How The Mandalorian and Grogu Exposes Disney’s Crisis

The Mandalorian and Grogu marks Star Wars’ long-awaited return to theaters. But does Disney’s marketing strategy risk underselling the franchise’s biggest cinematic comeback in years?

After The Rise of Skywalker divided fans in 2019, Lucasfilm pivoted hard to Disney+. The Mandalorian became a phenomenon, turning Grogu into a global icon and redefining Star Wars for streaming. Now, that success is being tested on the big screen. Instead of positioning The Mandalorian and Grogu as a must-see theatrical event, Disney’s Super Bowl spot and early trailers have sparked debate about whether the studio is playing it too safe.

In this breakdown, we analyze why the marketing for The Mandalorian and Grogu feels more like a streaming extension than a cinematic milestone. We explore how Star Wars’ box office legacy—from the original trilogy to The Force Awakens—was built on event-level hype, and why this film faces a uniquely difficult challenge as the franchise’s first theatrical release since 2019.

Is this cautious approach smart brand management, or a dangerous misstep for Star Wars’ future on the big screen?

0:00 Introduction – Star Wars’ Risky Return
1:04 The Rise of Skywalker Fallout
2:06 How The Mandalorian Saved Star Wars
3:44 Season 3 & The Book of Boba Fett Debate
4:50 What Is This Movie Actually About?
6:04 Why Theatrical Star Wars Must Feel Like an Event
8:07 What This Means for Star Wars’ Future

Subscribe | Enable ALL push notifications 🔔
https://www.youtube.com/@ScreenRant?sub_confirmation=1

Follow Screen Rant:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@screenrant
Twitter: https://twitter.com/screenrant
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScreenRant
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/screen-rant/

Official Screen Rant Website:
http://screenrant.com/

Video by: Jon Alba & Kem Ramirez

For copyright matters please contact us at: legal@valnetinc.com

#themandalorianandgrogu #starwars #lucasfilm #grogu #mandalorian #disney #screenrant