Summary
Fans ofThe Mandalorianhave been preparing for the show’s theatrical finale in the upcomingMandalorian & Grogufilm project, but a recent report seems to suggest that the movie might not be the climax fans expect.
The Mandalorianbrought in a new phase for theStar Warsfranchise, serving double duty as the first live-action show to usher in the Disney+ era and the first project with a divergent tone and approach from what had come before. Bringing the franchise back to the small screen following the end of the animated show era and spawning more live-action content across several shows,The Mandalorianwas considered the best show fromStar Warsfor a long time after its debut and continues to remain relevant to this day.
For now,Star Warsis still in the preliminary stages of returning to the big screen, and Din Djarin has certainly earned his spot at the forefront of this coming resurgence. While it’s long since been reported thatThe Mandalorian & Grogumovie would be a bittersweet experience for fansdue to it spelling an abrupt end to the adventures of its titular characters, a recent report suggests that this might not be the case after all. According toThe InSneider, a fourth season of the show (previously rumored to be entirely shelved in favor of the upcoming film conclusion) is still in development for Disney+. While the film has taken priority behind the scenes, and the source reiterates thatThe Mandalorian & Groguwill hit theaters before a fourth season hits Disney+, there will still be a fourth season.
One possible angle is that the film’s success will decide whether the characters get to stay in theaters going forward or get sunset on Disney+ with one more season, but the reality is probably that the show simply grew too big not to have a big-budget theatrical release. The escalation of stakes and interconnected storytelling that came on after the show’s first seasonmight have doomed a fourth installment ofThe Mandalorian. With things set up as is and a film guaranteed to hit theaters and Disney+ before another season does, there’s a good chance that any content beyondThe Mandalorian & Groguwill exist solely to more thoroughly set up other characters and story arcs for spinoffs and potentially even future films.
Din Djarin and Grogu might still be lending their names, star power, and even presence on screen in a fourth season, but the days of their charming, stoic adventures are likely well and truly over. While some won’t mourn this too deeply, the core fans who saw something special in that cozy Space Western so many years ago seem to be completely out of consideration.
For those who believed thatThe Mandalorianwas better without Jedi, that ship has entirely sailed. However, for fans more interested in the growth of the franchise and expansion of the new lore with projects likeAhsoka,a fourth season does indeed seem to hold a ton of potential. For now, there’s nothing more to do than wait and see how things fall into place as the franchise plots its return to the big screen.
