It's no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, consistently putting out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But OG fans who have watched the Marvel movies in order will remember that back when Iron Man was released back in 2008, it a risky new experiment in filmmaking. I thought that Robert Downey Jr. had to fight for his role as Tony Stark due to his troubled past, but director Jon Favreau painted another picture.

Moviegoers are always looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies, but there's often more information coming out about the past as well. Case in point: Favreau's recent Vanity Fair video breaking down his career, including the original Iron Man movie. He spoke about fighting for RDJ's casting, offering:

I always thought that the resistance to Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark was related to his past with addiction. But that seemingly wasn't the case; instead it was about the studio not wanting to pay an A-lister who they thought would be hidden under a mask for most of the movie. Of course, we know how much the Oscar-winning actor's charisma and charm defined the character for years.

In the same video, Jon Favreau spoke more about the resistance to RDJ's casting as Iron Man. He already in the midst of his career comeback at the time, including roles in projects like Charlie Bartlett, Zodiac, and The Shaggy Dog. The director went on to share:

Yeah, my mind is blown. Robert Downey Jr. was 43 when he debuted as Tony Stark in Iron Man, and it sounds like some folks thought he was a little long in the tooth. That's wild considering how long he played the role, and the fact that RDJ is returning as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday at age 61.

In the end the Sherlock Holmes actor fought for his signature role, including coming in to do a camera test. As Jon Favreau put it:

Indeed, Robert Downey Jr.'s audition tape is available to watch online. Despite not actually landing the role yet he had the signature wit and swagger that Tony Stark became known for. And it's clear that the studio ultimately made the right decision in casting their first MCU hero; it's hard to imagine anyone else playing the role at this point.

The Iron Man franchise is streaming now on Disney+, and RDJ will return to the MCU when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Although this time he'll be playing a new role as the villainous Doctor Doom.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe might be a behemoth nowadays, but it all started with Jon Favreau's Iron Man (streaming with a Disney+ subscription). Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know it all started with that movie, which also served as Robert Downey Jr.'s big comeback. The director/actor recently spoke about the "smart thing" he did in that 2008 blockbuster, and he makes some serious points.

Although fans like me are always looking toward upcoming Marvel movies, they love information about previous installments. While promoting his new Star Wars movie The Mandalorian and Grogu on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jon Favreau addressed how important it ended up being that he cast himself in the role of Happy Hogan. In his words:

Talk about a work bonus. While it was exciting enough to get behind the camera for Iron Man, Favreau couldn't have predicted how giant the Marvel Cinematic Universe would eventually become. And since Happy Hogan was introduced in the very first movie, his ongoing role in the shared universe has resulted in consistent paychecks for the multihyphenate, enough that he was able to put his kids through school with them. Good thing he didn't decide to give someone else that small role in the film.

While Happy Hogan won't be in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jon Favreau has played that role in all three Iron Man movies, as well as the first three Spider-Man films, Avengers: Endgame, and a recent role in Deadpool & Wolverine. That's a ton of gigs, none of which would happen if he didn't give himself the role of Tony Stark's bodyguard, chauffeur, and friend.

While Jon Favreau consistently works as a director and producer, it sounds like his ongoing acting gig as Happy Hogan helped provide a very specific financial purpose with his family. And while he's not expected to appear in Spider-Man Brand New Day after No Way Home's twist ending, it feels like only a matter of time before Happy returns to the big screen for one reason or another. Perhaps he'll end up with a role in either Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. We'll have to wait and see given Marvel's tight security.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we'll get to see Favreau back on screen in the MCU sooner rather than later.

Jon Favreau has had a pretty illustrious career since breaking into the entertainment industry in the ‘80s, acting, directing, writing, and producing numerous projects over the years. Between Elf, the MCU, and his first big-screen Star Wars project The Mandalorian and Grogu, Favreau has done quite a lot, but he wasn’t always so well-known. In fact, one of his earliest acting credits was on Seinfeld in the early ‘90s, and he kept getting asked one pretty ridiculous question.

