THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Looks Like a Playful Return to Star Wars’ Pulp Adventure Roots
Disney recently shared the first trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it looks like the galaxy far, far away is finally loosening up again. Instead of brooding lore dumps or endless callbacks, this sneak peek leans into what made Star Wars exciting in the first place… pure pulp fun.
We’re talking neon signs reflecting in rain-soaked streets, starships weaving through the clouds while blasting away at each other, and, of course, Grogu delivering a hilarious one-liner with the swagger of a pint-sized action hero.
This isn’t the kind of self-serious, lore-heavy Star Wars we’ve been used to. It’s playful, cool, a little off-beat, and action-packed, and that’s exactly what I’ve been excited about seeing.
When The Mandalorian first hit Disney+ in 2019, it felt like a breath of fresh air. The opening scene with Din Djarin striding into a cantina to drag out a bounty didn’t just introduce us to a new antihero, it reminded us of the building blocks George Lucas originally used to create Star Wars. Cowboys, samurai, and Swashbuckling pilots, pulp adventures where style mattered just as much as story.
Over time, though, the show shifted. With Dave Filoni taking a stronger creative role alongside Jon Favreau, the series became more connected to the broader franchise mythology.
The focus on Din and Grogu’s journey gave way to CGI Luke Skywalker cameos, the rise of Bo-Katan as a central figure, and even celebrity cameos from Jack Black and Lizzo.
For some, that lore-heavy direction was exciting. For others, it made the show feel more like a checklist of references than the stripped-down space Western it started as.
What makes this new trailer so refreshing is that it feels like The Mandalorian is finding its identity again. Sure, there are nods, but the focus is squarely on the action and adventure elements of the film.
Robots brawl, blasters fly, ships tear across the skies, and Grogu shows off more of his force abilities, all set to Ludwig Göransson’s thunderous score. It’s the kind of spectacle that’s meant to be enjoyed on a big screen, where the fun and awesomness of Star Wars can breathe without being weighed down by exposition.
Of course, trailers are designed to hype us up. The question is whether the full movie will deliver on that energy. Is this truly a return to the pulpy, genre-bending adventure that made us fall in love with The Mandalorian in the first place, or just a clever way to lure in fans who drifted away during the show’s heavier seasons?
Either way, The Mandalorian and Grogu is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Star Wars projects in years, if only because it looks like it wants to have fun again.
The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026. Grab your popcorn, because this one looks like a wild ride.