After more than five years, Lucasfilm and Disney are releasing a new Star Wars movie in May: The Mandalorian and Grogu. The film continues the story from Season 3 of The Mandalorian on Disney+, following Din Djarin and Grogu on a fresh, exciting adventure. Along with introducing new characters, the movie will feature familiar faces and team Mando and Grogu up with fighters from the New Republic as they work to defeat the remaining Imperial warlords following the Empire’s collapse.
This new movie will be only the third Star Wars film that isn’t part of the main Skywalker family story, following Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018). It’s also the first time stories originally told in the Star Wars Disney+ series will be shown in a theatrical movie, raising questions about how those stories will work on a larger scale. As the release date nears, it’s become clear the film draws inspiration from the original Star Wars movie from 1977, aiming for a similar feel.
During a recent visit to the set of Disney and Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, MovieWeb got a sneak peek – including 18 minutes of footage – and spoke with the director about how classic Star Wars films shaped the new movie. The director explained that Star Wars creator George Lucas was inspired by adventure serials like Flash Gordon and Indiana Jones, and that Star Wars itself has often drawn from other genres. He also discussed the story arc for Din Djarin, describing him as a father figure taking responsibility for another, and how the character has changed over the past seven years.
When it comes to film inspiration, it’s about establishing a common foundation – like everyone tuning their instruments to the same key. Star Wars has already explored so much creatively. A key realization was that while it’s a genre itself, Star Wars often reflects other genres, acting as a way to view them. George Lucas originally wanted to adapt ‘Flash Gordon,’ drawn to its adventurous, pulp style, which influenced both ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’ That early exposure clearly shaped his artistic vision, and it was a major influence on the fantasy elements we embraced, particularly when developing the story for ‘The Mandalorian’.
With Baby Yoda, the story is shifting. It’s no longer about him simply being a bounty hunter. Instead, he’s focused on protecting others and following a personal code, as revealed in the third season. He’s essentially become a parent figure, taking on responsibility for someone else, and we see him developing and changing throughout the series. Someone new to the show might see him as the same character, but longtime viewers will notice his growth and maturity.
He explained that the new movie needed to be visually grand, requiring a set built to the large dimensions of IMAX and capable of simulating underwater environments. The goal was to create something truly innovative for the Star Wars universe, while still maintaining the familiar feel of the original, highly cherished films.
Star Wars, at its heart, is a story about family and personal development, but it needs a thrilling and adventurous setting to really come alive. That setting was heavily influenced by classic space adventures like ‘Flash Gordon,’ with its fast-paced, exciting stories. We also had the resources and technology to create something truly immersive. For example, we built a massive creature head for the film and a stage tall enough for IMAX cameras, large enough to simulate being underwater – those are the kinds of details that spark creativity. The animated series give you a sense of what we aimed for. The real challenge, though, was figuring out how to create something new and visually stunning within the Star Wars universe while still maintaining that familiar Star Wars feel. It’s a surprisingly difficult balance to strike.
The Mandalorian and Grogu offer a fresh direction for Star Wars, taking the franchise to unexplored parts of the galaxy while remaining true to its roots. By including familiar characters from different eras, like the Hutts and Zeb Orrelios, the creators are both celebrating the past and building an exciting future for Star Wars on Disney+.
The Mandalorian and Grogu will debut in theaters on May 22, 2026.
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2026-04-17 02:03