Jon Favreau has clarified the future of the beloved Star Wars series, confirming that the story for The Mandalorian’s fourth season is already written, even as focus shifts toward the upcoming movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu. Favreau, speaking as the creator, detailed that the Jon Favreau Mandalorian Season 4 material remains intact, bringing clarity to fans questioning whether a return to television is still possible.
Season 4 Scripts Remain Unused as Film Takes Center Stage
Addressing speculation in the latest issue of Empire Magazine, Favreau stated,
We were planning on doing a fourth season. I had actually written all of that. I still have Season 4 sitting on my desk here.
— Jon Favreau, Creator. This statement reassures fans that the scripts for the fourth season were not abandoned and have not been transformed into the upcoming film.
Favreau elaborated on the film’s design in contrast to the series, emphasizing its unique approach:
It’s structured around a movie structure, as opposed to a serialized weekly television show. So there’s a larger throw to the whole thing.
— Jon Favreau, Creator. He was clear that the scripts for season four remain a separate entity, not merely adapted or condensed into the movie format.
Studio Focus Shifts to Theaters Despite Scripts’ Existence
Even with completed scripts, industry signals suggest slim chances for The Mandalorian Season 4 to reach production anytime soon. Reports from early 2023 cite Disney’s interest in speeding up film development, leading Lucasfilm to prioritize theatrical releases, and moving characters like Din Djarin and Grogu onto the big screen to build momentum for Star Wars as a film franchise.
Presently, only a single live-action Star Wars series is known to be in development for Disney+, while The Mandalorian and Grogu has finished filming, and Shawn Levy’s Starfighter project is advancing. The studio’s current approach aims to concentrate on cinematic releases, hoping to capitalize on Grogu’s broad appeal among families and general audiences.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Will Bridge Existing and New Fans
Success of the upcoming movie, which is slated for release on May 22, 2026, may determine whether Jon Favreau’s fourth season scripts are ever put into production. Lucasfilm believes Grogu’s popularity could attract not only longtime fans but also those who have never subscribed to Disney+. Favreau has stressed the film’s accessibility, assuring viewers that it remains connected with ongoing stories such as Ahsoka Season 2, but that, in Empire’s words,
newcomers who don’t know their Ahsoka from their elbow can jump right in.
— Empire Magazine.
Should the film perform well at the box office, it might lay the groundwork for The Mandalorian to evolve into a full-length film series and, potentially, create space for a return to serialized episodes on streaming platforms.
Unique Approach Sets This Project Apart from Previous Star Wars Spinoffs
This film marks a departure from past strategies where TV concepts were retooled for movies, or vice versa, as seen with projects like The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Skeleton Crew. The difference in pacing and storytelling between films and episodic television means that the adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu could span both formats, providing audiences with the best aspects of both worlds—cinematic scale and episodic intimacy.
Future Hinges on Audience and Box Office Response
In summary, Jon Favreau’s scripts for The Mandalorian Season 4 remain written and ready, resting on his desk, awaiting further decisions from Lucasfilm and Disney. The series’ future will depend heavily on how fans and general audiences respond to The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters, as Lucasfilm evaluates if there is a place for Din Djarin and Grogu to return to the episodic format.
