‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Super Bowl 2026 Teaser – It’s Cute, but Will It Sell the Movie?
One of the most talked-about movie trailers to debut at the Super Bowl was the one for “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” Instead of being a standard trailer, this trailer tried to fool the audience into thinking it was a Budweiser commercial before revealing what it was. While it may be amusing and memorable, does it really succeed in actually promoting the movie?
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” Super Bowl Teaser
The Super Bowl teaser for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” opens with a mystical shot of animal tracks in the snow. A majestic narrator states, “Sometimes we choose our path,” over a shot of what looks like a carriage pulled by horses, though it’s hard to tell exactly what it is in all the snow blowing around. The narrator goes on to say, “Sometimes the path chooses us,” as the carriage gets clearer.
So, is this a Budweiser commercial? Are we about to see their famous Clydesdales? Those figures pulling the carriage don’t exactly look like horses. As the narrator says, “Through it all, we keep pushing forward,” we get a close-up of the animals’ feet – and they aren’t hooves. In fact, they are large, furry white paws. What is going on here?
The narrator continues, saying, “driven by a deeper purpose, guided by an unseen force.” Ah, the word “force” just gave us a hint. Sure enough, the carriage’s driver hands over the reins to a tiny green hand that any fan of “The Mandalorian” or “Star Wars” in general will instantly recognize.
What do you know, it’s Din Djarin and Grogu, and the carriage is being pulled by creatures that “Star Wars” fans will recognize as tauntauns. The narrator states that, “The journey never gets any easier; the bond just gets harder to break. This is the way.” Of course, fans of “The Mandalorian” know the catchphrase, “This is the way,” well. The teaser ends with Grogu reaching up to touch a tauntaun’s nose.
Okay, So What’s the Movie Actually About?
Ah, that’s the problem. While this was easily one of the most memorable Super Bowl commercials, the fake out doesn’t actually tell the viewer anything about the movie itself. Even the movie’s first official trailer, which was released several months ago, doesn’t give any indication as to what the plot is.
The ad mainly just seems to be saying, “Hey look, it’s Din and Grogu,” and leaving it at that. The promotional material for this movie doesn’t seem to be making an effort to attract people who aren’t already die-hard fans of “The Mandalorian,” and since this is the first theatrical “Star Wars” film since 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” you’d think that Disney would want to bring in as many tickets as possible.
The YouTube comments on the trailer largely reacted with confusion or distaste, indicating that a substantial number of “Star Wars” fans aren’t too interested in this movie. Some people were even accusing the ad of using AI to write the narration. Disney seems to be in a slump with “Star Wars” lately, and if they want to attract people to this movie, they might want to give people who aren’t already “Mandalorian” fans a reason to see it. For that matter, they should give people who are “Mandalorian” fans a reason to see it in theaters instead of waiting for it to come to Disney+.
When Does “The Mandalorian and Grogu” Come Out?
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” comes out on May 22, which means that Disney has only a few more months to promote the movie. There hasn’t even been a second full trailer yet. Disney can’t rely wholly on a dedicated “Mandalorian” fanbase to sell tickets, especially after Season 3 received such a mixed reception. They might end up learning that the hard way.