Long before bringing Baby Yoda to the 2026 movies schedule, however, Favreau made his television debut in the 1994 Season 5 episode “The Fire,” portraying Eric the Clown, a birthday party entertainer who ends up getting into an argument with George (Jason Alexander). The role was brought up during an interview with Rotten Tomatoes that Favreau was doing for The Mandalorian and Grogu. He admitted that while it was a high point in his career and he had so much fun, there was one glaring problem:

Considering Favreau was in full-on clown makeup, complete with the wardrobe, hair, and red, round nose, it’s not surprising that people thought he was actually a clown. It just makes his guest appearance all the more hilarious. Plus, it just shows how great an actor he was, even back then, to make people believe he was truly a clown.

Of course, that misconception was almost definitely because of the colorful get-up, but regardless, it’s pretty funny and ridiculous finding out that people thought he was a clown.

Even with the clown mix-up, Favreau reflected on how great it was to be on Seinfeld during its peak and see the creative process up close. His scene was definitely memorable, and not just because of the clown outfit. It may have been 30 years since his episode aired, but it’s clear that it will always hold a big place in his heart. That and his convincing clown skills.

Meanwhile, Favreau is one of many actors you’ve forgotten were on Seinfeld. The beloved sitcom ran on NBC for nine seasons from 1989 to 1998 and is often regarded as one of the best sitcoms of all time. Other actors who appeared on the series include Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Daniel Dae Kim, Mariska Hargitay, Jennifer Coolidge, Courteney Cox, Debra Jo Rupp, and Maggie Wheeler, among others. Some appeared very briefly, while others had a bit of a more prominent role, but all were memorable when you go back and rewatch.

It can be assumed that Favreau doesn’t get mistaken like he did when he was on Seinfeld anymore, thanks to all the roles and projects he’s done. But at least he has a fun story to tell about Seinfeld, no matter how ridiculous it may be. And he does seem to have a job to fall back on if acting doesn’t work out. Seinfeld is one of the best shows to binge watch on Netflix, so fans can check out his episode and the rest of the series now.

There are popular film franchises, and then there's the Star Wars movies. Generations were brought up on the galaxy far, far away, including both big screen adventures and live-action shows that are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The latter started thanks to The Mandalorian, and now Jon Favreau has brought both he and Grogu to the big screen. And while promoting the movie, the director has weighed in on the years-long AT-AT debate.

Critical response to The Mandalorian and Grogu has been mixed, although the audience reaction has been much kinder. The movie opens with Mando taking out three AT-ATs by himself, and while speaking with Fandango Jon Favreau was asked which is the right way to pronounce that Imperial vehicle. He responded with the following:

There you have it. While Jon Favreau thinks both pronunciations are acceptable, he does personally call it A.T.A.T, rather than the more colloquial (and phonetic) AT-AT. That's just one man's opinion, but the fact that he directed a sequence with the hulking vehicles does give his opinion a bit more weight.

While AT-ATs would cost millions in the real world, I assume that the debate about how to pronounce their name would still rage on. And even with Jon Favreau weighing in, both versions will likely still be uttered by Star Wars fans out there. In the same conversation, Favreu went on to share the origin of his preferred pronunciation, offering:

AT-ATs made their debut in Empire Strikes Back, which is considered one of the best Star Wars movies of all time. While audiences were originally unsure about its contents, it's usually at the top of the franchise's movie rankings. The giant vehicles made their way through Hoth, and they've returned to the big screen in projects like The Last Jedi and (most recently) The Mandalorian and Grogu. And the fact that Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin managed to take out three single-handedly was an epic way to start Jon Favreau's blockbuster.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see where AT-ATs pop up in the franchise next.

Minor spoilers ahead for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

There are major IPs and then there's Star Wars. Generations grew up with the Star Wars movies, as well as the live-action shows that are available for those with a Disney+ subscription. Fans waited years after The Rise of Skywalker's ending for the franchise to return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu. Jon Favreau was behind the camera for the new blockbuster, and explained why it wasn't full of crossovers or cameos from the likes of Ahsoka and/or Thrawn.

