In short, The Mandalorian became the exact opposite of what it promised in that first scene. Instead of a back-to-basics celebration of the pulp adventure that made Star Wars a hit, The Mandalorian became a moving Wikipedia entry of references to the franchise.
To be sure, we some referential stuff in the first Mandalorian and Grogu trailer, both in and outside of the universe. It’s hard not to see Sigourney Weaver, dressed in a green jacket and sitting in a dingy sci-fi setting, and not recall Ellen Ripley. And, yes, we do get a look at an Anzellan, the species that includes Rise of Skywalker stand out Babu Frik.
But such winks and nods are minor. Instead, the trailer plays mostly like a celebration of genre pleasures. Set to Ludwig Göransson’s triumphant score, the teaser is full of robots and lasers and fights and force powers—all the stuff that made Star Wars so great.
Will the movie live up to the puply pleasures that the trailer promises? Or is this all a cynical ruse to draw in people who didn’t religiously watch The Clone Wars when they were young? We’ll find out soon.
The Mandalorian and Grogu comes to theaters on May 22, 2026.
