The Mandalorian and Grogu recently invited fans to a special screening of the first thirty minutes of the movie. While some of the early footage has already been seen, fans at these events got to delve even deeper into the film. And let me tell you, when the footage came to a stop, there were shouts of dismay across the theater. If you don’t want to know anything about how The Mandalorian and Grogu kicks off, turn away now. Otherwise, join us as we break down some of the exciting beats you can expect to see!
We’ve already written about the first 15 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu. But to reset the scene, the movie begins with a traditional Star Wars text credit, which lets us know where we are in time and space. The Mandalorian and Grogu shares that “the Galactic Empire has fallen, and Mando and Grogu are in the lawless Outer Rim to hunt Imperial forces for the New Republic.”
Then it’s right into the action for a sprawling epic fight on a wintry planet as Mando and Grogu take out a slew of Imperial Remnants single-handedly. We see Star Wars: Rebels’ Zeb as he flies the pair back to the current New Republic HQ on the planet of Adelphi and meet Sigourney Weaver’s character, New Republic boss Ward. She sets Mando and Grogu on their quest to find the villainous Commander Coyne, who she describes as “Our ace of spades. No one knows what he looks like, and most believe he’s dead.” But the only way to do this is to make deals with devils. Yes, in exchange for helping the Hutts rescue their kidnapped nephew Rotta, the Hutts will furnish the New Republic with the information they seek. You can read a more detailed account of the first 15 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu here.
Before we move on, though, I have to give some love to an early moment where Mando and Grogu are trying to beat the clock against a slew of bombs about to go off in the ship they’re in. Grogu starts to knock on the back of Mando’s helmet in the most adorable way to let him know there’s danger afoot. Mando keeps telling him he is AWARE of the bombs, but Grogu keeps knocking. We stan a self-preservation-oriented baby. This moment is too cute to resist.
Now we’re flying into new footage. Mando and Grogu head to the Hutts’ stronghold, where there are MANY Hutts. In a conceit I like, we see Mando teaching Grogu about important parts of the universe as the movie unfolds, for example, “We may be the Hutts’ guests, but we’re not safe.” The Hutts’ home is a pretty cool location, cavernous and full of tunnels, and we see the Hutts sliding and squirming around, lurking in every corner as we walk through it with Mando. Ultimately, though, it’s all about business. The last direct descendant of Jabba the Hutt, Rotta the Hutt, has been kidnapped, and his Hutt family wants him back. It’s kind of sweet, if we’re honest. The Hutts show us an ADORABLE image of Baby Rotta the Hutt, which Grogu immediately likes, but they caution that they haven’t seen him in some time.
The Hutts also seem to think Mando is really invested in the money and riches they can offer, not so much in gathering information for the New Republic. So we’ll see where that goes. And they cryptically ask Mando what it would feel like if he lost his little one… Which feels a little like a threat, but again, we’ll have to wait and see. Then it’s off to the Shakari moon, where the Hutts think Rotta has been taken.
On the way, we get a really sweet moment with Mando and Grogu, where Mando teaches Grogu how to make sure his armor is on right. It can’t be so snug that it strangles, or so loose it doesn’t stay on. Honestly, whenever we get fatherly Mando trying to prepare his child for the world, it really melts our hearts. And The Mandalorian and Grogu hits all these beats just right.
From sweetness, we get into the thrum of a new world on Shakari. And it’s another really fabulous Star Wars setting. This one is all gritty gangster, noir sleekness, and lawless party. We know Shakari is actually inspired by Prohibition-era Chicago, and we can see the influences immediately. It feels like a planet you’d like to visit… but probably shouldn’t. There’s a wonderful vibe to the whole city, and a definite promise of a good time if you’re willing to risk it. And naturally, if you’re going to have a gangster Star Wars city, you NEED Martin Scorsese to bless it.
In the first 30 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu, we get to finally meet Martin Scorsese’s character, an Ardennian alien that’s running a DELICIOUS-looking food truck selling mouth-watering sandwiches. Seriously, we need this fictional food right now. Mando stops to get Grogu a snack and information. And the personable, smooth-talking Ardennian is all charm until Mando brings up the Hutts. Then he wants him to get out! But it turns out it’s all actually fine, and Mando didn’t even need to bribe him. Because EVERYONE has heard of Rotta the Hutt on Shakari. He’s a gladiator champion in town. Before we leave him behind, we have to say, Martin Scorsese’s character totally charmed us. Slick and charismatic even in a four-armed monkey form. And his seamless shifts of smarm made this small character really pop. We hope we see more of him in The Mandalorian and Grogu!
Then, it’s off to see what all the fuss is about. Rotta doesn’t seem to have been kidnapped at all, Mando muses, as Grogu happily munches on popcorn, and they settle in to watch a match. And, yep, Rotta is having the time of his Hutt life, literally squishing his opponents with a satisfying crunch. Rotta, we’re going to say, might be the ugliest Hutt we’ve ever seen. But we can tell he’s going to be a great character.
And that’s where the footage we saw ends. But truly, we were ready to stay for more. And overall, had a really fantastic time watching the first 30 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu. The movie was what you’d want from our favorite bounty hunter and his adorable friend. It had visually stunning battles, great world-building, and what we really need in our lives, iconic Grogu moments. Grogu sneezing from the cold, Grogu knocking on Mando’s helmet, Mando teaching Grogu how to wear his armor, Grogu stealing sweets. It just truly makes you feel happy inside. Although we’re sure some of the moments to come will also wrench our hearts.
We also have to say the soundtrack was preternaturally good. Usually, you don’t notice a soundtrack too much. But I was constantly thinking to myself, “Wow, the music is great!” So full aesthetic points across the board.
Ultimately, there was great joy in the theater as we watched The Mandalorian and Grogu. All the fans were super excited, and the footage itself heightened that happiness. At the end of the first 30 minutes, cheerful buzz filled the air, and everyone seemed to look forward to more. There was that specific joy of seeing Star Wars on a big screen. It brought back a true nostalgia that was felt by all. And it was so great to see Mando and Grogu in theaters for the first time. We absolutely suggest heading to watch the movie in the best theater you can find.
The Mandalorian and Grogu soars into theaters on May 22.