The Mandalorian And Grogu Director Hints At A Beloved Star Wars Icon’s Comeback
Din Djarin and Grogu hit theaters next year, and director Jon Favreau is teasing a crowd-pleasing reunion: a beloved Star Wars character from another series joining their next mission.
Mando and Grogu are going big-screen. The next chapter of their saga isn’t a Disney+ season — it’s a full-on theatrical feature — and yes, a familiar face from Rebels is tagging along.
So who’s the fan favorite? Zeb. Big purple Zeb.
Jon Favreau told Empire that Din Djarin isn’t the same lone-wolf bounty hunter we met at the start. He’s in a different headspace now, one where teaming up with the New Republic actually sounds like a good idea.
"The Mandalorian has changed his priorities... I don’t want to go out there and just be a hired gun. I want to work for the good guys."
That shift opens the door for allies, including Zeb Orrelios — the Lasat bruiser best known from Star Wars Rebels, who briefly popped up in The Mandalorian Season 3. Favreau says the movie will really let them cut loose with him: even if you never watched Rebels, the mix of that gravelly voice, swagger, and sheer physical presence should land. Translation: expect Zeb to be more than a cameo this time.
Cast, plot, and everything else you’re going to ask me anyway
Pedro Pascal is back under the helmet as Din. The movie also adds Sigourney Weaver as a character named Ward, and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt — yes, that Rotta. Unexpected casting, and I’m curious what kind of energy White brings to Jabba’s heir.
The setup picks up after the Empire’s collapse. Imperial warlords are still out there causing trouble, and the New Republic is stretched thin. So they tap Din and his tiny apprentice to help protect what the Rebellion fought to build. It’s very much a continuation of the show’s story, just scaled up for theaters.
- Title: The Mandalorian and Grogu
- Key returning character: Zeb Orrelios (from Star Wars Rebels; cameoed in The Mandalorian Season 3)
- Cast: Pedro Pascal (Din Djarin), Sigourney Weaver (Ward), Jeremy Allen White (Rotta the Hutt)
- Story vibe: Post-Empire cleanup; New Republic enlistment; Mando choosing to work with the 'good guys'
- Director: Jon Favreau
- Writers: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni
- Producers: Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, Ian Bryce
- Continuity: Direct continuation of The Mandalorian on Disney+
- Release: In theaters May 22, 2026
Bottom line: Din and Grogu are trading the volume for a multiplex, with Zeb along for the ride. That’s a smart pick — he brings muscle, humor, and a link to the wider galaxy that could make this feel less like a one-off and more like a full-on Star Wars event.