The Mandalorian & Grogu Is First Star Wars Film
The upcoming 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' movie will be the first in the Star Wars franchise to not feature a lightsaber duel or any Jedi wielding the iconic
The upcoming Star Wars film 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' will break a franchise tradition when it releases in May 2026. It will be the first movie in the series to not include a lightsaber.
The lightsaber is one of the most recognizable weapons in cinema history. It has appeared in every Star Wars movie to date. This includes the core Skywalker saga films, which each feature at least one major duel. Even the anthology movies 'Solo' and 'Rogue One' included the weapon. Darth Vader's hallway scene in 'Rogue One' and Darth Maul's cameo at the end of 'Solo' served those purposes.
'The Mandalorian and Grogu' does not have any Jedi or Sith characters. Grogu himself, while a Force user, does not possess a lightsaber. The report states no other Force users who wield one appear in the film. This absence marks a first for the franchise.
A Tradition-Breaking Film
The movie is tradition-breaking in several other key ways. It is the first Star Wars installment to focus on characters who originally debuted on television. Din Djarin and Grogu first appeared in the Disney+ series 'The Mandalorian'. It is also the first film without any major characters from the Original Trilogy. Screen Rant notes a possible, very brief appearance by an astromech droid that may or may not be R2-D2.
Despite these breaks from tradition, much of the film will feel familiar. It is described as being packed with Easter eggs referencing wider lore. The father-son dynamic between Din and Grogu is central. The film will also feature Hutts, bounty hunters, X-wings, and the pulse rifle wielded by Din Djarin. The core premise remains a fun adventure set in a galaxy far, far away.
Box Office Performance
The film has already set another, less positive record. It is officially the lowest-grossing Star Wars movie of all time when excluding 2008's 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'. That film is considered a glorified TV pilot. 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' earned a global haul of $345 million. This is even less than 'Solo: A Star Wars Story', which made $393 million back in 2018.
The following table compares the box office of recent Star Wars films:
| Film Title | Global Box Office |
|---|---|
| The Mandalorian & Grogu | $345 million |
| Solo: A Star Wars Story | $393 million |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars | N/A (considered a TV pilot) |
The Next Movie Restores the Tradition
While 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' drops the lightsaber, the next planned Star Wars movie will officially restore the tradition. The report confirms that an upcoming film will bring the iconic weapon back to the big screen. No further details on that project are provided in the source.
The absence of lightsabers and Original Trilogy characters makes this a unique entry. It represents a shift towards stories centered on newer, television-born characters within the cinematic universe. The film's performance, however, indicates it did not connect with audiences in the same way as previous chapters.
