The Mandalorian and Grogulooks set to succeed forStar Warswhere the Marvel Cinematic Universe has recently faltered. As the first installment in the slate ofupcomingStar Warsmovies, there is a fair amount of pressure onThe Mandalorian and Groguto be a hit.
After all,The Mandalorian’s success allowedStar Wars’TV showsto become what they are today. Lucasfilm will thus hope that thestory ofThe Mandalorian and Groguwill do the same forStar Warson the big screen by reigniting the excitement for theatrical movies that has dwindled since the release of the sequel trilogy.
The film aims to achieve this by adapting an establishedStar WarsTV property for the cinematic experience. Therefore, many are wondering whether audiences will need to know what happened between season 1 andThe Mandalorianseason 3’s endingto understandThe Mandalorian and Grogu. However, in this way,Star Warsmay succeed where a franchise like the MCU has failed of late.
The MCU’s Interconnectedness Became A Problem
The Idea Of “Homework” Became The Norm For The MCU
Since 2019 andAvengers: Endgame, the MCU has become much more divisive than it once was. The reason for this was the increased output from Marvel Studios, which extended to several Disney+ shows and, in most cases, three or four movies per year. The MCU was once easier to follow when it was limited to theatrical movies between 2008 and 2019.
However,the MCU’s increased output meant a greater focus was placed on interconnectivity, which became somewhat of a problem for the franchise. Audiences felt that the stories they were going to witness on the big screen were tied to TV shows they had not yet had time to watch, be itThe Marvels’links toMs. Marvel, orDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’connections toWandaVision.
This led to a sense of MCU fatigue that has seen the franchise’s box office receipts dwindle, with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige even admitting to this problem. One of the biggest reveals from Feige recently was that the franchise’s shift to increased quantity post-2019 was as difficult as it was exciting.
Thunderbolts*, for instance, was commented on by Feige toVariety:
“But nobody knew that title and many of those characters were from a [TV] show. Some [audiences] were still feeling that notion of, ‘I guess I had to have seen these other shows to understand who this is.'”
While Feige insisted that this is not howThunderbolts*was crafted, he also admitted that this could have been made clearer to audiences. As a result,the interconnectivity that made the MCU so strong between 2008 and 2019 ironically began to hinder it, which is somethingStar Warsneeds to avoid.
Star Wars Is Doubling Down On Interconnectedness… In A Different Way
The Mandalorian & Grogu Is Almost Like A Soft Reboot
Concerning how this ties to a galaxy far, far away, the aforementioned worries thatThe Mandalorian and Groguwill require “homework” as the MCU’s latest projects have are certainly valid, though perhaps needlessly. Interestingly,The Mandalorian and Groguis both relying on interconnectivity and making it appealing to new audiences.
In terms of the former, anyone familiar with the story ofThe Mandalorianseasons 1, 2, and 3 will undoubtedly be excited for the upcoming movie. However,The Mandalorianseason 3’s ending established a very clear status quo that means new audiences can easily get on board withThe Mandalorian and Grogu.
The Mandalorianseason 3’s ending saw Din Djarin moving to a home on the planet Navarro after formally adopting Grogu. Din returned to his bounty-hunting ways, only this time with rogue Imperial warlords as his targets. This basic set-up serves as an effective launchpad for new audiences, all while making sense to those familiar with the titular characters' pasts.
If writer-director Jon Favreau succeeds in making thereturningStar Warscharacters ofThe Mandalorian and Grogucompelling for newcomers, any issues with interconnectivity will be even further lessened. The aspects that link to Din Darin’s past are there for those who value them, but the simple premise of the film means minimal “homework” is needed for those unaware.
Star Wars' Next Movie Is Following George Lucas' Lead
In a way, this approach byThe Mandalorian and Groguis emulating George Lucas’Star Wars. When looking at the first movie in each of Lucas’Star Warstrilogies, the filmmaker simply dropped audiences into an established universe.
A New Hopewas especially like this, with Lucas referencing the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Order at its prime, and several other elements that refer to things audiences never got to truly see until the prequels. This did not lessen the enjoyment ofA New Hopeor the impact of its story, yet made it an interconnected part of a universe.
It is a form of world-building that offers room for exploration down the line…
The trick here was that audiences did not need to know exactly what these elements were, just that they happened. It is a form of world-building that offers room for exploration down the line.
The Mandalorianand Grogucan emulate this by taking its aforementioned starting point, building its story and characters for new and old fans alike, and referencing past events for the new fans to potentially go back and experience. If it does so,The Mandalorian and Groguwill not only be perfecting the MCU’s recent interconnectivity woes, but also aligning itself withStar Wars’creator.
