Disney and Lucasfilm released the latest trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first new Star Wars movie since Rise of Skywalker hit theaters back in 2019, and it includes everything I want from a movie set in this famous galaxy: eierd aliens, sci-fi action, deep cut references, and a voice cameo from famed director Martin Scorsese.
The upcoming Star Wars flick stars Pedro Pascal as fan-favorite bounty hunter Din Djarin alongside his faithful little buddy Grogu, aka Baby Yoda. Set after the events of the original trilogy and the Mandalorian TV series, this new movie, which hits theaters on May 22, is set to tie up plot threads involving the remnants of the Empire trying to destroy the New Republic. It will also likely provide more answers about Grogu, a member of Yoda’s species. Here’s the trailer:
And yes, that shopkeeper alien we see at the start who gets spooked when asked to provide information about a Hutt is voiced by the one and only Martin Scorsese, the director behind films like Goodfellas and The Wolf of Wall Street. Disney confirmed as much with Polygon. I can’t wait to see how angry online commenters who can’t stop yelling about the famous director’s MCU comments will react to him appearing in what looks to be a big, dumb, super-expensive Star Wars summer blockbuster.
As for the rest of the trailer, I’m super into all the weird, goofy aliens and monsters that appear in it. The fact that a Mantellian Savrip shows up at the very end of the trailer as the big monster alien Mando and Grogu fight in the city made me giggle a little, I have to admit. This is an alien that first appeared as one of the holochess pieces in the very first Star Wars movie. Cool to see it here in the flesh. Meanwhile, seeing Embo, a bounty hunter from the Clone Wars animated series, pop up was fun, as was seeing Zeb from Rebels show up again after first appearing in live action back in the original Mando show on Disney+.
Will all these silly cameos and references be enough in and of themselves to make Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu a good movie? Nope. But at least this thing seems like a big movie, and I’m happy about that. Star Wars belongs in theaters, even when it’s bad, and I’m happy that after a few years away, we are finally getting a new cinematic Star Wars adventure. Let’s just hope it’s halfway decent when it arrives in May.