Pedro Pascal’s ‘The Mandalorian’ Movie Is Making ‘Star Wars’ Fans Nervous

Right about the time everyone seemed to be canceling their Disney+ subscriptions for taking Jimmy Kimmel off the air, Lucasfilm released the trailer for “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” which just so happens to be the first “Star Wars” movie to hit theaters since “The Rise of Skywalker” wrapped up the nine-episode Skywalker Saga in 2019. The trailer hardly made a splash online, which is why many “Star Wars” fans hoped to see an extended trailer with new footage during the Super Bowl. What they saw instead left many disappointed.

Considering the price tag for a Super Bowl commercial slot these days, many were hoping for a strong marketing campaign during the game. Instead, audiences got a brief 30-second ad that was basically a parody of a Budweiser commercial, featuring the titular Mandalorian, played by Pedro Pascal, and Grogu, also known as Baby Yoda, being pulled along by Tauntauns rather than the typical Budweiser Clydesdale horses.

You can watch the Super Bowl ad above.

While it was a cute parody ad, many fans were rightfully concerned with the poor marketing job that Lucasfilm has been doing for this movie. After three seasons on Disney+, is the casual viewer aware that “The Mandalorian & Grogu” is actually a movie set to hit theaters this May? Although “Star Wars” fans are definitely aware of it, the general public may not be.

After all, the last “Star Wars” film to hit theaters was all the way back in 2019, even before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. “The Rise of Skywalker” proved to be so controversial that Disney seemed to give up on theatrical releases and turn their attention to various Disney+ series: “The Acolyte,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Andor,” “Skeleton Crew,” “Ahsoka,” and “The Book of Boba Fett,” to name a few. All of these shows had various ranges of success or failure, but they were not theatrical releases.

Over on YouTube, many reactions were mixed. One user said that they were at a bar watching the Super Bowl and “Everyone in the bar thought it was a toy commercial,” which shows how confusing the ad really was.

“This feels like a new Ford truck commercial more than a Star Wars trailer,” another fan lamented. “Thought Mando was gonna toss me a cold Bud Light,” another user joked.

“You have the opportunity to market the first Star Wars film in six and a half years at the Super Bowl, and all you give us is a Ford ad?!” another fan asked, prompting another user to reply, “They probably know that it isn’t a good film, so they don’t want to show too much.”

In a statement shared by Variety, Disney’s executive VP of creative marketing, Jackson George, seemed to defend the controversial ad:

“Grogu is more than a character; he’s a pop culture phenomenon. Riding alongside the heroic Mandalorian, he brings lightness, humor, joy, and an instant emotional connection that transcends the moment. This Big Game spot celebrates how deeply we love and connect with these characters, reminds us of the fun, heart, and spectacle that defines Star Wars, and offers a bite-sized promise of the experience audiences will get when they see these two beloved icons on the big screen.”

Likewise, Lucasfilm’s marketing brand lead, Ryan Stankevich, also released a statement:

“Our creative and marketing team landed on a unique concept that gave a nod to classic Big Game spots of years past. It captured the warmth, humor, and emotional connection between these two beloved characters and was the perfect next step for our campaign as we lead up to their big screen debut this summer.”

Although “Star Wars” fans looking forward to seeing the movie in theaters might have found the ad humorous, it may have confused members of the general public who are only aware of “The Mandalorian” as a Disney+ show, and not as a theatrical film. It remains to be seen whether Lucasfilm will be able to generate enough hype in the coming months in order to make “The Mandalorian & Grogu” a success at the box office.

“The Mandalorian & Grogu” hits theaters on May 22, 2026.