The Mandalorian & Grogu is an incredibly exciting prospect, primarily for the ways in which it is making Star Wars history. Even before The Mandalorian season 3 began airing on Disney+, Jon Favreau reassured fans that he had written the continuation of the story via The Mandalorian season 4. That said, an announcement in January 2024 caused both confusion and anticipation when the latest Star Wars movie – The Mandalorian & Grogu – was announced.
While it is still unclear whether The Mandalorian season 4 and The Mandalorian & Grogu will coexist or whether the latter will actively replace the former, one thing that is confirmed is that Din Djarin and his lovable adopted son will soon come to the big screen. This only adds to the slate of upcoming Star Wars movies, yet The Mandalorian & Grogu has significant differences that will make franchise history. From the film’s ties to previous and upcoming Star Wars TV shows to the cast and characters involved, the new ground being walked by The Mandalorian & Grogu cannot be understated.
10 The Mandalorian & Grogu Is The First Star Wars Movie Based On A TV Show
Din Djarin and Grogu are the first characters to bring the world of Star Wars TV to live-action filmmaking.
While Star Wars has been a transmedia franchise for decades, The Mandalorian & Grogu will make history by being the first Star Wars movie based on a TV show. While many will argue that this was also the case for 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the theatrical release was simply four episodes of the ensuing TV show cut together that was released before the show aired. Therefore, The Mandalorian & Grogu is the first theatrical Star Wars film that will carry on a story that began on the small screen.
9 Pedro Pascal Is The First Solo Latino Lead Actor In A Star Wars Movie
Pascal will break representational barriers in the Star Wars galaxy.
The cast of The Mandalorian & Grogu will also make Star Wars history by the time the movie releases. Pedro Pascal, the actor who provides the voice work for Din Djarin, will be the first solo Latino lead in a Star Wars theatrical film. While the franchise has included Latino actors in other feature films like Diego Luna in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Oscar Isaac in the Star Wars sequels, they were more part of an ensemble than solo lead actors. As such, Pedro Pascal will be breaking new representational ground in a galaxy far, far away.
8 Grogu Is The First Creature To Lead A Star Wars Movie
Not only will Pascal’s involvement mean the cast breaks new ground, but Grogu’s too!
Hilariously, the second half of The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s titular duo is making history in the Star Wars franchise himself. Despite only being a practical, mechanical puppet on set, Grogu will be the first of Star Wars’ various alien races to lead a feature film. The Skywalker Saga and its spin-offs have all centered on human leads with alien side characters, yet Grogu will change this. The lovable alien will be the first to lead a Star Wars movie alongside Pedro Pascal, truly proving the impact the puppet has had on audiences and the franchise as a whole.
7 The Mandalorian & Grogu Is The First Non-Episodic Movie To Get A Sequel
Dave Filoni’s upcoming Star Wars movie allows The Mandalorian & Grogu to hold another record.
While Star Wars has had 11 theatrical films – 12 when counting Star Wars: The Clone Wars – only the episodic films of the Skywalker Saga have been given sequels. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was a prequel itself meaning its “sequel” was already made in 1977. Solo: A Star Wars Story‘s ending made it seem as though sequels and continuations were planned, yet they unfortunately did not come to fruition due to the film’s lackluster box office performance.
With The Mandalorian & Grogu though, the film will technically receive a sequel. At Star Wars Celebration 2023, it was confirmed that Dave Filoni would be directing a Star Wars movie that culminates the New Republic era that began with The Mandalorian season 1. The film will not go into production until after Ahsoka season 2 and The Mandalorian & Grogu, meaning the latter will be released before it. With Din Djarin heavily expected to be part of Filoni’s movie, it will essentially serve as a loose sequel to the story of Favreau’s The Mandalorian & Grogu.
6 Star Wars’ New Movie Will Be The First Set In The New Republic Era
Theatrical Star Wars will enter a new era for the first time.
The three trilogies of the Skywalker Saga were set in the era of the Republic, the dark times of the Empire, and the reign of the First Order respectively. The two spin-off anthology films, Rogue One and Solo, were both also set during the era of the Empire. This means that The Mandalorian & Grogu will be the first theatrical Star Wars film to be set in the New Republic era.
The New Republic has largely been explored in Star Wars’ various TV shows thus far. While Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens can be argued to be set in this section of the timeline, the former predates the official beginning of the organization while the latter depicts its destruction. With The Mandalorian & Grogu though, the New Republic will be explored to its full capabilities in a Star Wars movie for the very first time.
5 The Mandalorian & Grogu Is The First To Feature Two Leads
The Mandalorian & Grogu’s cast continues to break the Star Wars mold.
Since 1977, the cast of every theatrical Star Wars movie can be classed as an ensemble. Be it the original trilogy, prequel series, or sequel movies, each installment has been led by a wide-reaching cast. The same can be said for Rogue One and Solo, though the latter arguably only had one single lead actor in Alden Ehrenreich. With that in mind, The Mandalorian & Grogu will become the first Star Wars movie to be led by two lead characters. While sure to be an ensemble itself, the title of The Mandalorian & Grogu indicates the story will center on the duo.
4 Star Wars’ New Movie Will Pay Off A 40-Year-Old Mandalorian Promise
Star Wars fans will finally receive a movie focused on the intriguing Mandalorian people.
Perhaps the most talked-about aspect of The Empire Strikes Back was Boba Fett, the brooding, silent assassin in the background of the film. For years, Boba Fett’s design and sheer badass nature led many to clamor for the exploration of Mandalorians, something that Star Wars’ feature films have neglected up to this point. The Mandalorian & Grogu will pay off these desires, however, by becoming the first Star Wars movie to explore a Mandalorian lead character. The depth of Mandalorians found in Star Wars’ TV shows will finally translate to the big screen after over four decades of waiting.
3 The Mandalorian & Grogu Doesn’t Have “Star Wars” In The Title
The title of Favreau’s film is another major difference from usual Star Wars movies.
The reveal of The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s title means it will be the first feature film in the franchise not to include the words “Star Wars.” All nine episodic films include the franchise’s moniker, as do Rogue One and Solo due to their subtitles of A Star Wars Story. This is yet another way in which The Mandalorian & Grogu is making history by somewhat removing itself from the Star Wars name.
2 This Is The First Star Wars Movie With No Direct Skywalker Saga Link
The Skywalker Saga has permeated every Star Wars movie, until now.
While The Mandalorian & Grogu will have some loose connections to the Skywalker Saga’s episodic movies, it will be the first story of any Star Wars movie not to have a direct link. The resurgent Empire and other elements will connect to the overarching saga, though The Mandalorian & Grogu will not have overt original trilogy links like Rogue One‘s theft of the Death Star plans or Solo‘s main character. Instead, The Mandalorian & Grogu will focus on a somewhat standalone story that has been established outside of the Skywalker Saga.
1 The Mandalorian & Grogu Is The First Movie With A Non-Jedi Master & Apprentice
The ways of Jedi Masters and Apprentices will be absent from the newest Star Wars movie.
Of the Star Wars movies that have centered around Master and Apprentice relationships, all of them have been connected to the Jedi religion. While The Mandalorian & Grogu will have a Master-Apprentice connection thanks to its titular duo, it will be the first film in the franchise to focus on such without the involvement of the Force. Grogu’s learning from Din Djarin will be in the ways of the Mandalore, not the Jedi. Through this, The Mandalorian & Grogu continues to make Star Wars history.
