Excitement is building among “Star Wars” fans as the first trailer for director Jon Favreau’s highly anticipated film, “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” has officially been revealed. Starring Pedro Pascal as the titular Mandalorian, Din Djarin, and his beloved apprentice Grogu (affectionately known as Baby Yoda), the movie is set to bring their adventures to the big screen on May 22, 2026. This cinematic debut marks a significant expansion for the popular Disney+ series.

The film picks up after the fall of the Galactic Empire,a period explored in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” mirroring the timeline of “The Mandalorian” series. The overarching plot sees the fledgling New Republic striving to protect the ideals the Rebellion fought for, enlisting the legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young, Force-sensitive apprentice, Grogu, to combat scattered Imperial warlords throughout the galaxy. Their journey is one of an unlikely bond formed as they navigate the lawless outer reaches, avoiding the remnants of the Empire and encountering various characters from the expansive Star Wars canon.

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The recently unveiled trailer offers a thrilling glimpse into the movie’s action-packed narrative. Viewers will see Mando and Grogu interact with new characters, including Sigourney Weaver as a fighter pilot and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, Jabba the Hutt’s son. The duo is shown battling a variety of evil robots and sci-fi beasts, culminating in an epic sequence where they bring down a lumbering AT-AT, which dramatically falls down a mountainside. Additional highlights from the trailer include cameos from the adorable alien race of Babu Frik from “The Rise of Skywalker” and Zeb Orrelios from “Star Wars Rebels,” further weaving the film into the broader Star Wars universe. A key set piece also features Mando and Grogu confronting a Rancor-like lizard monster in Rotta the Hutt’s arena.

The cast for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” sees Pedro Pascal return to voice Din Djarin, with Brendan Wayne handling the in-suit close-up work and Lateef Crowder performing the stunt sequences. Grogu, of course, plays himself. Joining the ensemble are Sigourney Weaver, who has teased her character will send Din on a new quest into the Outer Rim and expressed delight in having scenes with Grogu, whom she described as a “little badass.” Jeremy Allen Whitetakes on the role of Rotta the Hutt, while Jonny Coyne portrays an imperial warlord. Steve Blum is also listed as part of the cast, reprising his role as Zeb.

A significant focus of the upcoming film is the continued evolution of Grogu. Director Jon Favreau confirmed that fans will observe a real progression in the character, noting that the relationship between Mando and Grogu has evolved significantly; Grogu is now an apprentice, adopted family member, and it is Mando’s job to train him. Sigourney Weaver also highlighted Grogu’s growth, stating he has “grown up a little bit and is capable of much more than maybe we think just watching the series.”

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Favreau further elaborated that Grogu is becoming more comfortable with his abilities, having been trained by none other than Luke Skywalker,emphasizing that the path of the Force is a lifelong journey. As the story gets bigger and the screen gets bigger, the filmmakers aim to show Grogu growing into that expanded narrative.

Jon Favreau is not only directing but also writing the film, with Dave Filoni credited as a co-writer. Favreau is producing alongside Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni, who was also the former supervising director of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Fans eager to revisit the duo’s adventures before the film’s release can stream all three seasons of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+.