A Few Thoughts On ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian And Grogu’ May The 4th Preview Event
by Erik Amaya
Comicon’s May The Fourth Star Wars coverage continues with a look at last night’s special preview of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. Select theaters across the country ran the first 25 minutes of the film on IMAX screens to whet the appetites of fans for the upcoming film. Our own editor-in-chief, Erik Amaya, was one of those in attendance and offers a few thoughts on what he saw.
One thing I have to say about the film: it is not trying to be a Skywalker Saga picture. Eschewing the standard opening of a Star Wars film, it sets out to be more like The Mandalorian than anything else — complete with a literal cold open and even cast and crew credits as the story pauses before picking up at the New Republic camp glimpsed at the end of The Mandalorian‘s third season. There, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal, Lateef Crowder, and Brendan Wayne) receives a new assignment that happens to set the plot into motion.
For those wondering, yes, it follows up on Djarin’s plan to aid the Republic in tracking down Imperial Remnant warlords, but as the idea is restated here, it is not necessary to review the end of The Mandalorian‘s most recent season. In fact, the film is putting a lot of what transpired on the show in the rear view. All that matters here: Djarin and Din Grogu are looking to end the Remnant threat.
That said, though, there are plenty of connections between other parts of Star Wars‘ vast array of stories. Star Wars Rebels favorite Zeb Orrelios (Steve Blum) appears in these early scenes as Djarin’s most direct Republic support. Additionally, the Hutt twins from The Book of Boba Fett make an appearance to offer Djarin the next step in his quest, which leads him directly to Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) — formerly known as “Stinky” — Jabba’s son. The character first debuted in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars theatrical film. But here, he’s all grown up and ready for … well, I am trying to avoid some spoilers here. So the exact nature of how Djarin finds him (and the all-important why) will be left for you to discover when the film releases in full a couple of weeks from now.
But there is an important question to answer even in the 25 minutes screened: is it a film or a long episode of The Mandalorian? Currently, the answer appears to be “yes” to both. The cold open is very cinematic, even when you take into consideration how cinematic the series can be thanks to directors like series creator Jon Favreau (also director of this film), Bryce Dallas Howard, and Rick . The subsequent scene at the Republic base also appears to be shot on location instead of using The Volume technology to realize an alien world. Both scenes reflect a level of budget and time The Mandalorian cannot afford. In this aspect, it is a film.
At the same time, director of photography Dave Klein lights certain shots the way he would on the series itself. Thus, close-ups or establishing shots can have the same feel of the show even if the production values are feature quality.
Nonetheless, the program has never had the space or resources to see Djarin attack three Imperial AT-ATs. A stolen AT-ST used by marauders, sure, but never the full-sized walkers — let alone three of them. And when that scope is in place, the film feels like, well, a film. And yet, with two more hours of the runtime yet to be revealed, it is difficult to say if that larger scope will be on display throughout.
On the other hand, this will be a movie worth seeing on an IMAX screen as the wide format offers a lot of fidelity and the sound system makes the jump to hyperspace feel very real.
Also key: the special May the Fourth preview event reminded how much I like Djarin and Grogu. The former is a badass while the latter is a lovable stinker. I still want to watch them adventure across the lawless parts of the galaxy Lone Wolf and Cub style and the film seems to be offering that on the large IMAX canvass, which means the movie — at the very least — starts on the right foot.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu lands in theaters on May 22nd.
