Kathleen Kennedy just dropped two very clean, very quotable Star Wars updates in a Variety interview — one about Grogu, and one about Lucasfilm’s leadership shift. And both are the kind of details that quietly tell you what era of Star Wars we’re walking into next. Grogu is going big-screen… and still won’t say a word Asked what it was like the first time she “heard Grogu speak,” Kennedy flipped the premise and used Grogu as the perfect example of a character that has to emote without dialogue. Her answer is blunt: audiences are going to fall even deeper in love with him on the big screen, and he never speaks a word. She also explicitly confirms Grogu won’t suddenly gain speech in The Mandalorian & Grogu — despite Yoda’s famous broken-English cadence. In other words: no “Grogu talks now” twist. No “cute sidekick monologue.” The character is staying in…
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Jon Favreau Says Rotta the Hutt Is Basically the Adonis Creed of The Mandalorian and Grogu
There are a lot of ways to describe Jabba the Hutt’s kid. Slimy heir. Underworld legacy act. The galaxy’s weirdest case of nepotism. But Jon Favreau just reached for a much more unexpected comparison. In a new Empire spotlight on The Mandalorian and Grogu, Favreau compared Rotta the Hutt to Adonis “Donnie” Creed, the Creed franchise boxer who has to build his own identity while carrying the weight of a famous family name. Favreau’s quote gets right to the point: what does it do to a character when he is trying to establish himself while being known first and foremost as Jabba the Hutt’s son? That is actually a pretty smart angle. Rotta Is Not Just Back — He Is Apparently in “Top Form” Favreau’s comments suggest Rotta is not returning as some throwaway easter egg for people who remember The Clone Wars. According to the new details pulled from…
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Is Bringing Star Wars Back to Theaters — and Filoni Calls It a “Different Era” Than The Force Awakens
It’s been seven years since Star Wars last hit the big screen. The franchise closed the Skywalker Saga in 2019 with The Rise of Skywalker — and since then, the galaxy has lived on streaming. Now, Star Wars is officially pivoting back to cinemas with The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Empire’s new cover story frames it as a very different kind of theatrical comeback. Dave Filoni’s core point: this isn’t another “Episode VII moment.” It’s a film built around characters the audience already knows — and loves. “We’re in a completely different era of Star Wars now.” Filoni compares the theatrical return to The Force Awakens — but says the situation isn’t the same Filoni directly compares the scale of returning to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu to the cultural impact of The Force Awakens, while also stressing that Episode VII carried a unique weight: it was the start…
Embo Returns in The Mandalorian & Grogu — And Yes, His Language Still Comes From French Smurfs Books
With The Mandalorian & Grogu bringing back fan-favorite bounty hunter Embo, one of the strangest and funniest pieces of Star Wars trivia is suddenly relevant again. Because while Embo may look like one of the coolest warriors in the galaxy… his mysterious language has one of the most unexpected origins in franchise history. Dave Filoni Created Embo’s Language by Accident When Dave Filoni and the The Clone Wars team were developing Embo, they faced a creative challenge:What should this silent, hat-wearing bounty hunter actually sound like? Instead of building a fully constructed alien language from scratch, Filoni did something far more improvisational. He recorded himself reading from his editor’s French Smurfs books — originally meant for his child — and used that as placeholder dialogue for Embo. The idea was simple:Use something foreign-sounding and slightly garbled to create a believable alien voice while they figured out a final direction. But…
“Weathers Apollo” — The Mandalorian & Grogu Trailer Includes Touching Tribute to Carl Weathers
Sometimes Star Wars hits you right in the feels — and this time, it’s a subtle moment that fans might have missed on first watch. A new shot from the latest The Mandalorian & Grogu trailer appears to include a quiet but deeply touching tribute to the late Carl Weathers. A Hidden Message in Aurebesh In one scene from the trailer, text can be seen written above a doorway in Aurebesh. When translated, it reads: “Weathers Apollo.” It’s a simple detail, but one loaded with meaning. Carl Weathers famously portrayed Greef Karga in The Mandalorian, becoming one of the show’s most beloved characters across its run. Before joining the Star Wars galaxy, Weathers was also known worldwide for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise — making the phrase “Weathers Apollo” an especially fitting tribute. Honoring a Mandalorian Legend Carl Weathers passed away in 2024, and his impact on The…
Martin Scorsese Officially Joins Star Wars — As an Ardennian in The Mandalorian & Grogu
In a twist nobody saw coming (but everyone secretly loves), legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese is officially stepping into the Star Wars galaxy. The iconic director will voice an Ardennian alien in the upcoming film The Mandalorian & Grogu, marking his first-ever appearance in a Star Wars project — even if it’s behind the mic. Yes, that Martin Scorsese. Taxi Driver. Goodfellas. The man who once famously critiqued superhero movies… now part of a galaxy far, far away. And honestly? This is kind of amazing. From Film Legend to Star Wars Cameo According to reports, Scorsese will lend his voice to an Ardennian — the same multi-armed alien species as Rio Durant from Solo: A Star Wars Story. The role is expected to be a voice cameo, but the significance is huge. Bringing in one of cinema’s most respected directors adds another layer of prestige (and fun crossover energy) to The…
The Mandalorian & Grogu Trailer Arrives Tomorrow — And It Already Looks Cinematic as Hell
