May 22.

We now have official evidence that Luke Skywalker knew of Cal Kestis thanks to the release of a recent Star Wars book. Kestis, the protagonist of the Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor games, was directly mentioned by the hero, making me hopeful we'll eventually see Cameron Monaghan's character in live-action.

Kotaku was the first to spot Kestis' name in a re-release of the book, Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi: The Chronicles of Luke Skywalker, which has added some passages since its initial release in 2019. Here's what it said about Luke's knowledge of Cal, and the implications it may have for upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

What Luke Skywalker Says About Cal Kestis

Luke's mention of Cal comes amidst a journal entry tied to Order 66. As diehard Star Wars fans know, Order 66 did not eliminate the Jedi entirely, but left them scattered and in hiding in the decades that followed. Though brief, Kestis is mentioned in passing as one of the few who escaped the attack:

What's notable about this passage, brief as it may be, is that Luke knew that Kestis was alive, and that Jaro Tapal was not. Did he find some sort of extensive records from the Empire detailing the status of each registered Jedi at the time of Order 66? Possibly, but I'd think it would be easier, and even possible, that he heard about this from Kestis himself.

Cal Kestis was last seen in Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. He'd successfully found a hidden planet named Tanalorr, only accessible through specific star paths unknown to the Empire. Here, Cal had a haven to restore the Jedi order in solitude, but struggled with his growing attachment to the Dark Side. A third game to presumably complete Cal's story is expected to be released, but we don't know when to expect it.

Could Cal Kestis Appear In A Live-Action Star Wars Project?

I've wanted to see Cal Kestis in live-action for quite a while, especially if there's a chance of him rubbing shoulders with Luke Skywalker. Unfortunately, father time is a bit of a component when it comes to this, as Kestis is canonically around a decade older than Skywalker.

Cameron Monaghan could play Cal Kestis, but we'd obviously need a younger actor to play Luke Skywalker in the era directly after Return of the Jedi. Otherwise, the math just doesn't work out, and while they could get an older actor to play Kestis, I genuinely think they should stick with the acclaimed Gotham actor who voices and was the inspiration for the character's model.

Another major hurdle to showing this potential meeting in action would be casting a young Luke Skywalker. While Mark Hamill has signed off on Disney eventually replacing him as Luke, the latest appearances by the star have come via deep fake and AI recreations of Hamill playing his younger self. It's fine for quick appearances, but I can't imagine an AI Luke taking a big role in a series or movie.

Cal Kestis is one of Star Wars' most interesting characters, forced into hiding while still a Padawan. He continued to hone his skills as a Jedi without the training of a master, which has led to his unique relationship with the Force. Kestis has used both Light and Dark side powers, and doesn't practice quite as much self-control of his emotions. I'd love to see how this would impact the Jedi order, especially if he'd been living in seclusion and training others in the Force since then.

We'll see if this recent mention gets us any closer to Cal Kestis in live-action, and continue to wait on whatever future Star Wars projects come down the road. I'd love to see Cal, but it seems like what's on tap is also pretty great as well.

One of my favorite things about the Disney Parks is seeing all the characters walking around and fully committed. It takes me back to being a kid at Disneyland and how excited I would be to meet a character I loved and get them to sign my autograph book. Now that I’m an adult, I particularly love seeing what comes from the villains of the Disney universe. For example, something hilarious just happened at Galaxy’s Edge involving a Stormtrooper.

While one guest was at Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, they captured what happened when someone blew a kiss in the direction of one patrolling Stormtrooper. Check out how he responded:

Whoa, that’s savage! The Stormtrooper “caught” the guest’s kiss and gestured like he threw it on the ground and stepped on it like it was a piece of half-chewed gum. The trooper did say, “Thank you for supporting the First Order,” as he walked away, but the rejection was way harsh! Check out how other Disney fans are reacting on Instagram:

• “He’s a married storm trooper…lol” - @inhaledyogagirl
• “The same thing happened to me 😭😂” - @yeahveronica
• “The eye contact while crushing the kiss is crazy 🤣🤣” - @candiedbanana
• “Omg 😂😂 That's diabolical. I love it.” @coneymoo

When you work for the Dark Side, one can expect that kind of behavior, I guess. Of course, it’s all for fun, and in the spirit of fans feeling immersed in the world of a galaxy far, far away. Plus, if a Stormtrooper was sweet to you, you’d question what was going on. Props to Walt Disney World’s incredible team of characters. As you might assume, some expected shots were also fired in the comments about Stormtroopers, too. Take a look:

• “I’m surprised he caught it” -@alenas_crafting_life
• “You notice how the trooper didn't shoot it though.. they knew they'd miss” - @rob0615

If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s Star Wars fans making fun of Stormtrooper aim, am I right? I wonder if more guests are going to be blowing kisses at these soldiers now that this went viral.

Galaxy’s Edge has been going through some changes lately, with the decision to include characters from the original trilogy, even though the land was initially crafted to be set during the sequel trilogy timeline. If you’re going anytime soon, of course, you can ride Rise of Resistance, but a new version of Smuggler’s Run tying into The Mandalorian & Grogu is also among the upcoming Disney World attractions. It's set to land at both Orlando and Anaheim’s Galaxy’s Edge on May 22.

The Mandalorian & Grogu movie is the latest of upcoming Star Wars movies as well, with its release date being on the same day as the Smuggler’s Run upgrade.

However, for now, I'll be thinking about this brutal interaction one guest had with a Stormtrooper.

Star Wars Day has come and gone, and as we look ahead at what's to come from the franchise on the 2026 Movie schedule and beyond, one thing is clear. The sequel trilogy didn't get the same love as other films and shows that day, unless you're me, who made a point to fire it up and rewatch with a Disney+ subscription.

I loved two-thirds of the sequel trilogy back when it came out, and revisiting it years later, I agree with the opinion that it should never be retconned. I will say, however, that one thing has aged really poorly, and the millennial-coded attempts at humor have aged poorly and feel super dated.

There's A Lot Of Millennial-Coded Dialogue That's Aged Terribly

Say what you will about the Emperor's return, the fact that Disney used Fortnite to add a key story detail of the movie, or Rian Johnson's vision, nothing in this trilogy is as bad as the millennial-era attempts at humor. For those who don't know what that means, it'd be all the moments from Episodes 7-9 in which it feels like Star Wars is trying to be The Office.

I'm a millennial, and listen, that style of humor wouldn't be iconic if shows like The Office didn't connect with audiences. That said, there's a time and a place, and when those moments happen in Star Wars, it doesn't feel like I'm in a "Galaxy Far Far Away." It feels like I'm in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and I want to crawl out of my skin watching moments like this:

To be clear, I cringed at that scene when I first watched it back in 2017. It felt dated then, and while I still love Star Wars: The Last Jedi, man, it's really painful to watch now.

