As a huge Star Wars fan, I was thrilled to finally see The Mandalorian & Grogu hit theaters on May 22nd – it’s been seven years since we’ve had a Star Wars film on the big screen! Jon Favreau directed, and he worked on the script with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor. Honestly, even with a few imperfections, it felt like a fantastic return to what makes Star Wars so special. From the very beginning, the movie throws you right into the action with Din Djarin and Grogu facing off against Imperial forces in a snowy battle that really reminded me of The Empire Strikes Back – snowtroopers, AT-ATs, the whole nine yards! It truly captures the scale of those epic Star Wars conflicts. What’s even cooler is that the film doesn’t just rely on what we already know; it pulls in elements from old toys and lesser-known Star Wars stories, even including a vehicle fans have been begging to see for over forty years!
The beginning of The Mandalorian & Grogu features the INT-4 Interceptor, a small Imperial scout ship. In this scene, Commander Barro, an Imperial leader trapped at a remote outpost, tries to escape in the ship after Din Djarin destroys all of his AT-AT walkers. Din then uses the last walker’s weapons to shoot down the interceptor, ending the pursuit. While it’s a short moment, it’s significant for dedicated Star Wars fans because the INT-4 Interceptor was a Kenner toy for over 44 years without ever appearing on screen in live-action.
The INT-4 Interceptor Has a Long Star Wars History
In 1982, Kenner released the INT-4 Interceptor as part of its Mini-Rigs line, a series of smaller, less expensive vehicles meant to go along with their larger Empire Strikes Back toys. The packaging presented the Interceptor as an Imperial scouting ship designed to find Rebel bases. Its design took inspiration from the cockpit of the AT-AT walker, combining that boxy shape with wings and a single laser cannon. Kenner even stated the Interceptor could fit inside a full-size AT-AT, just like in The Mandalorian & Grogu. However, despite all this backstory, the ship never actually appeared in any of the movies.
The INT-4’s lack of appearance in the movies wasn’t unusual for Kenner toys. Their Mini-Rigs line often featured Imperial and Rebel vehicles that weren’t directly shown in the films, instead relying on original designs that fit the Star Wars universe. This happened because demand for toys in the early 1980s was so high, it quickly exceeded what was actually visible in the movies.
Over the years, the ship made a few minor appearances in the mobile game Star Wars: Commander and was mentioned in the 2023 Marvel comic Return of the Jedi: Ewoks. However, by including it in the first big Star Wars movie released in theaters since 2019, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have brought a story that began 44 years ago full circle.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu is currently playing in theaters.
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2026-05-28 22:10