Josh is a film critic and journalist with over six years of experience, covering all things Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and more.
The first Star Wars film to release in theaters this decade is officially two weeks away. The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to debut on May 22, with the film set to tell the next adventure of Din Djarin and his adopted son.
Pedro Pascal returns in the starring role and is joined by franchise newcomer Signourney Weaver, who plays Colonel Ward. The Mandalorian and Grogu is unique not only because it’s the first Star Wars movie in over six years, but because of the history of these characters on Disney+. After all, Mando and Grogu were the ones who launched the Disney streaming service, and it’s their success that laid the foundation for all the other Star Wars and Marvel shows.
The Mandalorian was just the start, however. There are other series that tie into The Mandalorian show, and The Mandalorian and Grogu movie, from creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. Ahsoka, for example, tells the story of the broader issues the New Republic is facing in a post-Empire galaxy, and that plotline is at the heart of the new movie.
Lucasfilm and Disney have stated for years that their plan is to create a cinematic universe of sorts for The Mandalorian era in particular. However, this is the first time that this mini universe is entering the big screen, meaning that there are a number of Star Wars shows that can be watched in preparation for the new film.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi Return of the Jedi is one of the Star Wars movies that influenced The Mandalorian show the most. The criminal underworld shown in the final film of the original trilogy is a core piece of the galaxy that Din Djarin lives in before adopting Grogu, for example.
The plot of The Mandalorian then expands to the broader galactic conflict, again echoing Return of the Jedi, but this time with the mystical Force angle. Episode VI also directly sets up the galaxy that audiences see in The Mandalorian and Grogu, one where the Empire has fallen, the New Republic rules, but Imperial remnants threaten to destabilize the galaxy. The Mandalorian Arguably the main title to watch before The Mandalorian and Grogu movie is, of course, The Mandalorian show.
The new film is a continuation of the series, and although Jon Favreau has stated that he created the film as a season one of sorts, it’s still important to watch the show beforehand. After all, the journey of Din Djarin and Grogu has been shown entirely on Disney+ up until this point, so even if the film is somewhat of a reset, it will still naturally heavily lean on the show.
Another reason to watch the show is because of how good it is, especially the first two seasons. The Mandalorian season one serves as a fantastic entry point for the Star Wars franchise, feeling isolated enough to not overwhelm new fans but also connected to the rest of the galaxy enough to feel like the story is still important. Season 2 leans into the latter more, with a story that ties back into Luke Skywalker, the Jedi, and the Force.
Even Season 3, while not as successful as the first two seasons, is still worth a watch. After all, there are some good episodes in there, such as Chapter 19, which focused on ex-Imperials in a reintegration program on Coruscant. The overarching story is flawed, but it’s still a touching adventure story with two great characters at its center. The Book of Boba Fett The Book of Boba Fett followed The Mandalorian, becoming the second live action Star Wars series.
Despite massive anticipation and expectations, The Book of Boba Fett generally failed to impress both audiences and critics, with a lackluster story that oddly diverted its attention away from its title character in exchange for Din Djarin. Regardless, The Book of Boba Fett is still one of the most crucial stories to understand where Din and Grogu are at in The Mandalorian and Grogu.
This is the show where they were reunited after separating in The Mandalorian’s season two finale, marking a huge change in their relationship. Another core reason to watch this series before The Mandalorian and Grogu is that, despite a general storyline that fails to capture the attention of the viewer, there are still a few good episodes.
Chapter 5, titled Return of the Mandalorian, is one of the best episodes of Star Wars TV, highlighting the success that The Book of Boba Fett does have, even if it fails when it comes to Fett himself. Ahsoka If The Book of Boba Fett is the show that’s importance lies in its reunification of Din Djarin and Grogu, then Ahsoka is the series that gives the broader context of the galaxy at this time.
The Mandalorian gets into the political state of the galaxy at times, mostly in season 3, but Ahsoka is where fans can get a full look at what’s happening during this point in canon. The New Republic are seen struggling to fight off the Imperial remnants, and are perhaps too naive to see that the Empire is slowly but surely rising again.
All of this is crucial to the story of The Mandalorian and Grogu, so even though the Ahsoka series does have its flaws, it’s important nonetheless. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Return of the Jedi tells the story of how the galaxy ended up in a state where the New Republuc rule. Conversely, The Force Awakens shows what is going to happen in the future.
The Mandalorian and Grogu centers on hunting Imperial remnants, and the first of the sequel trilogy shows that the New Republic were ultimately unsuccessful in fighting off those forces. In canon, some of the Imperial forces band together to form the First Order, an organization which then becomes a thorn in the side of the New Republic.
The New Republic doesn’t take the threat of the First Order seriously enough, ultimately resulting in their destruction, meaning that The Force Awakens offers a tease of what’s to come in the galaxy, ahead of The Mandalorian and Grogu. The Mandalorian and Grogu Like Follow Followed 12 Sci-Fi Adventure Action Release Date May 22, 2026 Director Jon Favreau Writers Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni Cast See All Producers Dave Filoni, Ian Bryce, Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy Sequel Dave Filoni's Untitled Mandalorian Movie Franchise Star Wars Powered by Expand Collapse
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