Star Wars' Next Movie Can Break A Tradition That Runs All The Way Back To 1977 (2024)

While most Star Wars movies follow a formula the franchise is expected to adhere to, The Mandalorian and Grogu can defy tradition and include something the films have never had. Picking up where The Mandalorian season 3 left off, The Mandalorian & Grogu will continue the adventures of Din Djarin and his now-adopted son, kicking off the next wave of upcoming Star Wars movies in 2026 and 2027. It will be the first Star Wars movie released since 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the franchise's first spinoff film since Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018.

The Mandalorian & Grogu will also be the first film released as the next chapter of a Star Wars TV show. This puts the film in a position to differentiate itself from previous Star Wars movies and set a precedent for what filmmakers can do in upcoming releases. One way Jon Favreau and his team can do this is by including something that has been done in the TV shows but never in a Star Wars movie, bringing The Mandalorian & Grogu to a close while teasing the franchise's next big project.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Will Likely Include A Post-Credits Scene

A new way to build hype for the next release

As a spinoff film, The Mandalorian & Grogu would have an easier time going against Star Wars tradition by including a post-credits scene. With so many TV shows in production alongside the Star Wars movies, a post-credit scene would help clarify which release audiences should anticipate next and create excitement for future stories. This strategy worked effectively with The Mandalorian season 2's post-credits scene, which set up The Book of Boba Fett as the next chapter in the Mandoverse saga for viewers who may have only anticipated The Mandalorian season 3.

Star Wars Movies Have Never Had A Post-Credits Scene Before

Though they have come close

Considering how common post-credits scenes are nowadays for franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's hard to believe that Star Wars movies have never had any. The closest example is 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which featured audio of Darth Vader's breathing at the end of the credits, reminding viewers of Anakin Skywalker's fate. The 25th-anniversary re-release of The Phantom Menace also featured a sneak preview of The Acolyte season 1, similar to how the 2022 IMAX re-release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story showed footage of Andor season 1.

Perhaps these more recent examples have prepared audiences for the idea of a Star Wars post-credits scene, but not all fans will readily accept a break from tradition. Post-credits scenes are no longer as special as they used to be before the MCU, and the relatively short wait between new Star Wars releases may make one feel pointless. However, Star Wars should also be free to experiment, so adding a unique post-credits scene to tie stories together could be interesting. Star Wars fans must wait until 2026 to know if The Mandalorian & Grogu will break tradition.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is a Star Wars movie directed by Jon Favreau that continues Disney+'s immensely popular TV Show, The Mandalorian. The film will replace The Mandalorian season 4 to bring the franchise back to the big screen and follow Din Djarin and his adventures with Grogu. The Mandalorian & Grogu is the first Star Wars film to be released since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.

Director

Jon Favreau

Release Date

May 22, 2026

Studio(s)

Lucasfilm

Distributor(s)

Disney

Franchise(s)

Star Wars