Grogu Saves Mando in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu,' Setting Up a 2027 Star Wars Future
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 23
Grogu Saves Mando in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu,' Setting Up a 2027 Star Wars Future
4 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 23
Grogu rescues Din Djarin near the film’s end, building shelter, finding medicine and reviving him after a giant snake’s poison leaves Mando unconscious.
That reversal lets Mando survive the Hutt plot over Jabba’s son Rotta; the Hutt twins are then killed by the same snake, and Rotta signals interest in joining the New Republic.
The final hyperspace scene in a new Razor Crest shifts the duo’s dynamic, with Mando telling Grogu to press the controls himself — a handoff that frames him as more than a sidekick.
The ending otherwise leaves the broader status quo mostly intact: Mando remains tied to the New Republic, Imperials still loom, and another helmet removal may create a loophole for showing his face more often.
Because Grogu’s species can live for hundreds of years, the film points beyond Mando toward a longer-term Star Wars role, potentially feeding into stories after 'The Rise of Skywalker' and the wider Thrawn-centered arc.
Is Grogu's evolution from sidekick to hero the new successful blueprint for Lucasfilm's future movies?
Does the new helmet rule undermine Mandalorian beliefs simply to give actor Pedro Pascal more screen time?
Why did audiences embrace the new Star Wars film when many critics found it lacking in substance?