After mostly split reactions to The Mandalorian Season 3, fans can reunite in excitement again. It was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration in 2023 that Dave Filoni would be directing a movie to conclude this chapter of stories in the Filoni-verse. That movie, titled Heir to the Empire and headlined by Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), was long since believed to be the only Filoni-verse movie, until the announcement of The Mandalorian and Grogu.
When the Filoni-verse launched with The Mandalorian in 2019, it was impossible to predict it would become the next Skywalker Saga with a story that extended across multiple projects and mediums. Part of what made The Mandalorian such a beloved property initially was that it felt largely disconnected from familiar canon and bolstered by fresh, original characters. Now part of a much larger universe, Star Wars’ most beloved father-son duo will headline a project of their own before the Filoni-verse’s grand conclusion.
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Brings Din & Grogu to the Silver Screen
On January 9, Star Wars officially announced The Mandalorian and Grogu, a project directed by Jon Favreau and produced by Dave Filoni and Kathleen Kennedy. The project will enter production later this year, and Favreau had this to say about the upcoming film:
“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created. The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”
— Director Jon Favreau on bringing The Mandalorian and Grogu to life in movie theaters.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy also shared her excitement to see Star Wars return to the movie theaters in an official statement:
“Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.”
— Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy on The Mandalorian and Grogu
There are no two characters more worthy of starring in Star Wars’ return to movie theaters than the Mandalorian and Grogu. With the recent success of Ahsoka, it’s clear the franchise is heading in a direction to make Grand Admiral Thrawn the next major villain to contend with. Although his role in the series is fairly minor, fans can expect his menacing personality and cut-throat military tactics to be on full display on the big screen.
What Other Projects Does Star Wars Have in Development?
The spotlight may be on The Mandalorian and Grogu right now, but there are a ton of other projects to be excited about. One of the biggest ongoing complaints about Star Wars is their unwillingness to detach from the Skywalker Saga, but a diverse slate of upcoming films and shows will surely put that debate to rest. Although only two projects are set to tie directly into established events, there are currently nine confirmed Star Wars projects in development.
Officially announced projects include The Acolyte, from creator Leslye Headland and starring Lee Jung-Jae, Manny Jacinto, and Carrie-Anne Moss, and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, from Jon Watts and Everything Everywhere All At Once directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schienert, which are both scheduled for release in 2024.
Additional upcoming projects include Andor Season 2, Rey’s New Jedi Order movie from Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Dave Filoni’s previously mentioned Heir to the Empire movie, James Mangold‘s biblical epic on the Prime Jedi, untitled Star Wars movies from Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy and Taika Waititi, and a Lando movie starring Donald Glover that was initially billed as a Disney+ series, though it has since confirmed to be a film.
The Future of Star Wars Is in Good Hands
It’s now been over four years since the last Star Wars theatrical release, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, which, to say the least, left much to be desired. With a new era of Star Wars stories on the horizon, there is so much to look forward to, both in film and television. Here’s hoping the creative executives learned their lessons from past mistakes, and will not let public opinion dictate anything behind the scenes.
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