It's not the only instance, either. There's the "who talks first" part between Poe and Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens, and the general bullying of C-3PO all throughout The Rise of Skywalker. Then again, 3PO gets roasted across all nine movies, so I can't act like that was so off-brand. It's more like the trend of slowly looking at him like he's some kind of idiot, again, a trope of millennial humor that has aged poorly. There's no punchline; it's just mean.

Hopefully Future Star Wars Movies Are More Timeless

The first thing I'll say is that Star Wars, as a franchise, is not known for its humor. I also find it painfully unfunny when Jar Jar steps in feces and says, "Ooh, icky, icky poo."

Even so, that's more of a timeless physical gag. It's not the most mature joke, but there's never an era in which stepping in animal poop won't appeal to at least someone sitting in a theater. Even if that person is a seven-year-old child, they're gonna laugh every time.

The biggest issue with the millennial humor is that it is very much of the era, and as such, heavily dates Star Wars Episodes VII-IX in a way the other Skywalker Movies weren't. I liken it to watching Saturday Night Live in the mid-70s, and seeing all the surrealist humor. I get that it's supposed to be funny, but it just doesn't appeal to people these days.

As such, I wasn't surprised the films weren't on the top ten list of most-streamed Star Wars stuff on May 4th, and I won't be surprised if that continues to be the case going forward. There are things to like about the movies, but the dialogue and dated humor are pretty hard to get past.

Star Wars is one of the biggest movie franchises of all time, one that's constantly expanding both on the big screen and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent decades watching the Star Wars movies in order are hyped to see the franchise return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu, and there are rumors about other upcoming Star Wars movies. The latest claims John Boyega might return as Finn, and I know exactly what I'd like to see from the former Stormtrooper.

Boyega played Finn throughout all three movies in the sequel trilogy, wrapping up with The Rise of Skywalker's ending. A report from scooper Daniel Richtman (via SHH) claims that the 34-year-old actor is in talks to reprise his role in a future project. And I personally want to Finn him finally get Jedi training in Daisy Ridley's developing Rey movie.

When Finn debuted in The Force Awakens, it was heavily implied that he was Force sensitive. After all, he wielded a lightsaber and even had a short duel with Kylo Ren on Starkiller Base. And despite having the ability to sense Rey in The Rise of Skywalker, he never became a Jedi. But if Daisy Ridley's hero is starting her own Jedi Order in her movie, then it would be the perfect time to finally give Finn proper training.

Obviously, we should take this rumor with a grain of salt for the time being; there are tons of reports swirling around the Star Wars franchise. In fact, chatter about John Boyega's possible return comes shortly after a rumor that Lucasfilm was going to retcon the sequel trilogy of existence. I personally don't buy that particular rumor, and think it's far more likely that Finn and Rey could reunite on the big screen. But we'll just have to see how things ultimately shake out.

Aside from wanting to see Finn finally become a Jedi in the Star Wars universe, John Boyega's rumored return to the franchise might also be significant, given the years he's had away. The Woman King actor was the subject to some racist backlash after his debut as Finn, which was no doubt difficult considering just how popular the franchise is. So coming back and finally having the payoff with his character's Force sensitivity seems like a fitting way to put respect on Boyega's name.

Star Wars will finally return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that the rumors about John Boyega's return as Finn actually come to fruition.

There are major film franchises, and then there's the Star Wars movies. Generations of moviegoers have grown up on the galaxy far, far away, which is streaming in its entirety with a Disney+ subscription. While fans are looking forward to upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, there's an absolutely insane rumor going around that Lucasfilm is going to retcon the sequel trilogy out of existence. I'm sorry, but I'm just not buying it.

George Lucas' beloved IP has been noticeably missing from theaters since The Rise of Skywalker's ending completed the Skywalker Saga as a whole. The sequel movies had some big shoes to fill, and the titles had a mixed reception from the fandom. This is seemingly the reason behind the rumor that's floating around online about the sequel being ignored completely in order to bring new stories to the big screen. But this rumor, which was reported by ComicBook and more outlets, feels totally impossible to me.

While Star Wars' sequel trilogy got a mixed reaction from fans, the idea of the studio ignoring them makes no sense for a number of reasons. On top of the narrative holes this would leave in the Skywalker Saga, the sequels also inspired Galaxy's Edge in Disney parks. Characters like Rey roam the pars, and Poe and Finn are featured in rides like Rise of the Resistance. If those movies were retconned, it would be a huge waste of resources in the parks, which make a ton of money and help buoy fan investment.

Then there's future projects like Daisy Ridley's Rey movie. That project is in active development, and is expected to follow-up on the Jedi after The Rise of Skywalker. Add in the countless pieces of merch that folks have from the sequel trilogy, and it seems crazy that Star Wars would suddenly drop all the work that went into those three films.

As previously mentioned, the sequels had a mixed reception from fans. The Last Jedi subverted fan expectations set up from The Force Awakens. Then there's The Rise of Skywalker, which got some hate for bringing back Palpatine. But the movies did make a ton of money, and made fans out of the younger generations who had never seen Star Wars on the big screen. Previous movies like The Phantom Menace got a ton of crap when they were released, but that doesn't mean that the studio just cut it out of the timeline. And I think the idea of Lucasfilm pulling that move just a few years after The Rise of Skywalker hit theaters is a bit ridiculous.

Star Wars will return to the big screen when The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see if Star Wars issues a response the rumors about the sequels.

While going to Walt Disney World on a weekday rather than a weekend is usually a safe bet for a smoother time in the parks, that was absolutely not the case at Hollywood Studios on Monday when the Star Wars fans came in droves for May the 4th. As guests went to Galaxy’s Edge on the pop culture holiday, many suggested the space was actually at capacity.

I’ve never been more inspired to skip a Disney day. Just take a look at this guest’s photo of the view:

The force is strong… perhaps too strong. Galaxy’s Edge is a spacious section of Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, but everyone looks like they are all squished together with nowhere to move. What’s especially wild about this sight is apparently there was no special programming at Galaxy’s Edge.

Star Wars fans just all seemed to want to gather on the franchise’s holiday. One guest called it “unbearable” while sharing this video:

It’s tradition for Star Wars fans to gather at Galaxy’s Edge and raise up their lightsabers together, but it perhaps got a little too popular this year. In one conversation happening over on Facebook, an alleged cast member said that they would absolutely close off the land’s entrance to more guests should they reach capacity.

While we don’t know if that happened for sure, it certainly seems like that may have happened on Monday. Here’s another account of Star Wars Day at WDW’s Galaxy Edge:

This huge Hollywood Studios turnout comes as there’s been some criticism around some recent changes to this section of the parks lately. For one, Disney decided to abandon the land being specific to one time period in Star Wars history. Rather than it being set during the sequel trilogy, guests can now see the likes of Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker walking around. When they made their debut last month, fans had a lot of thoughts about Han Solo specifically. Another viral moment that happened about Galaxy’s Edge is around the park’s introduction to “Pink Milk”.

