Can Disney’s Most Reliable Director Secure a Vital 2026 Victory for Star Wars?

Image: Lucasfilm

The Star Wars franchise has been absent from theaters for six years, with its last cinematic outing being 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Since that conclusion to the sequel trilogy, Lucasfilm has announced a plethora of projects that have either been scrapped entirely or left to wither in the depths of development hell. Here is a status report on the films that never were—or have yet to be:

This laundry list of false starts highlights a glaring issue: for the last half-decade, Lucasfilm and Disney have struggled to steer the Star Wars cinematic ship. The studio appears to be suffering from creative paralysis following the divisive fallout of The Last Jedi. While The Rise of Skywalker was intended to course-correct, it instead fostered a Rare moment of near-universal disappointment among fans. Since then, the brand has been sustained by Disney Plus streaming content, while movie pitches are over-analyzed until they vanish. Even those streaming ambitions have begun to stagnate.

Image: Lucasfilm

However, the theatrical drought is nearing its end as Disney pivots to its most reliable assets. The Mandalorian & Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, is scheduled for release on May 22, 2026. This move transitions the escapades of Din Djarin and the pop-culture phenomenon known as Baby Yoda from the small screen to the global stage.

Strategically, it is a low-risk play. Since its 2020 debut, The Mandalorian has been the crown jewel of Disney Plus, and “Baby Yoda” remains the studio’s most marketable icon outside of the original trilogy. For a brand in dire need of a win, this feels like an obvious choice.

Favreau himself is perhaps Disney’s most seasoned architect. He effectively launched the MCU with Iron Man and refined the studio’s “live-action” remake formula with The Jungle Book and The Lion King. Furthermore, he revolutionized modern production with The Volume—the virtual LED stage technology that has since become a staple of Disney’s filmmaking toolkit.

Image: Lucasfilm

On paper, this is a guaranteed blockbuster. Yet, there is room for skepticism. Are Mando and Grogu truly big-screen heavyweights? While Baby Yoda became a viral sensation, it’s unclear if the general public—beyond the core subscribers—is invested enough in the “Grogu” lore to drive a massive theatrical opening.

Furthermore, Favreau hasn’t sat in the director’s chair since 2019. Early glimpses of The Mandalorian & Grogu have drawn comparisons to the TV-movie aesthetic of Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure, leading some fans to reassess their views on the visually grander J.J. Abrams era. While betting against Favreau is usually unwise, the stakes have never been higher.

Image: Marvel Studios

Success for The Mandalorian & Grogu would provide a much-needed foundation, but the long-term future remains hazy. In 2027, Shawn Levy is expected to take the reins with a standalone film titled Starfighter. Levy’s recent repertoire—ranging from Stranger Things to Deadpool & Wolverine—suggests a heavy reliance on nostalgia, much like Favreau. One hopes that by the time his project arrives, Lucasfilm will have found a way to move beyond sentimental pandering and chart a fresh course for the saga.

Until then, all eyes are on James Mangold. Despite the lukewarm reception to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, fans are holding out hope that his vision can breathe new life into the galaxy. We’re counting on you, James—you might be our last hope.

Source: Polygon