UPDATE: It has been confirmed this release window is for spinoff The Book of Boba Fett, and The Mandalorian season 3 will debut at a later date. The original article follows.
The Mandalorian season 3 will premiere on Christmas Day 2021. The show has been Disney+’s flagship program since the streaming service launched last fall, becoming an instant hit with audiences and critics. It was even nominated for 15 Emmys, including Best Drama. Thanks to breakout star Baby Yoda, innovative filming techniques like the Volume, and delivering weekly servings of exciting Star Wars action, The Mandalorian seized the zeitgeist and is showing no signs of slowing down, as season 2 has been equally well-received.
Lucasfilm seemed to know they had a sensation early on. The Mandalorian season 2 was in development before season 1 debuted, and the studio is already putting the pieces in place for season 3. It’s been reported The Mandalorian season 3 was going to start production this past November, theoretically putting it on pace for a 2021 premiere. Now, that release window has been officially confirmed.
At Disney’s Investor Day, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced The Mandalorian season 3 will premiere on Christmas 2021. It was one of many announcements the studio made concerning Star Wars’ future, including confirmation there are two Mandalorian spinoff shows in the works: Rangers of the New Republic and Ahsoka.
![The Mandalorian Season 3 Does Not Premiere Christmas 2021 [UPDATED]](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Baby-Yoda-Eating-Macarons-In-The-Mandalorian.jpg)
The previous two Mandalorian seasons debuted in the fall, so this represents something of a break in tradition. There’s a few reasons for why that might be; namely Disney+’s original series lineup will grow exponentially in the near future. The service has a plethora of Marvel and Star Wars shows in the works, including some that should premiere in 2021 (like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Similar to how studios typically space their theatrical tentpoles out so they’re not competing against each other, it’s smart of Disney+ to pace themselves when it comes to these new shows. There will obviously be a lot of interest in these series, so the last thing Disney wants is for one to potentially overshadow another. The Mandalorian season 3 is now positioned in a prime Christmas slot for family viewing over the holidays.
Since Ahsoka and Rangers of the New Republic do not have release dates yet, it’s difficult to tell how The Mandalorian season 3 will narratively connect to its planned spinoffs. It’s possible it will lay the groundwork for what audiences can expect from them, leading into the other two shows. Kennedy did mention the three will eventually crossover in a special event, which is an exciting prospect. While there are still many questions lingering, it’s clear that as Star Wars waits to return to theaters in 2023, Lucasfilm is banking heavily on live-action TV to be the franchise’s main draw.