Changes aside, the big showout for Star Wars Day shows that the fandom remains active and excited to spend the holiday at Hollywood Studios where it really can feel like you’re living in a Star Wars movie. It’s too bad that the new version of Smuggler’s Run inspired by The Mandalorian & Grogu doesn’t come out until May 22.

We’ve been thinking about how Disney perhaps missed an opportunity by not tying May the 4th to ticket sales for the latest of upcoming Star Wars movies since The Mandalorian & Grogu comes to theaters on May 22, but Hollywood Studios certainly got an increase in business! We’ll have to see how Star Wars fans show out for the first big-screen Star Wars movie since 2019 when it hits theaters then.

At Walt Disney World Resort, choosing between the Light Side and the Dark Side just got a little sweeter. For this year’s May the 4th celebrations, Disney has introduced a playful dessert with a hidden twist: the “Your Chosen Path” cupcake, a cookies-and-cream creation that comes with a secret lightsaber color baked inside. Available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios throughout May, the cupcake turns a classic theme park treat into a miniature personality test for Star Wars franchise fans. If you’ve ever wondered what side of the force you’re on, here’s a sweet treat to decide your fate.

In a video from the Instagram account MindofaGeek, a park visitor chats with a Disney cast member about how the cupcakes are made and what to expect. These treats come with marshmallow buttercream, chocolate candy “rocks,” and a cool white chocolate X-Wing on top. But the real surprise happens when you take that first bite and see the hidden color inside. It’s a fun reference to the Kyber crystals that power lightsabers in the Star Wars universe, as the cast member explains:

The pastry's randomness is what makes it so fun. Most guests will probably stick to familiar Jedi-versus-Sith flavors, but a few lucky ones might find some rarer options. You don’t see purple, which is famously connected to Mace Windu, or white, tied to Ahsoka Tano, very often. That makes the dessert feel more like a collectible than just a regular snack.

But don’t go walking up to your local Disney park employee expecting to get a heads up on which cupcake is which. The cast member in the video admits that even she doesn’t know what each cupcake will reveal in advance. She continued:

The uncertainty taps into the same instinct that fuels trading cards or blind-box collectibles, where the thrill comes as much from the reveal as the item itself. Only here, you eat the surprise inside.

The cupcake is just one piece of a larger May the 4th rollout across Disney parks. According to Disney Parks blog, this year’s lineup includes returning favorites like the Wookiee Cookie and new additions such as the Pink Milk beverage and themed novelty items, including lightsaber swizzle sticks and collectible drink containers. The Disney fan account @DisneyforFoodies shared a wonderful breakdown of everything you can expect to see below.

For longtime Star Wars fans, that question has always been part of the fun. Are you drawn to the discipline of the Jedi, or the raw power of the Sith? Do you fall somewhere in between? Disney’s latest tasty offering gives fans a chance to answer that question and satisfy their sweet tooth, finally.

The timing doesn’t hurt, either. May is shaping up to be a busy stretch for Star Wars fans, with new park offerings arriving just ahead of the franchise’s next theatrical release. The upcoming Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu hit the 2026 movie calendar on May 22, 2026. But if you’re already itching for a trip back to that galaxy far, far away, all the movies in order, live-action shows, and animated series are all streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

Owala water bottles are everywhere these days, especially in the classroom. My daughter and her friends like to flaunt their bottles at school and lunch, showing off the various colors and designs of these handy containers. As such, I'm really compelled to pick up these custom Star Wars color variants, so she can stay hydrated with a subtle sense of swag.

Whether you have a child who can't wait for The Mandalorian and Grogu's release date on the 2026 Movie schedule, or you're a diehard fan who watches Star Wars movies in order every so often, you don't want to miss out on these 24-ounce Star Wars Owala bottles. Take a look at the collection below, which features color variants from left to right meant to represent Darth Vader, Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Stormtroopers, and Grogu:

That's a sick color lineup, and there are many other futuristic features for those not familiar with Owala. The biggest hook for me as a parent was the built-in freesip spout, which allows anyone to alternate between a sip of water or taking a giant gulp. The biggest pain of water bottles is maintaining those straws, and losing them severely limits the functionality of other high-end bottles. It's nice to see a brand that figured that problem out, so I can confidently chug green milk through it when I'm watching my favorite Star Wars movie.

Another perk of buying the Star Wars collection specifically is that each one comes with a couple of stickers for you or your little one to adorn the bottle with. While I prefer the clean and sleek design, my kid loves to litter her bottle with every sticker she can find. Having an official Star Wars sticker on the bottle will help drive home what it represents for younger kids and make it all the more impressive.

I try not to push Star Wars on my kids too much, so you won't find me dropping the big bucks on the Mos Eisley LEGO set. That said, this is the perfect case: it's both functional and something she can use every day. It may sound wild, but it gives me the same vibe as when my parents had their themed lunch boxes back in the day, though way more subtle.

Order a Star Wars-themed Owala and sip on it while watching all the old movies and shows on streaming with a Disney+ subscription. I'd recommend checking out the newest series, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, which is getting rave reviews across the board from fans and critics alike.

Star Wars Day is a special day for fans of the franchise, and it's particularly special whenever the actual stars of the series come out of hyperspace for a little nostalgia. This year, Samuel L. Jackson and Daisy Ridley both took time off their busy 2026 movie calendars, marking May the 4th with social media posts that gave fans a nice mix of behind-the-scenes memories and great pictures with the creator himself, George Lucas and more.

Jackson, who played Jedi Master Mace Windu in the prequel trilogy, shared a carousel on Instagram, which you can see below, with the message, “MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU,” followed by a fist emoji, several exclamation points and a purple heart. Naturally, that purple heart feels on brand for the actor who famously wielded one of the most recognizable lightsabers in the entire franchise.

The post included several images tied to Jackson’s time in the Star Wars universe, including behind-the-scenes shots with George Lucas, a Star Wars Insider cover featuring Mace Windu, and a great image of Jackson in costume alongside Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker. There was also a shot of Jackson holding Mace’s purple lightsaber, which is basically red meat for anyone still hoping the Jedi somehow survived his fall in Revenge of the Sith.

One commenter wrote that Mace Windu was “the only Jedi to beat Sidious in a duel,” while another argued that because fans “never saw a body,” Mace could still show back up someday. Walton Goggins also popped into the comments with a simple, “always YOU,” which somehow feels correct for a post celebrating one of the coolest Jedi to ever glare across the council chamber.

Jackson has long been open about wanting Mace Windu back in Star Wars, and the fandom has never fully let go of the idea. That is partly because Star Wars has made an entire art form out of unlikely returns, but also because Mace’s exit left just enough smoke in the air for fans to keep squinting into it. The man took Force lightning, lost a hand and went flying out a window, yes. But this is also a franchise where Darth Maul got cut in half and still found time to become a crime lord and is starring in his very own new Star Wars animated series, Star Wars: Maul–Shadow Lord, which fans and critics have been loving.

