Super Bowl ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ TV Spot Reveals Duo in a Classic Homage

Jon Favreau Star Wars movie TV spot for The Mandalorian and Grogu released.

The all-new TV spot for The Mandalorian & Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, is finally here, Star Wars fans. The 30-second spot, which cost Disney nearly $10 million according to The Hollywood Reporter, aired during the Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots 2026 Super Bowl. This marks the first time that promotional material for a Star Wars movie has been shown during the championship game since Solo: A Star Wars Story did so back in 2018.

Disney and Lucasfilm are again taking a big gamble with this TV spot and general marketing campaign, trying to generate significant buzz and clearly positioning the film as a “must-see” event. The film is a one-off, so it’s difficult to gauge whether this tactic will succeed and what effect it will have on the final outcome.

The film has already met with a less-than-stellar reception. Just last September, many fans were concerned that the teaser trailer felt less like a cinematic event and more like an episode of the Disney+ show condensed for the big screen. While some are excited to see the return of Din Djarin and Grogu to theaters, criticisms focus on the underwhelming, formulaic feel, with some viewing it as a distraction from broader Disney issues.

Set after the events of The Mandalorian season 3, during the New Republic era, and five years after the fall of the Galactic Empire in Return of the Jedi, the film follows bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his Force-sensitive sidekick Grogu (The Child), navigating through a series of dangerous threats from nomadic Imperials in a chaotic Outer Rim.

The supporting cast also boasts a stellar lineup that includes Aliens star Sigourney Weaver, who stars as a New Republic leader and former Rebel pilot; The Bear and Deliver Me From Nowhere star Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, son of the iconic warlord Jabba the Hutt; and Jonny Coyne as an evil Imperial warlord. The music is composed by the Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson who scored the original groundbreaking music for the TV series.

With Lucasfilm clearly going for a Budweiser-type Clydesdale commercial look, the new Super Bowl TV spot may have disappointed those of you who were hoping for a little bit more of a polished cinematic trailer. Those fans are still left shrouded in mystery as to the direction of the film. Although appearing much grander in scale, we see our Bounty Hunter and our beloved Grogu (Baby Yoda) heroes being pulled in the snow by a fleet of Tauntauns, with a voiceover from the legendary actor Sam Elliott saying, “Sometimes we choose our path; other times, the path chooses us.” Elliott’s voice continues, “Through it all, we keep pushing forward, driven by a deeper purpose, guided by an unseen force. The journey never gets any easier; the bond just gets harder to break. This is the way.”

This very much looks like and attempt by Lucasfilm to bring back that old-school space adventure fun we’ve all been missing, with Mando and Grogu having a memorable interaction, much like they did during the three-season episodic run on Disney+.

Director Jon Favreau, who recently sat down with Empire Magazine back in January, spoke about how this Star Wars big-screen cinematic outing focuses more on its two main heroes.

“That central relationship, as they go off and face adventure together, that’s the underpinning of the film,” Jon Favreau tells Empire.

Despite the film’s bumpy road and a divided fanbase, it’s right on schedule to premiere on the May 2026 release date it has always had. This move by Lucasfilm shows that the studio is finally turning its marketing machine up a notch, and part of this huge push is unveiling a TV spot that does an excellent job of establishing the characters’ special bond.

Ryan Stankevich from Lucasfilm’s marketing department touched on the duo’s special bond and unique connection, as well as what their team was trying to accomplish with the TV spot while speaking briefly with Variety magazine.

“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.”

Other heavy-hitting TV spots that aired during Super Bowl LV were “Street Fighter,” “Disclosure Day,” “Scream 7,” “Toy Story 5,” “Minions 3,” and “The Odyssey.”

Check out the all-new Mandalorian and Grogu official ‘A New Journey Begins’ Big Game Spot below.

May the Force be with you….