Five weeks out, Star Wars is promising the kind of punch that makes your seat feel too small. What exactly did a select screening in Las Vegas hint at, and why might the most familiar face be the biggest surprise?
At CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Disney and Lucasfilm lifted the lid on “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” showing the opening sequence alongside an action-heavy final trailer. Set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, the footage plants Din Djarin and Grogu on a snowbound world under imperial control, where a clash with a warlord sets the tone for a bigger chase. Familiar allies and fresh players jump in, from Zeb to Colonel Ward played by Sigourney Weaver, with Jeremy Allen White surfacing as Rotta the Hutt. Directed by Jon Favreau and running two hours and twelve minutes, the film hits theaters May 20, 2026, with streaming to follow on Disney+.
Star Wars returns to the big screen in just 5 weeks
The countdown is real, and the energy is hard to miss. In 5 weeks, Star Wars storms back into US theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu, arriving on May 20, 2026. The final trailer just landed, stitching together crisp action, sly character beats, and a few teases built to spark theories. It feels confident, indeed, like a reunion we have been saving seats for.
Highlights from CinemaCon 2026
At CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas, Disney and Lucasfilm screened fresh footage that had theater owners buzzing. The film marks the franchise’s big-screen return after 7 years, a gap that sharpened appetites and raised the stakes for what comes next. Early reactions from the room pointed to crowd-pleasing spectacle and a tone that blends the series’ intimacy with the scope of the saga.
A closer look at the final trailer and opening scenes
The trailer runs a brisk (2 minutes and 30 seconds), packed with icy vistas, roaring starships, and a one-shot brawl that hints at theatrical bravado. We glimpse a snow-covered world under imperial control, where Din Djarin takes on a ruthless warlord as AT-ATs thunder in the distance. The imagery breathes, for example, when shots open up for towering IMAX screens.
Watch for Grogu’s growing confidence in combat
A tense U-wing extraction that flips the momentum
New creatures and ship chases that punch up the scale
New allies and enemies in the Star Wars universe
Alongside Grogu, Din crosses paths with new allies and enemies who complicate the mission. Zeb (voiced by Steve Blum) swoops in at a key moment, and Colonel Ward, played by Sigourney Weaver, lays out a directive that pulls Mando deeper into New Republic business. The assignment: find the elusive Colonel Coyne, whose identity remains a mystery.
This is the case where underworld ties become leverage. Mando’s path runs through the Hutt Twins and a volatile deal involving Rotta the Hutt, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White. These dynamics hint at shifting power lines, with familiar crime families staking claims while the New Republic struggles to steady the map. What could go wrong?
Directed by Jon Favreau, with a May 2026 release
Directed by Jon Favreau, the film clocks in at 2 hours and 12 minutes and aims squarely at the communal thrill of a packed theater. US audiences can catch it in theaters starting May 20, 2026, including select premium formats. In addition to its theatrical run, it is expected to stream on Disney+ (after its theatrical run), letting fans relive the adventure at home.