Lucasfilm kicked off the first day of Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan with a sizzle reel about the past and present of the nearly 50-year-old franchise. Thousands of Star Wars fans at the main Celebration Stage (plus hundreds more at the annex stages where the panel was being live-streamed) went wild for the footage — which included every major film and TV show, from the prequels, to The Bad Batch, Andor, Skeleton Crew and even a blink-and-you-miss-it glimpse at The Acolyte to remind you that it was, indeed, released. But the moment Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni took the stage, it was all about the future of Star Wars on the big screen.
The panel was mostly meant to celebrate the upcoming release of The Mandalorian and Grogu. Given the film’s May 22, 2026, release date, this was the only chance to give Star Wars Celebration attendees, and anyone else for that matter, a look at the first new Star Wars movie since 2019. When asked about why fans all over the world love the titular characters (there were overwhelming cheers throughout the panel any time Grogu or Pedro Pascal‘s Din Djarin showed up or were mentioned), Kennedy quickly responded, “The relationship with Mando and Grogu is one we really understand. That parent-child dynamic.”
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Will Bring the Franchise Back to Theaters After 7 Years
Writer-director Jon Favreau joined Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni on stage to give audiences a sneak peek into The Mandalorian and Grogu at Star Wars Celebration 2025. One thing was immediately made clear: this is a bigger adventure than what we’ve seen the characters in previously on the Disney+ streaming service. Favreau confirmed the movie will be in IMAX, so the practical sets and environments had to be adjusted to match the scale, including building an actual, full-scale walker. Yes, an AT-AT Walker, in real life. “I won’t lie, it looked great,” Filoni said in full glee.
The news that Sigourney Weaver of Avatar and Alien fame was joining the galaxy far, far away was already met with excitement, but being in the room when the Oscar-nominated actress walked on stage was almost deafening. Weaver joked about not having seen any of The Mandalorian series before being cast. However, she quickly fell in love with Pedro Pascal’s character. “I fell in love with this guy, too,” she added, referring to Grogu, who Favreau brought on stage to thunderous applause in an adorable moment. Her character’s name has now been confirmed as Colonel Bishop, and the panel further revealed that she’s also a skilled X-wing pilot under the New Republic.
Exclusive Footage from Star Wars Celebration Japan
There’s still a while to go before The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters, but Jon Favreau did share an exclusive preview with the fans in attendance at Star Wars Celebration Japan. The footage begins inside an AT-AT walker, with a commander screaming that they are under attack, as the camera moves across the walker’s hangar, uninterrupted, with snowtroopers gearing up for battle. In a continuous single shot, we see Din Djarin (Pascal) storming in and going all John Wick on the troopers, shooting and knifing his way through the walker, quickly dispatching every snowtrooper that dares come in his way. It’s a thrilling sequence, one that looks distinct from the Volume-heavy Disney+ show.
When all the snowtroopers are dead and gone, Djarin flies off, holding Grogu in his arms as he blows up the walker behind him. We then see a group of AT-ATs walking single file through a mountain pass like Hannibal crossing the Alps with his war elephants. The footage cuts to Sigourney Weaver talking to the titular Mandalorian about his assignment, reaffirming that he works for her and the New Republic. She’s now assigning him a new partner, all while Grogu adorably tries grabbing some candy from her desk. That new partner? None other than Garazeb Orrelios, aka Zeb from Star Wars Rebels. Favreau and Filoni promised a lot more Zeb in the upcoming film.
Jeremy Allen White Enters the Scene as a Buff Rotta the Hutt
From there, we catch brief glimpses of Grogu being cute, like him swimming underwater and using the Force to levitate a droid, accidentally causing it to break down, and having a good laugh about it. The exclusive footage ends with a new sight in the Star Wars franchise — a gladiatorial cage match featuring a really buff Hutt with cannons for arms. This is more than likely Rotta the Hutt, played by Emmy-winner Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, The Iron Claw). The crowd (both in the film and in the Star Wars Celebration panel) went wild at the sight of the flexing Hutt, and we end with Grogu eating popcorn and smiling at the spectacle.
The Next Star Wars Movie After ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ will be ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’
Aside from what was shown and discussed about The Mandalorian and Grogu, Kathleen Kennedy took the opportunity at Star Wars Celebration 2025 to announce the next theatrical feature film in the Lucasfilm pipeline. Director Shawn Levy (Deadpool, Wolverine, Free Guy) joined Kennedy on stage and revealed how the two began talks of making a Star Wars film together in 2022, and how rumors about the project have circulated ever since. But that time has passed. “This is no longer a Star Wars movie in development,” Levy said. “This is a Star Wars movie we’re making this fall.”
The upcoming film is titled Star Wars: Starfighter, which is set to be released on May 28, 2027. Levy described it as a “standalone adventure” that takes place 5-6 years after The Rise of Skywalker. “It is not a prequel, it is not a sequel. It’s a new adventure,” Levy reaffirmed, going on to say that it “features a collection of whole new characters.” Could characters from the Sequel Trilogy show up? Probably, but it’s clear the focus is on an entirely new cast. And leading that new ensemble is none other than Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy, Barbie), who confirmed his involvement in the film by joining Levy on the Star Wars Celebration stage.
What about the other Star Wars Films in Development?
Although no details about Ryan Gosling’s main character in Star Wars: Starfighter were shared at Star Wars Celebration Japan, Gosling wanted to clarify his place in the fandom to the crowd, sharing a picture his mom sent of the Star Wars bedsheets he had when he was 5 years old. Judging from its title, fans can speculate that Gosling will be portraying a pilot of some sort. Yet, that’s all the information we have for now on what is set to be the first Star Wars story after the Sequel trilogy.
In addition to The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter, Kathleen Kennedy also reaffirmed to Star Wars Celebration 2025 attendees that there are still movies in “ongoing development” from award-winning filmmakers James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and Taika Waititi, as well as a new trilogy from X-Men director/writer/producer Simon Kinberg. For those who need a reminder, Mangold’s film is said to be about the “Dawn of the Jedi,” which follows the first Jedi Knight, 25,000 years before the Prequel Trilogy. Meanwhile, Obaid-Chinoy’s film will be a new adventure featuring Daisy Ridley‘s Rey, set after The Rise of Skywalker.
Whenever we receive more updates on these projects, you can bet that you will see them first on DiscussingFilm. Stay tuned for more updates from Star Wars Celebration Japan!
The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026!
Release Date: May 22, 2026.
Directed by Jon Favreau.
Written by Jon Favreau & Dave Filoni.
Based on characters created by George Lucas.
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Karen Gilchrist, & Ian Bryce.
Main Cast: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, & Jonny Coyne.
Production Company: Lucasfilm.
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