Ridley, meanwhile, used her Instagram Story to share a string of Star Wars Day posts, including a simple “Happy Star Wars Day to all who celebrate!!!” message over a video from a recording session. She also shared a photo of her behind the camera, check it out below:

One of the more interesting posts from Ridley came later, when she shared an Empire Magazine graphic ranking Rey among “The Greatest Star Wars Characters of All Time.” The image included Rey’s “I am all the Jedi” line from The Rise of Skywalker, which feels like a fitting Star Wars Day nod for a character fans have debated, defended and picked apart since The Force Awakens.

My personal favorite, though, was a photo of the Last Jedi cast smiling together at a black-tie event. It’s a small thing, but it’s a great behind-the-scenes snapshot and exactly the kind of warm franchise memory that works so well on May the Fourth. She also shared a fun image of John Williams' orchestra at work:

The timing is hard to miss, too. Ridley’s Rey is expected to return in a future Star Wars film, while Jackson’s Mace Windu remains one of those characters fans keep trying to will back into canon through sheer collective stubbornness.

For now, though, their May the Fourth posts did exactly what good Star Wars Day posts should do. They opened the blast doors on a few old memories and reminded fans why these characters still matter.

Posts like Jackson’s and Ridley’s land ahead of the franchise’s next theatrical release. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters May 22, 2026. But if you’re already itching for another trip back to that galaxy far, far away, all the Star Wars movies in order, along with the live-action shows and animated series, are streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

There are popular film franchises, and then there's the Star Wars movies. Generations grew up on the galaxy far, far away (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription), including the sequel trilogy. A lot changed throughout those three titles, including the role of Andy Serkis' Supreme Leader Snoke. And the actor/director recently got real about the "massive challenge" of bringing that character to life on the big screen.

When The Force Awakens hit theaters in 2015, it looked like Snoke was being set up as the trilogy's larger villain. That's why it was a huge twist when he was killed off in The Last Jedi, eventually making way for Palpatine's return in The Rise of Skywalker. During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Serkis was asked if he expected Snoke to be the "big Bad" of the entire sequel trilogy. He responded with:

That certainly sounds like a difficult way to craft a character. While Snoke appeared briefly as a hologram in The Force Awakens, it sounds like Andy Serkis found it difficult to craft his version of the villain. This is mostly because the writing was ongoing as he filmed his role in the two Star Wars sequel films. So he didn't have all the information and context that might have helped him bring the character to life. Although his discomfort didn't read to fans like me who saw the movies in theaters.

Andy Serkis previously admitted to being "gutted" about Snoke's death in The Last Jedi, especially following the awesome scenes he got to do in Rian Johnson's subversive sequel. In his same podcast appearance, the Lord of the Rings icon shared his reaction to reading the script for the first time. In his words:

Talk about emotional whiplash. Andy Serkis got some great material as Snoke in The Last Jedi... until the character was unceremoniously killed off. There were countless questions about Snoke's backstory, many of which were never answered. Although The Rise of Skywalker revealed he was actually brought to life with clone technology courtesy of Palpatine. And not even the actor could have predicted how things turned out.

Despite all of this, Serkis spoke positively about working on the set of The Last Jedi, particularly in that epic Throne Room scene with Kylo Ren and Rey. In his words:

Snoke might have been shockingly killed off, but it was yet another example of how The Last Jedi subverted fan expectations after The Force Awakens. There were countless theories about Serkis' character, most of which went down the drain. That's show business, I guess.

The Star Wars franchise will return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. For now, Andy Serki's tenure as Snoke can be streamed on Disney+.

As we approach the first weekend of 2026 movie releases in May, we’re officially in summer movie season now! Loking ahead to what big movies are on the horizon, there’s a lot of talk about how The Mandalorian And Grogu – the first Star Wars theatrical release in over six years – is going to do at the box office. The current narrative is suggesting it could be one of the season’s disappointments, but hold on… because there’s something kind of crazy happening when you look at it next to the recent performance of the Michael Jackson biopic.

How The Mandalorian & Grogu’s Box Office Tracking Is Looking Right Now

We’re about three weeks away from The Mandalorian And Grogu hitting theaters, and Box Office Pro is projecting that the Star Wars flick may do $100 million domestically in its first weekend while Box Office Theory is being more conservative with a $71 million prediction. Should either of those numbers happen, the movie would be one of the biggest opening weekends of 2026 very close to the other heavy hitters of the year, Michael, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary. Yet somehow, it’s being talked about like Lucasfilm should be hanging their head low.

This has to do with the fact that The Mandalorian And Grogu is tracking closest to Solo: A Star Wars Story’s numbers – which has the record for the lowest grossing live-action Star Wars movie that’s gone to theaters. The movie opened in May 2018 and made $84 million domestically in its opening weekend before finishing at an underwhelming $393 million worldwide haul. It was a glaring moment for Star Wars in recent history because all other titles since The Force Awakens made at least $1 billion.

While I get where everyone’s heads are at, I think it’s worth noting that this is also the first Star Wars movie since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and since Star Wars went to streaming. For the past six and a half years Star Wars fans have been encouraged to turn on their TVs with a Disney+ subscription to see the universe’s latest installments, so maybe a soft, yet healthy launch back to big screens is actually worth cheering. What will make or break this one is if fans embrace it or not, and how it does the weeks after its debut.

Let’s Talk About How It Stacks Up To Michael’s Record-Breaking Numbers

That brings me to Michael. A party was made out of the biopic last weekend when it opened at $97 million domestically because it broke records for a music biopic. But, if we negate the genre or franchise comparisons of it all – Michael was made on a large budget that’s allegedly around $200 million. The Mandalorian And Grogu has reportedly a very similar production budget (likely cheaper than Michael) of $166 million, and it’s a disappointment if it does similar to Michael opening weekend?

Obviously, it’d be better if every Star Wars movie crossed $1 billion like it was speeding at lightspeed into a galaxy far, far away, but Mandalorian And Grogu’s tracking right now is literally on par with one of the big wins of 2026.

The other day, when my family and I went to see The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (which is STILL killing it at the box office, by the way), there was this giant display for The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Upon seeing it, my wife said, “We have GOT to see that,” but all I could think was: I have no desire whatsoever to watch that. How can that be? If you had told me five or six years ago that there was going to be a movie based on The Mandalorian, it would have been my most anticipated film of the year!

Now? I doubt I’m even going to see it. So, I wondered why. Well, this is what I came up with.

I Seriously Haven't Thought About The Mandalorian Since 2023 When The Last Season Came Out

One thing that really bugs me - and I’m sure I’m not alone - is huge gaps in-between seasons. Back in my day (listen to me), there would be a new season every year for shows that I liked, and I looked forward to it. Strangely enough, in the age of streaming, lengthy gaps between seasons are pretty common. For instance, I was never really into Stranger Things, but I remember how long it took to get to that show’s series finale.

