The Mandalorian & Grogu: A New Chapter in Star Wars Storytelling

The Latest Rumors Suggest The Mandalorian Season 4 Isn't Dead After All

Recent rumors suggest that The Mandalorian season 4 may still happen alongside The Mandalorian & Grogu, marking a new chapter in Star Wars storytelling. The announcement from Lucasfilm about the upcoming Star Wars movie slate in January 2024 shocked fans with the confirmation of Din Djarin and Grogu's appearance in the next theatrically released Star Wars movie: The Mandalorian & Grogu. Many assumed that this movie would replace the story of The Mandalorian season 4, but reports have hinted otherwise.

Din Djarin and Grogu in a promotional image for The Mandalorian next to Grogu sitting on a rock

Conversations about how The Mandalorian season 4's story would be condensed into a feature film's runtime arose after the announcement of The Mandalorian & Grogu. However, these discussions were put to rest after reports suggested that The Mandalorian season 4 is not completely dead. It is now speculated that The Mandalorian season 4 would still go ahead, with the final two episodes being condensed into what has since become The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Din Djarin and Grogu fly away from an explosion in concept art for The Mandalorian & Grogu movie

This potential move is a bold leap forward for Star Wars' transmedia nature, as it would be the first time a feature film ties directly to the story of a pre-existing TV show. However, this approach also poses a risk of alienating certain audience members who solely follow either the movies or the TV shows. The question of how this potential format would work is as prevalent as ever, prompting a discussion about the perfect storytelling trick that could allow it to work with ease: the opening crawl.

Din Djarin in The Mandalorian season 3 superimposed over Pedro Pascal as Din and Grogu

Twitter article posted by Total Film

Star Wars' Opening Crawls Have Always Allowed Viewers To Jump Into Stories In Progress

The Star Wars franchise already contains the perfect storytelling trick that could allow The Mandalorian & Grogu and The Mandalorian season 4 to coexist: the opening crawl. Since 1977, Star Wars' opening crawls have been a staple of the Skywalker Saga movies, offering all the information audiences need to jump into ongoing stories. The opening crawl has proven successful in dropping audiences into ongoing stories with the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and it could work equally well for The Mandalorian & Grogu.

George Lucas next to the words of Star Wars' opening crawl and the Skywalker Saga

Should The Mandalorian & Grogu follow on from The Mandalorian season 4, an opening crawl could fill in vital pieces of information about the events of The Mandalorian seasons 1-4, allowing all audience members to invest in the new story. This would make The Mandalorian & Grogu accessible and exciting for anyone, regardless of their knowledge of the TV show. Utilizing this iconic screenwriting gimmick, the opening crawl, would set up an exciting new chapter in Star Wars storytelling.

Grogu looking wide-eyed in The Mandalorian.

A Smart Opening Crawl Can Make The Mandalorian & Grogu Work

The potential use of an opening crawl for The Mandalorian & Grogu is a smart move. It could fill in vital pieces of information for audience members unfamiliar with The Mandalorian, making the new story accessible to all. However, the success of The Mandalorian & Grogu will also depend on the storytelling prowess of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, who have a track record of captivating audiences with their compelling and emotional narratives. If The Mandalorian season 4 indeed happens in a truncated form as reported, the utilization of the opening crawl will be crucial for setting up this exciting new chapter in Star Wars storytelling.

Star The Force Awakens Opening Crawl