Spoiler alert! We're talking about the ending of"The Mandalorian and Grogu" (in theaters now), so turn away if you haven't seen the movie yetand don't want to know anything.
They grow up so fast.
That's one of the takeaways from "The Mandalorian and Grogu," in which the title kid steps up to the plate more than ever before. Grogu may not speak his first words just yet, but he proves so capable in a stretch near the end of the movie, it hints that he could one day lead a "Star Wars" film all on his own, withouthis dadin the picture.
As a whole, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" is mostly a standalone adventure that doesn't change a lot about the "Star Wars" galaxy. Still, there are a few things worth discussing about how it ends, what it means, and what's next. Let's break it down.
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How does 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' end?
You didn'treallythink they'd kill off the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), did you?
Well, it did look dicey there for a minute. Mando has a brush with death after unwisely angering the Hutts, who task him with hunting down Jabba's son, Rotta (Jeremy Allen White). When Mando fails to deliver them Rotta, the Hutts try to have him killed, and he winds up getting bitten by a giant snake.
A poisoned Mando loses consciousness and seems toast until Grogu manages to build his dad shelter, track down medicine, and nurse him back to health. After he comes to, Mando turns the tables on the Hutt twins, who are eaten by that same snake.
With the Hutts dealt with, Mando checks in with Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver), and Rotta expresses interest in joining the New Republic. The movie ends with Mando and Grogu in their new Razor Crest. After warning the kid not to press the buttons on the ship earlier, in the last scene, Mando tells Grogu to go ahead and press them as the pair jump to hyperspace. "Your turn," he says, symbolizing how Grogu is becoming not just Mando's son, but also his copilot.
Is there a 'Mandalorian and Grogu' post-credits scene?
Nope! There's nothing after the credits − which isn't a surprise, given that no "Star Wars" movie has ever had a credits scene.
What does 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' ending set up?
In broad strokes, the movie doesn't move much forward for the overall "Mandalorian" storyline. Mando is still a New Republic contractor, and the Imperials are still a threat, though down a few baddies.
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One event that may have a lasting impact, though, is Mando's helmet being removed again. In Season 3 of the TV series, Mando showing his face led to an arc where he had to redeem himself on Mandalore. It would be quite repetitive to have him do all that again, but the film seems to introduce a new loophole: Mando can get away with showing his face as long as he leaves no witnesses. This could allow Pascal to appear on screen more often going forward, without Mando needing to be redeemed all over again each time.
Additionally, Mando's relationship with the New Republic is strengthened, and while he's technically still a contractor, Ward makes clear she now considers him part of her team. Rotta joining the New Republic also sets him up to return.
But the biggest takeaway may be how much more self-reliant Grogu seems by the end of the movie. Since Season 1, Grogu has always been a sidekick for Mando to keep safe. But this time, the kid takes center stage for a surprisingly long time while Mando isn't even conscious, and he gets quite a bit accomplished without his dad's help.
As the film emphasizes, Grogu's species ages so slowly that he'll live for hundreds of years. So as "Star Wars" begins moving ahead into the period after "The Rise of Skywalker" and beyond, it seems inevitable Grogu as a character will stick around for a long time, while his dad, being just a mortal man, won't. "The Mandalorian and Grogu" could be setting the stage for that day when Grogu, sans Mando, graduates into a full-blown protagonist.
Will there be a 'Mandalorian and Grogu' sequel?
While their story obviously isn't done, it isn't clear in what form we'll see Mando and Grogu again. The next steps probably depend on how big of a hit the movie is. If it overperforms, another big-screen outing may follow.
But director Jon Favreau has said he wrote scripts for "The Mandalorian" Season 4 before the plan was changed to make a movie, and he started from scratch for the film's screenplay. So if the movie only performs OK, the characters could head back to Disney+. And because the movie ends in a similar place to where it started, those Season 4 scripts are presumably still usable.
Where is the 'Mandalorian' story heading?
The broader story of "The Mandalorian" is clearly building to a showdown with the Imperial holdouts. This will likely be continued in 2027 with Season 2 of "Ahsoka," after the first season involved Grand Admiral Thrawn returning from exile to lead the Imperials.
And in 2023,Lucasfilm announced a "Star Wars" moviethat will "close out the interconnected stories told in 'The Mandalorian,' 'The Book of Boba Fett,' 'Ahsoka' and other Disney+ series." The plot hasn't been revealed, but it seems like a safe bet this will feature a climactic battle against Thrawn, who was also mentioned as a looming threat in "The Mandalorian" Season 3.
What 'Star Wars' movies are coming out next?
In addition to that "Mandalorian" finale movie, a few other "Star Wars" films are on the way, including "Star Wars: Starfighter," which takes place five years after "The Rise of Skywalker" andstars Ryan Gosling.
Lucasfilm has also announced a movie about Rey building a new Jedi Order after "The Rise of Skywalker," as well as a film about the dawn of the Jedi. And in 2024, it was revealed thatSimon Kinberg is writing a new trilogy, though the plot is unknown.
But Lucasfilm is infamous for announcing "Star Wars" projects that never come to fruition, so the only movie we know for sure will be released is "Starfighter." That film has already been shot, and it opens on May 28, 2027.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'The Mandalorian and Grogu' ending and where 'Star Wars' goes now