Disney and Lucasfilm tested out a new strategy for Star Wars storytelling seven years ago, and now a streak that came from that experiment is officially coming to an end in 2026. Star Wars is one of the most successful and beloved franchises of all time, so the core fanbase will consume media no matter how it is presented. However, some release methods work better than others, especially when certain characters or storylines are involved, and it seems as though Disney and Lucasfilm have come to the conclusion that their current strategy for Star Wars needs to change.On May 22, 2026, Lucasfilm will officially release The Mandalorian & Grogu in theaters. Notably, this will be the first Star Wars feature film to come out since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, but it will also mark the end of the franchise's seven-year streak, during which it only released content on Disney+.Because The Mandalorian & Grogu was not originally planned to be a film and The Mandalorian was going to continue on Disney+, Star Wars essentially admitted that its Disney+ strategy was not working for the franchise, and that movies needed to come back in the galaxy far, far away. Read full article on The Direct.