People made all kinds of jokes about how old the kids had gotten since the show had first debuted, and a lot of that was because of the long gaps in-between seasons. I think this may be the same problem with The Mandalorian, as I honestly haven't thought about the show since the last season came out, and that was all the way back in 2023!

That's an insane gap of time to expect people to stay invested, but that's what Disney's asking us to do. They expect us to still care about a show that hasn't had a new episode IN YEARS. And, like, what? Are they kidding?

Perhaps they should have made a fourth season rather than a movie, but do you know what? Maybe they shouldn't have, because now that I think about it…

I Didn't Even Finish Season 3

As I mentioned at the start, I used to be DEEPLY into The Mandalorian. In fact, I had Disney+ on day 1 back in 2019, and watched the very first episode on the day it came out. Being somebody who's always appreciated Star Wars, but was never really into all that Jedi stuff, The Mandalorian was a breath of fresh air, and a direction I could jive with. In a lot of ways, it kind of saved Star Wars for me since I wasn't the biggest fan of the sequels (even though in a lot of ways, I think they were better than the prequels).

However, Season 2 wasn't as enjoyable for me as Season 1. For one thing, it had a whole episode titled “The Jedi” (Uh, thanks, but no thanks) which introduced the live-action version of Ahsoka, and then, it also featured a deepfake version of Luke Skywalker at the end of the season. So, by that point, I was kind of checked out of the series. Like, seriously. Why did they have to include the Jedi in my bounty hunter show?

By Season 3, I was falling asleep. I don't quite know what episode I stopped on, but it was pretty early. I remember that much. The show just didn't register for me anymore, and I genuinely couldn't care less about any of these characters.

So, to think that I would want to pay up to $100 just to take my family out to see a movie based on a show that I couldn't even finish on TV? Well, that's a pretty big ask, Disney.

I Also Truly Think Andor Spoiled Me Since I Don't Like The More Kid-Friendly Version Of Star Wars Anymore

Before Andor, I was a moderate Star Wars fan, at best. But, after Andor? Well…I'm still a moderate Star Wars fan. But boy howdy, did I ever love Andor. In fact, the serious tone of that series is what convinced me that the world of Star Wars could be so much more than something that was mainly meant for children.

Actually, I knew that with Rogue One, too, as that's my favorite Star Wars movie. Andor cemented that fact for me. However, that’s not to say that I didn’t like certain kiddy aspects about Star Wars, as I’ve always found Grogu cute. I mean, I’m not a monster.

That said, I don't really find Grogu all that cute anymore. In fact, Grogu kind of represents what I dislike the most about Star Wars these days, which is its childish nature and the rampant merchandising. I don't want this in my Star Wars anymore.

I want the gravitas and seriousness of an Andor from now on. I don't want shootouts in tight corridors. Nor do I want Grogu shutting his eyes, raising his hands, and levitating some massive ship. What I want is challenging monologues, boardroom discussions, and complex protagonists who make questionable decisions.

Also, I'm Used To Star Wars Being On Television Now

Here's probably the biggest issue. Disney has TRAINED me to associate Star Wars with a small screen. How small, you ask? So small that I've watched Star Wars on my cell phone at the gym! In fact, I've watched a few episodes of The Mandalorian on my phone. So, the prospect of seeing it on a big screen doesn't excite me in the slightest.

In a lot of ways, this isn't only a Star Wars issue. I feel this way about Marvel, too. Ever since WandaVision debuted, the movies just don't feel like an event anymore, which is a huge problem.

There's also the issue that I feel like I need a reason to even keep my Disney+ subscription these days, and that reason is movies coming to the platform only months after release. Again, I go back to Marvel. Though I did see the latest Fantastic Four movie in theaters (it’s because I love all of the Fantastic Four movies), the last Marvel flick I saw before that in theaters was 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine. And, it’s just because I feel I can wait to watch Marvel movies at home now, as Marvel/Disney has conditioned me to do that.

The same goes for Star Wars. I honestly have no desire to see The Mandalorian & Grogu in theaters, which sucks, since the trailer looks kind of fun. That said, it’s not fun enough for me to leave my house to go see it. Oh, well.

What do you think? Will you be seeing The Mandalorian & Grogu in theaters coming to the 2026 movie schedule on May 22nd? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

It feels like a Jedi mind trick to think about it, but The Mandalorian was actually one of the first new TV shows you could watch with a Disney+ subscription when the platform was launched in 2019. Since then, we’ve seen all sorts of other original shows from a galaxy far, far away, with more being announced all the time. So, why is The Mandalorian moving to the big screen for its next adventure?

Earlier this month, CinemaBlend and a handful of other press outlets had the chance to learn more about The Mandalorian & Grogu movie from director Jon Favreau on what’s left of the Los Angeles sets after seeing the first 18 minutes of the movie. Here’s what the filmmaker said when asked about why he decided to make the next installment of The Mandalorian into a movie rather than going with Season 4, which was well underway before the pivot was announced:

The Mandalorian & Grogu now serves as the first theatrical Star Wars movie since Rise of Skywalker back in 2019. Favreau communicated his interest in recapturing “the feeling” he had when he first saw Star Wars back in 1977. And, there are some things that the team on the TV show just couldn’t achieve at the pace of a TV show, that he was excited about exploring with an IMAX release. As he also shared:

Another inspiration? There’s now a whole new generation of kids who literally weren’t old enough to watch a Star Wars movie in theaters yet! The Mandalorian & Grogu will be their first experience, and Jon Favreau wants to make that special. He also said this:

The Mandalorian & Grogu production designer was also on hand at the Los Angeles sets that day to tell us that making a movie rather than a TV show allowed the team to move into “massive stages” they couldn’t before. Since the series moves at a faster pace, they wouldn’t have time to create the kind of sets they did on this feature, which he said sometimes took two to three months.

So, in short, Jon Favreau wanted to make a large-scale Star Wars movie with his established and beloved characters from The Mandalorian. And, can you blame him? We’re talking about the guy who literally helped start the MCU by helming Iron Man in 2008. We’re so curious how The Mandalorian & Grogu will stack up to the TV show and build on the universe when it comes out on May 22.

Shortly upon its release, Girls joined the ranks of HBO shows that got the world talking. The movie helped to make a star of out Adam Driver, and folks with a HBO Max subscription have been regularly re-watching the series since it wrapped back in 2017. Creator Lena Dunham has recently gone viral thanks to an excerpt from her book which detailed tension she had with Driver on the series. And now an interview Daisy Ridley did about her time working on the 42 year-old actor has resurfaced as a result of the discourse.

Dunham recently celebrated the release of her new memoir Famesick, which includes her experience filming Girls across six seasons. In addition to being surprised at how audiences responded to Adam Driver's character, she also wrote about some conflict she had with him on set, including an incident where he punched a wall and threw a chair. That quickly went viral, leading an old interview with Star Wars' Daisy Ridley to resurface.

