It has now been well over a half a year since Star Wars announced The Mandalorian & Grogu, the franchise’s first return to the movie theater since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Based on the iconic Star Wars live-action TV show The Mandalorian, The Mandalorian & Grogu will continue the story of the titular Mandalorian, Din Djarin, and his beloved son and sidekick Grogu. Few details about this project have emerged since, which is quickly posing a problem for Star Wars and the hype the franchise needs for this grand return to the big screen.

The original announcement by Star Wars only revealed that Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian showrunner, would be directing, and that the movie would go into production “in 2024.” Later on, it was revealed by Disney’s CEO Bob Iger that The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s official release date is May 22, 2026. Aside from these two instances, however, news on this movie has been extremely limited. There has been no word on casting aside from the usual Din Djarin actors and a rumor about Sigourney Weaver. What, then, is going on with this movie, and why have there been no updates?

Star Wars’ Lack Of Updates Is Unusual

Production Details Are Always Limited, But Never This Absent

The nature of Star Wars productions has always been secretive, especially in the age of social media, but this type of radio silence is simply odd. Typically, there are at least a few updates, including official casting and often just confirmation that filming has begun. Reportedly, production on The Mandalorian & Grogu was slated to begin around June 17, and that day has certainly come and gone. It’s utterly unknown, then, whether The Mandalorian & Grogu has actually entered production.

This is especially strange considering two other factors. Firstly, this movie is extremely important for Star Wars, as it will not only take the franchise back to the theater, but it will also be the first movie to actually be produced after a large series of projects fizzled out. Reassurance for the audience that this movie will, in fact, move forward needs to be present, and it isn’t quite yet. Secondly, The Mandalorian has been an extreme success for the franchise. Why would they not want to take the chance to create even more hype by sharing updates?

The Only Known Actors Don’t Seem To Be On Set

The Din Djarin Actors Seem To Be Scattered

Since there have been no updates on the cast aside from the Din Djarin actors, those are the only people viewers can look to for hints about whether production has started or not. Most notably, there is lead actor Pedro Pascal, whose schedule has long since been a discussion. Pascal’s burst of well-deserved success has led him to become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors at the moment, and he is currently in prep to portray Reed Richards in Marvel’s The Fantastic 4, which starts filming at the end of July. That doesn’t give him much time for this movie.

It’s a well-known fact, however, that Pascal isn’t often in the suit as it is. This is where actors Brendan Wayne and Barry Lowin (amongst others) step in, along with lead stuntman Lateef Crowder. Wayne has especially taken on the role of the titular Mandalorian underneath the beskar, but even he seems tied up in something that isn’t The Mandalorian & Grogu at present. He shared an Instagram story on therealbrendanwayne on July 8th of him on the set of the film Ab Invito. This is in addition to his continued appearances at upcoming comic cons and fan events.

Reports About Filming Are Inconsistent

Even Unofficial Sources Can’t Agree About What’s Happening

What’s even more confusing about all of this is that reports that are trying to find out whether the movie has started filming or not are all inconsistent. While these types of reports and rumors always ought to be taken with a grain of salt, they have vastly different ideas of what’s happening at the moment. Within just one day of each other, these reports went from saying that filming had already started to saying that filming would begin soon. Nothing is consistent across the board, not even amongst the reports that are trying to figure things out.

What Is Star Wars Waiting For?

This Silence Is Hindering Hype & Disheartening Fans

This silence is very strange for Star Wars, especially considering that this is a movie, not a season of a TV show. While the latter may not need these constant updates each time a new season enters production, a movie certainly does. Even Ahsoka season 2, which was officially announced alongside the initial news of The Mandalorian & Grogu, has received more updates and new details than the franchise’s next big movie. If there has been a delay in production, then something ought to be said, if only to reassure the eagerly-awaiting audience.

Continuing on with a lack of updates will be nothing but harmful for Star Wars. Many enthusiasts are already disappointed by the silence, with this disappointment quickly turning to frustration that has some of them demanding Star Wars directly that they ought to say something, or anything, about this movie. This has a heightened importance after The Mandalorian season 3; after being met with mixed reviews, this season desperately needs a powerful follow-up that viewers can get excited about.

It could very well be that Star Wars is simply being even more strict than usual with its secrecy, which is quite necessary in today’s age where leaks can spread across the internet in mere moments. Even then, it’s still not impossible to give the audience something to work with, whether that’s a brief confirmation of production beginning or a cast list that can start some discussions. Hopefully, Star Wars can figure things out for The Mandalorian & Grogu soon, as both the franchise and the audience alike need this reassurance to continue onward.

The Mandalorian & Grogu premieres May 22, 2026.