The spotlight is on The Mandalorian and Grogu to take center stage

Disney recently reshuffled the release dates for their upcoming movies, including Avengers: Doomsday, which was scheduled to release on May 1, 2026. It has now been pushed back to December 2026, which means the coast is clear for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

This was predictable, considering The Mandalorian and Grogu wrapped filming months ago, and Avengers just went into production. It would've been impossible for Marvel to pull off a May 2026 release, but now that Disney has officially moved it to December, it means May rightfully belongs to Star Wars.

This is a huge opportunity for Jon Favreau to replicate the massive success that he achieved in 2019 when The Mandalorian premiered. This time, he can do it in theaters. This is a reward for Mando's success, and it's a chance for Star Wars to make a statement at the box office. With the coast clear next May, Pedro Pascal, currently in the UK filming for Avengers: Doomsday, will be able to give all his time to promoting The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Pascal's stardom is a major asset if Disney and Lucasfilm capitalize on it. The internet is currently flooded with appreciation for his performance in The Last of Us Season 2, and he has a good shot at Best Actor in a Drama Series at the Emmy Awards this year. He was front and center with Jon Favreau at Star Wars Celebration last month, and his enthusiasm is an encouraging sign for fans. Fans were given a look at Pedro as Din Djarin, sans helmet, and Favreau confirmed the entire movie was filmed for IMAX.

It will be interesting to see how Star Wars fans receive this movie, as it's the first live-action project following the conclusion of Andor Season 2. Mandalorian and Andor are vastly different in tone, but Jon Favreau knows a thing or two about making movies, so you can argue he put Marvel on the map with Iron Man and helped launch Disney+ with the first live-action series. His experience makes him the right pick to direct the first Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker.

Chapter 9, "The Marshal," remains the only episode directed by Favreau for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award Nomination and a Directors Guild of America nomination for Outstanding Direction. This is also the only episode of the show in which Favreau experimented with the IMAX format. Much like the IMAX format, the final sequence involving the Krayt Dragon was expanded to a 16:9 ratio.

Even though it feels like an eternity has passed since the show was unanimously appreciated by everyone from Star Wars fans to haters, it seems Favreau plans on focusing on what made the show a success. The movie will turn the focus back to Din Djarin and Grogu's relationship, with Pedro Pascal in the suit, and creator Jon Favreau in the director's seat.

The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney+ and The Mandalorian and Grogu premieres May 22, 2026.