The Mandalorian & Grogu Has A Lot More Pressure On It After Major Star Wars Shakeup

This is going to be a pivotal year for Star Wars as a franchise, with The Mandalorian and Grogu carrying significant importance as the first movie in the galaxy far, far away since 2019. The continuation of Din Djarin and Grogu's story from the hit three-season Disney+ show will test just how eager audiences are to go to theaters for the next chapter in a saga they've so far followed exclusively on streaming.

As the first Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker, questions about how well The Mandalorian and Grogu will do at the box office have already popped up. The film's trailers haven't generated as much general hype as expected, with the movie looking more like a prolonged episode of The Mandalorian than an adventure that demands to be seen on the big screen.

Lucasfilm has other Star Wars movies coming in the years ahead, so Jon Favreau's film already faces pressure to "relaunch" the franchise after a theatrical drought. Now, after news that current chief creative officer Dave Filoni is replacing Kathleen Kennedy as the studio's president, Filoni's new gig increases the necessity for The Mandalorian and Grogu to be a major hit.

The Mandalorian & Grogu's Performance Will Shape The Beginning Of Dave Filoni's Leadership

While Favreau is the one who created The Mandalorian, Filoni has been an instrumental figure in the series. He has been Favreau's most trusted creative partner, with the director often consulting George Lucas' protégé on lore and so on. Filoni directed the premiere episode and has written and directed several other episodes. He's now the credited co-writer and a producer on The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Although Filoni was not already in charge of Lucasfilm when The Mandalorian and Grogu was first announced, his promotion will be officially announced by the time it hits theaters, according to reports. His key creative role with the production means Filoni's influence will be felt all over the movie. For that reason, he'll be partially responsible for the reception of Star Wars' next movie.

That will be true whether the critical response brings "Fresh" or "Rotten" labels on Rotten Tomatoes, whether it makes over $1 billion at the box office or flops, and, importantly, if fans immediately and overwhelmingly love it or harshly reject a disappointing entry featuring these beloved characters.

This positions The Mandalorian and Grogu as a reflection of what Star Wars will look like with Filoni at the helm; he'll reportedly handle all creative decisions, while Lynwen Brennan (current president and general manager of Lucasfilm Business) will work directly alongside him, handling non-creative duties. How he's shaped the new movie will be seen as a sign of what's to come, for better or worse.

Frankly, Lucasfilm can't afford to have this new era of Star Wars get off on the wrong note. That would be the case even if Kennedy were sticking around as the studio president for the long haul. Now that Filoni (and Brennan) are going to be in charge, The Mandalorian and Grogu becomes a chance to unite a fandom that's become increasingly divided — and quite toxic in some corners of the internet.

A divisive reaction among fans to The Mandalorian and Grogu would be the worst-case scenario, especially if it meant a lower-than-expected box office gross. It'd start the Filoni era on a sour note that could risk decreasing interest in future installments of the franchise.

That's why The Mandalorian and Grogu needs to be a massive success. Strong reviews, a big box office haul, and generating excitement among hardcore fans and general audiences for the galaxy far, far away are all goals the movie is already striving for. Now there's just more pressure on it to achieve them.