Disney Releases the Trailer for 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' While Viewers Find Connections to the Current Political Landscape

The trailer for the highly anticipated cinematic finale to the hit Disney+ Star Wars series, "The Mandalorian," has been released. The film, "The Mandalorian & Grogu," which features Pedro Pascal reprising his role as the titular bounty hunter, as well as the return of his fan-favorite little green companion, Grogu, commonly known as "Baby Yoda."

The show takes place after "Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi," meaning that the evil Empire ruling the galaxy has fallen, thanks to the efforts of the Rebellion, and become the New Republic, but some Imperial remnants have illegitimately secured small positions of power as they attempt to rebuild their tyrannical government.

In the wake of the "Star Wars" series Andor, which details the origins of the Rebellion that overthrows the Empire, and the second Trump administration pressuring Disney to take "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" off the air, many are using the trailer for the film to discuss the political landscape.

X user @jpodheretz wrote "I just watched the relatively lame MANDALORIAN AND GROGU trailer and I believe Donald Trump should force Bob Iger to do reshoots and put Gina Carano in it," while @FilipJaworski17 posted "Please don't make Star Wars: Starfighter, Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu and Star Wars: Episode X for theatres into Trump's Propaganda because of the current scandal with Jimmy Kimmel."

The trailer was released just hours before ABC brought back host Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" An industry-wide boycott of the entertainment giant began after it took Kimmel off the air for comments he made about the reaction to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The trailer gives us a first look at "Alien" actress Sigourney Weaver's "Star Wars" debut. She will reportedly play Ward, a New Republic colonel who enlists Djarin to aid them in fighting Imperial remnants. Reports have indicated that "The Bear" star Jeremy Allen White will be playing Rotta the Hutt, the son of iconic crime lord Jabba the Hutt, who is also seen in the trailer.

The Disney+ show, created by "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau, follows Din Djarin, a cold bounty hunter who is a devout follower of the Mandalorian way. His life changes when he comes across what looks like a baby, resembling the iconic Jedi Grandmaster Yoda from previous films.

In the series, Djarin is initially hired to bring the green infant to an Imperial remnant to be experimented on, but he betrays his employers and takes "Baby Yoda" and begins to raise him as his own. Eventually, the child reveals that he is strong with the Force, able to use telekinesis and telepathy to get what he wants, and through other Force users learns that his name is Grogu.

The key tenet of the Mandalorian way is that its followers are not allowed to take their helmets off in front of any living being. Despite playing the protagonist, Pascal's face is only shown in two scenes. This rule allows for Pascal to not actually be present for filming, as a double portrays him physically most of the time, with Pascal doing the voice, accommodating for his busy schedule.

"The Mandalorian" ran for three seasons on Disney+ from November 12, 2019, to April 19, 2023. However, the answers to where Grogu comes from have not yet been answered, and fans are clamoring to learn more. Since the show's debut, Grogu has become a worldwide phenomenon with his face plastered on all kinds of merchandise. Before his name was revealed in the second season, the character was referred to as "Baby Yoda."

You can watch the trailer here.