Sigourney Weaver joins Star Wars return in Mandalorian and Grogu film

Sigourney Weaver is adding another major sci-fi universe to her résumé, and Disney is using her arrival to help launch Star Wars back onto the big screen. She will play Colonel Ward in Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, a film set for theaters on May 22, 2026, and positioned as the franchise’s first feature release since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.

The film is directed by Jon Favreau and stars Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, the Mandalorian. Lucasfilm says the story takes place after the fall of the Empire, when scattered Imperial warlords still threaten the New Republic as it tries to restore order. Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios also appears, adding another familiar name from the wider Star Wars universe to a project that is meant to feel both accessible and connective.

Weaver’s casting gives the movie a recognizable screen presence beyond the Disney+ era that helped keep the Mandalorian brand in circulation. She confirmed in August 2024 that she was part of the film and said she had already met Grogu while filming, underscoring how firmly the character has become a commercial anchor for the franchise. For Lucasfilm, that matters: the movie is not just a continuation of a streaming hit, but the opening move in a broader feature-film push.

Lucasfilm first announced The Mandalorian and Grogu in January 2024 as part of its feature-film slate, and later said the movie would lead that slate. That makes the project more than a one-off continuation of a popular series. It is the test case for whether Star Wars can once again drive theatrical attention after a five-year absence from cinemas, and whether Disney can keep mining legacy intellectual property for event-level releases with broad audience reach.

The pairing of Pascal and Weaver reflects that strategy clearly. Pascal brings the central character from a well-established Disney+ property, while Weaver adds prestige and familiarity from another era of blockbuster science fiction. In a crowded theatrical market, Disney is betting that the combination of recognizable names, a proven brand, and a built-in audience for Grogu will help the film land as a major release rather than just another extension of streaming-era franchise management.