Can things get any worse for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” mere days before its theatrical debut?
The first new “Star Wars” movie in seven years has plenty riding on it. Small-screen “Star Wars” projects have either failed to ignite (“Skeleton Crew”) or flopped in dramatic fashion (“The Acolyte“).
The box office soothsayers suggest “Mandalorian” could gross less in its opening weekend than any “Star Wars” film in the Disney era.
Early buzz for the film, including pre-release footage, has been mixed.
Some influencers did get access to a 25-minute clip reel of the film and came away impressed. We’ve yet to hear of any early screenings for review purposes.
There’s more.
“Star Wars” legend Mark Hamill just posted, then deleted, an image of a dead President Trump. That ghoulish move got plenty of media attention, forcing him to post a quasi-apology.
Hamill isn’t featured in “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” but he’s an essential part of franchise lore and a brand ambassador.
At least he was.
More recently, star Pedro Pascal went on “The Late Show” and gave host Stephen Colbert a full kiss on the lips. The awkward buss will be relentlessly mocked on social media, no doubt.
Pedro Pascal requested a kiss from Stephen Colbert on Tuesday’s ‘Late Show’ after seeing the host smooch Julia Louis-Dreyfus during their interview: ‘I got jealous!’ https://t.co/eI1N5xCPmJ
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) May 13, 2026
Now, modern audiences don’t care that a given performer is gay. Same-sex relationships and gay acceptance are now the norm, and if Pascal were openly gay, few would do more than offer a shoulder shrug.
If that.
Except that Pascal hasn’t been open about his sexuality, and giving the TV show’s host a kiss on the lips, along with some curious flirtation, is just … odd.
The worst news for the film may arrive this weekend.
Former “Mandalorian” star Gina Carano, who nearly snagged her own “Star Wars” spinoff playing the popular Cara Dune, got fired by Disney in 2021 for an innocent post pleading for tolerance.
Disney overplayed its progressive hand, got sued and later settled with the former MMA star-turned-actress.
She’s no longer part of the “Mandalorian” universe, one of several reasons why the show’s third-season disappointed.
But she’ll be front and center this weekend, no doubt.
Discover the story behind the biggest women’s fight in MMA history when Countdown: Rousey vs. Carano premieres on May 6.#RouseyCarano
Saturday, May 16
9 PM ET | 6 PM PT
LIVE only on Netflix pic.twitter.com/LzdWhIIIKj— Netflix (@netflix) May 5, 2026
Carano will fight fellow MMA star turned actress Ronda Rousey on Netflix May 16. The fight is generating a lot of media attention, and a classic slugfest could send Carano’s star soaring, win or lose.
Her pop culture presence is a constant reminder of what Team Disney threw away, and why “The Mandalorian” property fell back to earth.
She should have been a vital part of the new movie. Instead, she recently revealed that she had preliminary talks with “Star Wars” braintrust, but it’s unclear what, if anything, that will yield.
None of this bodes well for the film’s box office hopes, but there are two positive signs to consider.
One, movie attendance is up this year, and Americans are getting back into the habit of going to the local cineplex. That matters.
The second reason is more consequential.
Director Jon Favreau is behind the camera for “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” And while he has a clunker or two on his resume (“Cowboys vs. Aliens”), he’s also delivered modern-day classics, including “Elf,” “Iron Man” and “Swingers.”
If anyone can revive the theatrical “Star Wars” model, it’s Favreau.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” is in theaters nationwide on May 22.