Lena Dunham's Memoir Included Some Conflict With Adam Driver

Despite being the creative force between one of the best HBO shows to stream, Lena Dunham has been somewhat of a controversial figure. So it should come to no surprise that the parts of Famesick where she writes about having conflict with Adam Driver quickly went viral. In a follow-up interview with People about the book, she clarified her intention in including those stories, saying:

Indeed, Lena Dunham was catapulted into fame as a result of Girls, where she was the star, writer, director, creator, and showrunner. And her book Famesick spoke about the challenges of being the boss at age at just 25 years-old, with her professional relationship with Driver being one of its many challenges. For his part, the House of Gucci actor hasn't responded to the story going viral.

What Daisy Ridley Previously Said About Driver

Driver is an A-list actor, who catapulted into superstardom after debuting as Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription). Folks who spent years watching the Star Wars movies in order know that he had a ton of scenes with Daisy Ridley, and in a resurfaced interview opposite Driver for V Magazine (via Tumblr), she gushed about their working relationship. In her words:

It sounds like they had great chemistry immediately, standing in opposition to Ridley's discomfort with meeting people. Adam Driver echoed her comments, as well as his own struggles with small talk. Overall this resurfaced interview is juxtaposed to what Lena Dunham wrote about her time opposite Driver on Girls.

Despite Adam Driver's Ben Solo movie being scrapped, there are still fans hoping he reunites with Daisy Ridley on her developing Rey movie. Additionally, only time will tell if he ends up responding to the claims made about him in Famesick.

Lena Dunham's book is out now, and Adam Driver is attached to a number of upcoming projects on the 2026 movie release list and beyond.

There are major film franchises and then there's Star Wars. Generations grew up on the galaxy far, far away, which continues to expand with both movies and live-action TV shows that are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Those who have watched the Star Wars movies in order know that plenty of moments have gone viral over the years, including Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron telling everyone that "somehow Palpatine has returned" in The Rise of Skywalker. And now the actor has shared the original of that line, which has been turned into countless memes over the years.

Palpatine's return in The Rise of Skywalker resulted in some eye rolls, as he somehow became the Big Bad of the entire Skywalker Saga despite being absent for the first two entires in the sequel trilogy. During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Isaac revealed how that infamous line of dialogue came together, saying:

There you have it. It turns out that line about Palpatine was a last-minute addition to The Rise of Skywalker that came together in reshoots. And while Oscar Isaac couldn't have predicted it going so viral, it sounds like he was using his real-life sense of exasperation to bring Poe's reaction to life. After re-watching the scene ahead of writing this story, I have to tip my hat to the actor for convincingly delivering the cringeworthy dialogue.

Despite its criticism, The Rise of Skywalker performed well at the box office. And even though things like Palpatine angered fans, there were some great moments in the blockbuster. And it should be fascinating to see how upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows continue with the narrative, especially in Daisy Ridley's developing Rey movie.

Star Wars took a few years away from theaters, but it'll return when The Mandalorian and Grogu is released May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll have to wait and see if Oscar Isaac ever returns as Poe Dameron.

Tickets for The Mandalorian and Grogu went on sale this week, and normally this would be a cause for celebration, but I really feel like their should have been more of a tie in between Star Wars Day on May the 4th and the upcoming 2026 movie release. Let’s talk it out.

So, tickets went on sale for the first Star Wars big screen venture we’ve gotten since The Rise Of Skywalker came out seven years ago. We’ve been through a bunch of announced and later cut movies, not the least of which was the project GOT creators Benioff and Weiss quit, but also the scrapped project Steven Soderbergh has recently been open about. It’s a big deal! There’s an upcoming Star Wars movie in the pipeline! How is Jon Favreau’s new Mando movie not tying it into the famous day with these tickets?

First of all, I know Disney has some stuff planned for Star Wars Day. Disneyland After Dark has a Star Wars Night on May the 4th. Han, Leia and the gang have already been introduced into Batuu (which changes the theming, but also gives the people what they want) ahead of the big anniversary day. If you have a Disney+ subscription, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord has been ongoing, and the final two episodes will hit the 2026 TV schedule on May 4th. The fans will have stuff to talk about; I’m not worried about that.

I’m also not mad that Mandalorian and Grogu is waiting to head to theaters until the end of the month on May 22. Memorial Day weekend is a big moviegoing weekend for families. To top it off, in a lot of parts of the country, including where I live, kids are getting out of school at the end of May. So, theaters can theoretically get more butts into seats because of this, as well.

I do understand it’s not unlike theaters to release tickets to the public weeks or even months in advance. For example, Dune: Part Three IMAX tickets already went on sale, and that movie is not coming out until the end of the year. So, I’m not upset with Disney for putting The Mandalorian and Grogu tickets on sale this week and giving advance ticket sales more legs. I just seriously feel like it was a missed opportunity.

We've seen the first 18 minutes of the movie, and plan to see the rest. Yet, I would love to have gone to the movie website on May the 4th and bought my tickets to the movie, then shared that I did it for Star Wars Day, simple as that. I can still purchase tickets on May the 4th, and I just might, but as someone who has gone to Star Wars Celebration, I know there’s nothing quite like being in the exact same boat on the exact same day as other Star Wars fans, and that opportunity will not align here.

Gina Carano’s issues with Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company have been well-documented at this point. The Mandalorian co-star was fired from the entertainment corporations back in 2021 after sharing social media posts that stirred up controversy. By 2024, Carano formally sued her former employers on the grounds of alleged wrongful termination and more. With that lawsuit now settled, it would seem Carano has since had at least one chat with two of her former collaborators, Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau.

How Did Gina Carano’s Post-Lawsuit Talk With The Lucasfilm Bigwigs Go Down?

For context, the lawsuit Carano filed against her ex-bosses was reportedly settled sometime around the late summer of 2025. At that time, it was reported that the actress was pleased with how everything ultimately panned out in the matter. One intriguing detail that was also included in Disney’s statement was the company mentioning that “we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.” That tidbit seemed to suggest that Carano could possibly return to Lucasfilm at some point.

As of this writing, there’s been no official announcement regarding whether Gina Carano will actually rejoin the Star Wars franchise and reprise her role as Cara Dune. Interestingly enough, though, she recently revealed on an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show (which was posted to YouTube) that she actually did speak to newly installed Lucasfilm co-CEO Dave Filoni as well as Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau. As for what the vibe was when the trio talked, Carano shared this:

By the sounds of it, the three collaborators had a jovial conversation when they reunited after the legal drama. Carano worked with Favreau and Filoni on the first two seasons of The Mandalorian (and those are still available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.) Before the character of Cara Dune was written out, it was also rumored that Carano might be leading a since-scrapped spinoff, Rangers of the New Republic. So, given this info on the friendly meeting, it’s hard not to wonder if Carano may suit up again with the legal drama done.

Why Was Gina Carano Fired And Why Did She File Suit Against Disney & Co.?

