Lucasfilm Releases First Teaser for ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ Revealing Grand Admiral Thrawn as Central Antagonist

The first official teaser trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu has confirmed Grand Admiral Thrawn as the primary antagonist of the upcoming theatrical feature, marking the character’s transition to the big screen. Lucasfilm debuted the footage late Monday evening, establishing a direct narrative continuation from the Disney+ series Ahsoka and the studio’s streaming content. The preview signals a significant tonal shift for the franchise, positioning the film as a war drama focused on the New Republic’s struggle to contain a coordinated Imperial resurgence in the Outer Rim.

The two-minute clip opens with a sequence depicting Din Djarin, played by Pedro Pascal, piloting a heavily modified N-1 Starfighter through a chaotic orbital blockade. Key shots introduce Sigourney Weaver in her confirmed role as a high-ranking New Republic admiral, who is seen briefing a council on the “tactical asymmetry” posed by Thrawn’s fleet. The teaser culminates in a reveal of Lars Mikkelsen reprising his role as the Chiss strategist, standing on the bridge of a Star Destroyer that bears severe battle damage, distinct from the Chimaera seen in previous animated and streaming iterations.

Director Jon Favreau and co-writer Dave Filoni have structured the film to serve as the linchpin for the current era of Star Wars storytelling. While the teaser highlights the return of Grogu demonstrating advanced Force abilities during a ground skirmish on a snow-covered planet, the focus remains heavily on military mobilization. The footage also provides a brief glimpse of Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios, rendered in photorealistic CGI, fighting alongside New Republic shock troopers, confirming the integration of characters from Star Wars Rebels into the cinematic fold.

The Mandalorian & Grogu represents Lucasfilm’s first theatrical release since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. The studio has set a release date of May 22, 2026, intending to re-establish the brand’s box office dominance. Industrial Light & Magic reportedly utilized an upgraded version of the StageCraft volume technology for the production, aiming to blend practical location work with virtual environments more seamlessly than previous television applications. The trailer concludes with a title card confirming the film will be released exclusively in IMAX and large-format theaters.