Star Wars fans, clear your schedules. The first full trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu officially drops tomorrow, and if the early footage is anything to go by, this might be one of the most cinematic Star Wars projects we’ve seen in years. After dominating Disney+ with three seasons of The Mandalorian, Din Djarin and everyone’s favorite tiny Force user are heading to the big screen. And based on the preview clips floating around online, Jon Favreau and company are aiming big — very big. A True Big-Screen Star Wars Experience The early visuals from the upcoming trailer tease something that feels much closer to a full theatrical Star Wars film than a streaming spinoff. Wide landscape shots, detailed ship interiors, and large-scale action sequences all point toward a production designed specifically for cinema. We’re seeing sweeping planetary environments, cinematic lighting, and detailed close-ups that go well beyond the usual…
Sigourney Weaver Says She “Can’t Wait to Share This Journey” in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Veteran actor Sigourney Weaver is officially embracing the galaxy far, far away. In recent remarks shared online, Weaver expressed her excitement for her role in the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu, saying she “can’t wait to share this journey with you.” Her comments were made as part of promotional conversations ahead of Star Wars Celebration and various fan events, where cast and crew continue to tease what’s in store when Mando and Grogu make the jump from streaming to the big screen. A Legendary Career Meets a Legendary Galaxy Weaver’s involvement in The Mandalorian and Grogu marks a high-profile addition to the film’s cast. Known for iconic roles in franchises like Alien, Avatar, and Ghostbusters, she brings serious genre pedigree to Star Wars. The upcoming movie — set for release on May 22, 2026 — will unite Din Djarin and Grogu in their first theatrical adventure, with Jon Favreau directing…
Sigourney Weaver Cheekily Breaks Down What It’s Like to Hang with A Group of Grogus on The Mandalorian & Grogu
If you ever wondered what it looks like when Alien royalty meets the galaxy’s cutest little green Force-sensitive, Sigourney Weaver has given us the delightfully nerdy behind-the-scenes scoop. And it’s just as charming as Grogu himself. In a recent interview, the legendary actress—who’s joining the cast of The Mandalorian & Grogu—let slip a wonderfully specific detail: that filming with Grogu actually meant spending time with a whole group of them. Yep, not just one. A group. And according to Weaver, they each brought something special to the set. “There’s the Grogu that walks sometimes, and the Grogu that does weird faces, and then there’s another Grogu that does that, whatever it is — the Force?” Weaver laughed, recalling the mechanics behind bringing the beloved character to life. A Multi-Grogu Ensemble (Seriously) Here’s the fun part: Grogu isn’t just one puppet or CGI creation. On set, multiple performers and puppeteers work…
New Plot Details Reveal the Core Story of The Mandalorian and Grogu
A new plot description for The Mandalorian and Grogu offers the clearest picture yet of where the story is heading — and it firmly places the film at a pivotal moment in the Star Wars timeline. According to the newly revealed description, the galaxy is still dealing with the aftermath of the Empire’s collapse. Imperial warlords remain scattered across the stars, while the fledgling New Republic struggles to maintain order and protect everything the Rebellion fought to achieve. In the middle of that chaos stand Din Djarin and Grogu, drawn back into the conflict as unlikely but essential allies. A Galaxy Still Picking Up the Pieces Rather than jumping ahead to a stable era of peace, The Mandalorian and Grogu appears to lean into the uneasy transition period following the fall of the Empire. The presence of roaming Imperial warlords suggests a fragmented enemy — dangerous not because of unity,…
New Mandalorian and Grogu Trailer Reportedly Attached to Select Zootopia 2 Screenings
Disney may be quietly rolling out one of its biggest surprises of the year. According to early reports from moviegoers, a brand-new trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu is playing in front of select screenings of Zootopia 2. Yes — the first real look at Din Djarin and Grogu’s leap to the big screen may already be out there… just not online yet. And that’s exactly the kind of sneaky marketing Lucasfilm loves. A Strategic (and Very Disney) Trailer Drop When a major studio wants to test a trailer before unleashing it worldwide, it often attaches it to a specific film with a predictable audience. Placing The Mandalorian and Grogu trailer before Zootopia 2 checks every box: Disney gets to watch real-time audience reactions without the pressure of an immediate global release. It’s the same tactic they’ve used with Marvel previews, Pixar teasers, and even earlier Star Wars marketing. Why…
Jeremy Allen White Had No Idea Who Rotta the Hutt Was Before Being Cast in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Jeremy Allen White — the Emmy-winning star of The Bear and longtime favorite from Shameless — is joining the Star Wars galaxy in one of the most unexpected ways imaginable: by playing Rotta the Hutt. And according to a new interview, he had absolutely no idea who that was before he got the role. Source Yes. The man cast to voice Jabba the Hutt’s son learned about the character after being hired. And honestly? That might be the coolest part of this entire story. A “Wait… Who?” Casting Moment In the interview, White openly admits that he didn’t know Rotta even existed until the creative team walked him through the character. That’s right: no Clone Wars memories, no deep Hutt lore, no childhood trauma from the 2008 animated movie. Just a director telling him:“You’re going to play a Hutt.”And White going:“Great! …What’s a Hutt’s kid like again?” In a franchise…