Ahead of her firing, Carano made headlines for several social media posts she shared, which included critiques about COVID-19 pandemic protocols and voter fraud claims regarding the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Carano also poked fun at pronouns being used by social media users. The star’s dismissal from the Star Wars franchise came after she shared a post that appeared to compare the experience of being a conservative to the Holocaust.

Carano subsequently cited what she believed to be a double standard, since her co-star, Pedro Pascal, didn’t receive disciplinary action for political posts he’d shared. In the lawsuit she filed in 2024, Carano cited both wrongful termination and sex discrimination as her reasons for filing suit. The Deadpool alum sought $75,000 in punitive damages and her suit was also backed by Tesla founder Elon Musk. When responding, Disney argued for its “a constitutional right to dissociate its own artistic message from Carano's outspoken 'political beliefs.”’ The company’s attempt to have the suit dismissed also proved unsuccessful.

Eventually, Carano’s team saw a win in the spring of 2025 when it was ruled that the House of Mouse had to disclose information in regard to how various actors linked to the Star Wars franchise had been paid. News of the lawsuit settlement came months later.

It’s honestly hard to say whether Gina Carano – who’s set to face Rhonda Rousey in an MMA fight this May – will actually play Cara Dune again following the drama she’s experienced in recent years. Carano herself referred to that time as “embarrassing,” and she initially seemed to share mixed feelings about the prospect of playing Dune again. At the very least, though, Carano’s comments on her chat with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni suggest she doesn’t have bad blood with the duo.

The Mandalorian & Grogu isn't only the first of upcoming Star Wars movies to hit the big screen in a while, it's also the first time we've seen characters based on one of the Disney+ TV shows be adapted for movie theaters. As such, there have understandably been some questions from fans. When CinemaBlend had the chance to see the opening of one of the most exciting of 2026 movie releases, presented by director Jon Favreau. And one thing we've been wondering about the movie more makes sense now. Let's get into it:

Fans Like Me Have Been Wondering How Din Got Another Razor Crest

If you're a viewer of The Mandalorian TV show, you might have noticed that Din's Razor Crest ship has mysteriously back in the marketing, including The Mandalorian & Grogu trailer. Oh, and there's even a LEGO set for it. But ever since that was revealed, fans have pointed out one thing about it. How is it around?

You know the one that exploded in Season 2? Well, when we had the chance to see the first 18 minutes of the movie as presented by director Jon Favreau, the question was answered. And it's kind of been set up already... just not directly.

How The Mandalorian & Grogu Explains How He Gets The New Ship

The Mandalorian & Grogu starts by taking the audience right inside the action of one of Din and Grogu's bounty missions which takes place around and inside the famous AT-ATs. It's a thrilling way to start the film, and is already full of so many moments that had me giggling and "oohhing" over Grogu (who's apparently going to "level up" in this one) in particular. Once they finish the messy mission, they meet with Sigourney Weaver's new character of Colonel Ward to settle up and get assigned for the next thing.

And, it's Colonel Ward who gives Din a new Razor Crest for a very specific reason. She needs him to go on a mission relating to the Hutt family (hence Jeremy Allen White's role of the muscular son of Jabba), and the ship is basically an advance to get him to agree to the very dangerous ask. Our first look at Mandalorian & Grogu ended with him jetting off with the Razor Crest, which is sort of the perfect setup for the movie to take place (and leave me wanting more!)

We'll get to see where exactly the Razor Crest takes Din and Grogu when the movie hits theaters on May 22!

Ever since it opened, Galaxy's Edge has been a very popular destination at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. In recent years, Galaxy's Edge has been going through some changes, namely dropping the original timeline in order to bring classic characters from George Lucas' original trilogy (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) into the fold. Case in point: we just got our first look at Han Solo in the parks, and fans are definitely not being shy about sharing their opinions about the beloved character's appearance.

Back in March of 2025, we got our first look at Luke Skywalker at Galaxy's Edge, to the delight of longtime fans. Folks have been waiting to see classic Leia Organa and Han Solo join the fun, and the latter will be arriving later this month. And fans are already having a strong reaction to everyone's favorite scruffy-looking nerf herder.

See Han Solo's Debut At Galaxy's Edge

Han Solo will debut at Disneyland on April 29th, and I have to assume that folks will be clamoring to get a photo with the smuggler turned Rebel leader. Obviously, Harrison Ford is synonymous with this role, so whatever theme park actors play him are going to have some big shoes to fill. You can see what he'll look like roaming around Batuu below:

And just like that, the fan favorite Star Wars hero has been brought back to life in the Galaxy's Edge. While the land's original timeline was set after Han's death in The Force Awakens, that's no longer the case. And fans are making their voices known about seeing this first look at Solo.

What Theme Park Fans Are Saying About Disneyland's Han

Star Wars fans are known for being super passionate, as are theme park enthusiasts. So it should come as no surprise that the responses and comments section in these Han Solo posts are blowing up. There's a ton of discourse happening over on Twitter, with one popular response criticizing his appearance. It reads:

I feel this. The tweet is a reference to the cast members playing Peter Quill/ Star-Lord in Disneyland's Avengers campus. While some Marvel characters wear outrageous costumes, Star-Lord looks more like a regular guy. And that's a criticism that's already being directed at Han Solo's look in The Galaxy's Edge. To be fair, this actor doesn't look all that much like Harrison Ford.

While some folks wish that Han has a stronger resemblance to the beloved actor, others are still caught up in the way the character's inclusion further breaks the timeline of the Star Wars land. As one person tweeted:

Obviously this change to the timeline happened long before Han Solo was introduced to Galaxy's Edge, but it's clearly irking certain corners of the fandom. Meanwhile another fan took the opposite stance, posting:

Honestly, the more classic Star Wars characters the better. While Darth Vader used to be in the parks before Galaxy's Edge opened, eventually Kylo Ren replaced him as the primary antagonist of the theme park. And since Han and Chewie will be able to interact in the parks, why not bring in more OGs?

Another critical response of this Han Solo sneak peek was all about his costume. More specifically, the hair unit used to bring the character to life. As someone tweeted out:

Meanwhile, another fan thinks they've seen the actor shown in the Han Solo video before. Specifically playing another character in the theme parks. As they posted:

Theme park superfans attend the parks time and time again, so it's not uncommon for them to clock actors who are playing multiple roles. Hopefully the Han actor being recognized for possibly playing Gaston previously doesn't end up negatively affecting him. The actress who previously played the Evil Queen at Disneyland was reportedly fired due to so many fans recognizing her and helping her go viral online.

Han Solo will debut at Disneyland on April 29th. Star Wars will return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see what classic characters show up at Batuu next.

