Disney Reportedly Admits They Already Made A Mistake With The Mandalorian & Grogu

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The Super Bowl ad for The Mandalorian & Grogu might have been a misstep for the film’s promotion. While Lucasfilm has already released two full trailers for the movie – a continuation of the popular Disney+ series – the Super Bowl spot disappointed many fans. The 36-second ad simply showed Din Djarin and Grogu riding a Tauntaun-pulled wagon on Hoth and didn’t reveal any new scenes or information.

A new report from Variety indicates Disney was worried their unusual Super Bowl ad for The Mandalorian & Grogu didn’t create the buzz they expected. Because the Super Bowl is a large, though costly, chance to promote a big Star Wars movie, Disney considered the underwhelming ad a significant misstep in their marketing efforts.

The Super Bowl ad for The Mandalorian & Grogu received significant criticism, prompting Lucasfilm to publicly explain and defend its approach. They described the ad as a fitting and intentional part of the film’s overall marketing strategy.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I have to say the marketing for the new movie feels a little flat. It’s the first time we’re getting a Star Wars film in theaters after seven years where a lot of fans have been pretty down about the direction of the franchise, especially with the Disney+ shows being so hit or miss. You’d think they’d be pulling out all the stops, but it just doesn’t feel that way to me.

Despite recent concerns, there’s growing optimism about the future of Star Wars movies in theaters. Variety reports that the upcoming film, Straighter, scheduled for May 2027, seems to be heading in a direction that fans will enjoy. People who have seen early footage have particularly praised Ryan Gosling’s performance and the film’s lighthearted tone, thanks to director Shawn Levy.

Fans can soon see The Mandalorian and Grogu on the big screen starting May 22. The theatrical release will feature Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, along with the popular Grogu (also known as Baby Yoda), and exciting additions like Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White.

Can The Mandalorian & Grogu Win Big At the Box Office?

Despite recent challenges for Star Wars and being a continuation of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, the new movie featuring Din Djarin and Grogu faces a tough task convincing viewers it’s worth seeing in cinemas. Marketing will need to strongly emphasize that this is a full-length film, not just an extended episode of the show.

Disney released the second trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu only 11 days after a controversial Super Bowl ad, likely hoping to improve public opinion. While reactions to the new trailer were much better—especially after revealing a well-known Star Wars villain—it might not be enough to fully overcome the earlier negative response.

Recent disappointing box office results for Marvel Studios show that even their most popular franchises aren’t guaranteed hits anymore. Films like The Marvels and the planned Thunderbolts movie haven’t performed well, potentially because audiences feel they need to watch Disney+ series to fully understand the stories. This could be a similar issue to what happened with The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Previous Star Wars spin-off films haven’t always been successful, like Solo, which earned $392.9 million worldwide but still resulted in a financial loss for Disney in 2018. Since then, only one Star Wars movie, The Rise of Skywalker, has been released in theaters.

However, this doesn’t mean The Mandalorian & Grogu will fail. Fans are excited to see Star Wars back on the big screen, and the Disney+ show was very popular, consistently attracting a large audience, particularly during its first two seasons.

The next three months are critical for deciding the future of The Mandalorian & Grogu. Lucasfilm is reportedly taking a big risk with the 2026 movie – if it doesn’t succeed, they may cancel another planned Star Wars film and abandon any ideas for a follow-up.

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2026-02-26 18:05