May the 4th celebrations are setting the stage for a new wave of Star Wars attention, with Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” scheduled to arrive on May 22. For fans following Din Djarin and Grogu, the seasonal buzz now connects directly to the next chapter of a story that last paused at the end of “The Mandalorian” season 3.
Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin, with Grogu continuing as his apprentice and traveling companion. The film is directed by Jon Favreau and written by Favreau, Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor, and it marks the first theatrical Star Wars release since 2019’s “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
Where the film fits in the Star Wars timeline
Star Wars chronology is measured from one key event: the Battle of Yavin, the turning point shown in “Episode IV: A New Hope” when the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star. Events are tracked as BBY, meaning before the Battle of Yavin, and ABY, meaning after it.
“The Mandalorian” era sits in the post-original trilogy period, and the series has largely been centered around 9 ABY. That places Din Djarin and Grogu in the same broad era as Disney+ stories such as “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Ahsoka,” where characters have crossed between shows and helped link the timeline together.
Why May the 4th matters for this release
May the 4th has become a major Star Wars moment each year, and this time it arrives just weeks before the film’s theatrical launch. That timing gives Lucasfilm a built-in runway for promotion, while also keeping the focus on one of the franchise’s most recognizable duos.
The pairing of Din Djarin and Grogu remains central to the appeal. Grogu, widely known for years as “Baby Yoda” before his name was revealed in the second season, has become one of the most recognizable characters in the modern Star Wars lineup.
The broader timeline around Mandalorian and Grogu
Most Star Wars films and series fall within a 67-year stretch that follows four generations of the Skywalker family, from “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” to “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.” Within that framework, “The Mandalorian” helped expand the franchise on television and opened the door for more live-action stories on Disney+.
Since its 2019 debut, the series has stood as the first live-action Star Wars show on television. Disney+ later added “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Ahsoka,” “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Andor,” with the last of those serving as a two-season prequel to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
For fans using May the 4th to map out what comes next, the key point is that “The Mandalorian and Grogu” continues the post-Return of the Jedi era already established on Disney+, with its place in the timeline tied closely to the same 9 ABY window that defined the series. The film now turns that small-screen chapter into a theatrical event, while keeping Din Djarin and Grogu at the center of Star Wars’ modern timeline.