Even though Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, a.k.a. Ben Solo, died seven years ago in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, many fans have been mourning him in a different way over the last six months. In October, Adam Driver revealed he’d tried to bring back the character for a post-Rise of Skywalker movie with Steven Soderbergh, but Lucasfilm ended up scrapping the project. Had The Hunt for Ben Solo moved forward on the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows slate, this would have been Soderbergh’s first time helming a franchise feature, and now he’s weighed in on if he might join other franchises instead.

While Star Wars fans continue to campaign for the Kylo Ren movie, hoping to get the Lucasfilm leadership to change their minds about it, Steven Soderbergh has made it clear it’s not going to make a difference. That’s fair enough, but the filmmaker also had this to say when asked by The Daily Beast about if this experience made him “warier about joining a gigantic franchise machine”:

So on the one hand, Steven Soderbergh’s not ruling out that he could board a different franchise somewhere down the line. On the other hand, it’s not like he’s chomping at the bit to do so. Soderbergh has been a regular presence in Hollywood since delivering Sex, Lies, and Videotape in 1989, and the notable movies he’d made since then include Erin Brockovich, the original Ocean’s trilogy, the Magic Mike trilogy and Logan Lucky. He’s made it this far and is confident he can continue navigating the ever-changing film industry landscape, with or without franchises.

That’s not to say that losing out on making a Star Wars movie didn’t disappoint Steven Soderbergh. He had high hopes for The Hunt for Ben Solo, as it was going to be a departure from the “either small or mid-sized” that he’s been working on over the last several years, saying:

It’s a shame we’ll never get to see this vision that Steven Soderbergh and Adam Driver crafted with Rebecca Blunt realized. Soderbergh previously said that the Disney leadership couldn’t wrap their heads around Kylo Ren coming back to life in The Hunt for Ben Solo. So despite the fact that Disney and Lucasfilm are both under new leadership these days, Soderbergh has made peace with this project never seeing the light of day. Maybe another franchise will court him, but as far as Star Wars goes, that ship has sailed.

What we can look forward to on the Star Wars front is The Mandalorian & Grogu releasing in theaters on May 22, and Star Wars: Starfighter will follow on May 28, 2027. Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord is also currently streaming to fans who are signed up with a Disney+ subscription, and Ahsoka Season 2 is also expected to premiere sometime on the 2026 TV schedule.

There are several upcoming Star Wars movies that are on the docket, while the fates of others remain unclear. What’s known with certainty, for now, though is that Steven Soderbergh and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren-centric film isn’t happening. Driver went viral after revealing he was developing The Hunt for Ben Solo alongside the acclaimed director. Ultimately, the powers that be passed on the project, and it simply remains a pipe dream for now. Despite that, Soderbergh has an admirable take on crafting the scrapped flick.

While Soderbergh hasn’t shared many specific story details on Hunt for Ben Solo, he has been clear about the fact that a lot of work went into getting the script off the ground. That screenplay came up again while the Black Bag helmer was speaking with Variety. During the interview, Soderbergh was asked about what he learned from the process of trying to get that Star Wars movie off the ground. Soderbergh shared a lovely perspective while also revealing that Driver “felt bad” about getting him involved once the cancellation down:

Now, this sounds like someone who just appreciates the opportunity to work alongside other motivated creatives. I love that Soderbergh doesn’t view the experience as having been “wasted” time and is happy to have worked with Driver, Blunt and Burns. And, of course, another aspect of these comments that’s sweet is the reveal of Soderbergh telling Driver not to feel upset over bringing him into the project only for it to get scrapped. This honestly sounds like the kind of collaborator someone would want to have in their corner.

Adam Driver was the one to reveal The Hunt for Ben Solo during an interview given last fall and revealed that he, Soderbergh and co. presented the idea to since-retired Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy along with executives Dave Filoni (now co-president) and Carrie Beck. While the trio was apparently ecstatic about the idea, Bob Iger and Alan Bergman at Disney passed on the movie. Steven Soderbergh later revealed that he and Driver talked about the latter discussing the project publicly, and the No Sudden Move helmer simply advised him not to “editorialize” what led to their film being scrapped.

Next to nothing has been shared in regard to plot details on the Ben Solo movie, which is reportedly on the back burner now. Still, it was revealed that the film was to take place after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Even faced with only a few details, more than a few fans eventually started campaigning for the Kylo Ren movie.

By the looks of it, though, Steven Soderbergh has put the kibosh on the SW movie, recently saying that “if it was gonna happen, it would have happened.” It’s a shame fans will probably never get to see this big-screen idea for Kylo Ren realized. Nevertheless, I still love that Soderbergh doesn’t regret his time working on the ill-fated movie. In the meantime, franchise devotees can theorize about what would’ve been next for Ben had the film been made.

Fans can currently check out Adam Driver’s performance as Ben Solo/Kylo Ren by streaming the Star Wars sequel trilogy with a Disney+ subscription.

In the decades before Disney purchased Lucasfilm, Star Wars fans who craved more adventures set in a galaxy far, far away beyond the movies turned to the Expanded Universe, which encompassed books, comic books, video games and more. Following the Disney purchase, most of those stories were deemed non-canon and put under the Legends banner. However, various characters from the EU days have since been incorporated into official Star Wars canon, like Grand Admiral Thrawn. That makes me all the more confused why Mara Jade, another popular EU character, keeps being rejected by the Lucasfilm brass.

Besides Thrawn, Mara Jade is arguably the most well-known character to come from Star Wars’ EU. She was also introduced in the 1991 novel Heir to the Empire as a foe to Luke Skywalker, but the two of them went on to fall in love in later works, marry and have a son together. While one would think that Mara would be ripe for adapting to fit into the official canon, according to Star Wars: Bloodline author Claudia Gray, she’s had this nixed on several occasions by the powers-that-be at Lucasfilm. She said at the Writing the Star Wars Universe panel at MegaCon 2026 (via PopVerse):

Timothy Zahn, who created Mara Jade and Thrawn, was also at this panel and confirmed he too has been told not to use the former character for his in-canon Star Wars works. Ok… why? I understand that Mara Jade’s entire EU history can’t be made to fit within canon. Frankly, given what we’ve learned about Luke Skywalker post-Return of the Jedi, the possibility that he was married to her for a time, or any woman for that matter, is close to zero.

But again, it’s all about adaptation. There are ways to tweak Mara Jade’s backstory so that she can seamlessly fit into canon while making sure the spirit of the character isn’t compromised. Thrawn’s schemes and actions from Timothy Zahn’s Legends books haven’t been replicated on the official timeline, but that hasn’t made him any less entertaining to follow along with in Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka and the in-canon novels Zahn’s written since 2017.

So what is it about Mara Jade that makes Lucasfilm so reluctant to bring her back? My best guess with no additional information is that she’s too closely tied to a side of Luke Skywalker that the company has no interest in even approaching across any of its works. I hope Lucasfilm changes its mind about Mara at some point, though. She’s more than worthy of including in one of the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, even if she has nothing to do with Luke. For now, I’ll just have to be content with the reemergence of Thrawn in Ahsoka Season 2 later this year.