Will the Force ever awaken?

Published June 2, 2026 7:00am ET



A not so long time ago, in a galaxy not so far, far away, the release of a new Star Wars movie would have been a major pop cultural event. It would have been the most anticipated film of the year, and showtimes on opening day would have sold out within minutes of going on sale. None of that is true of The Mandalorian and Grogu, the latest installment in the series and the first in nearly seven years. There are many reasons for this diminished interest, none of which is the movie’s fault. 

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