Baby Yoda, aka Grogu, will make his big screen debut in a new Star Wars film.
Director Jon Favreau has been tapped to star in The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will go into production later this year. “I loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said in a statement. “The prospect of bringing The Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”
Plot details remain under wraps, but Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy called the story “perfectly suited for the big screen.”
Since his introduction in the self-titled Disney+ series, the Mandalorian, played by Pedro Pascal, has become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed new characters in the Star Wars universe. It was nominated for best drama series at the Emmys and a fourth season is planned.
In addition to creating the series, Favreau wrote and directed several episodes. He is also known as the director of Iron Man and The Lion King.
The film is one of many Star Wars films on the way following the decision to focus more on exploring the universe on the big screen rather than the small. “They are retreating not only to focus, but also as part of our cost containment initiative,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said last year. “We spend less on what we make and make less.”
Daisy Ridley is expected to return as Rey in a film from Canadian-Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who will become the first woman and first person of color to direct a Star Wars film. “We are now in 2024 and it is time for a woman to come forward to write a story in a galaxy far, far away,” she said.
Further future films are said to come from James Mangold, Donald Glover and Taika Waititi. “It’s going to piss people off,” Waititi said of his film.
Lucasfilm has also announced and then canceled a number of Star Wars projects in recent years, including films from Marvel boss Kevin Feige and Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins.
The last Star Wars film was 2019's “Rise of the Skywalker,” which grossed $1 billion worldwide but received mediocre reviews.