There were big expectations for The Mandalorian and Grogu, especially from fans who watched the Star Wars movies in order. But rather than being an expansive narrative full of connections to other projects, the movie was a contained story about one specific mission. While speaking with EW, Favreau explained why he didn't bring in big crossovers from the Mando-verse, offering:

Honestly, I get it. Because while I would have loved to see Ahsoka, Thrawn, or Bo-Katan pop up in The Mandalorian and Grogu, these types of crossovers might have actually excluded moviegoing audiences. They could have appeared in a season of the TV show, but the movie had to be accessible for casual fans who might not be caught up on all the Star Wars lore from the shows. So Favreau and company left crossovers and bonus characters out of the movie.

Lots of Star Wars characters have shown up on The Mandalorian over the years, to the joy of the hardcore fans. But the character's pivot to the big screen meant new rules, require a story that was more easily digestible for folks who aren't as well-versed in the galaxy far, far away. I enjoyed how capsulated the story was, even if I was originally expecting to see characters like Moff Gideon show up.

It should be interesting to see if upcoming Star Wars movies follow The Mandalorian and Grogu's example in this way. It looks like Shawn Levy's Starfighter will be another standalone story, rather than one interconnected to various entries in the franchise as a whole. So it remains to be seen when the movies will become more serialized like the Skywalker Saga.

The Mandalorian and Gorgu is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll have to wait and see if/how the story continues, either via another movie or a new season of TV. Only time will tell.

Not every acting role is destined to be witnessed by millions of joyous fans around the globe, just like not every role has the power to transport an actor back to their youth. However, The Mandalorian and Grogu co-star Jonny Coyne was able to enjoy both of those distinctions as Star Wars antagonist Janu Coin. The English actor talked to CinemaBlend about being so "very excited, very humbled" to be in a big-screen Star Wars movie (one that's crushing in the box office) nearly 50 years after seeing A New Hope in theaters.

First appearing in The Mandalorian's third season as a hologram, Janu had a more direct impact on Din Djarin and Grogu's well-beings in the 2026 movie release, but we won't get into spoilers for those who haven't yet watched. To that end, Coyne also had to keep details close to the villainous vest when I asked whether he knew when signing on for the role that he'd have more appearances down the line. He told me:

If I'm lucky enough to live to be 100, and Jon Favreau's grandson asks me to play a tree (sans makeup) in Star Wars: The First Ewok or whatever, I'd do it in a heartbeat. An erratic, questionable heartbeat. So I certainly get where Coyne is coming from on that front, and I'm not even an actor by trade, or by anything else.

When I asked if he was a fan of the franchise overall, the Blacklist vet confirmed that he was definitely part of the targeted audience for George Lucas' Episode IV: A New Hope when it came out in 1977. Just maybe not the youngest demographic within that targeted span. In his words:

Though the franchise can often be geared for younger viewers, readers and gamers, that's certainly not the case for all corners of the galaxy, nor for all upcoming Star Wars projects. When A New Hope introduced the world to Luke Skywalker and his loyal droids, Hollywood wasn't yet in that mindset, and so there were definitely older teens and grown-a-s adults filling those theater seats in 1977 and beyond.

I can't imagine anyone at the time could have predicted Star Wars would become a billion-dollar industry unto itself, not even Jonny Coyne. (No offense, J.C.) But succeed it did, to the point where, nearly 50 years later, the actor was walking on sets, learning official jargon, and mixing it up with Grogu behind the scenes.

When I asked about the scale of Mandalorian and Grogu's sets, practical and otherwise, Coyne seemed to conjure up some of that wistful magic when he answered, saying:

To Coyne's point, a lot of TV and movie sets will inevitably feel like TV and movie sets, regardless of how well-designed they are, usually due to cameras (or the spaces required to fit cameras) helping break the illusion. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Star Wars movie sets can go above and beyond in that respect, to the point where a more full sense of immersion can sink in before reality rears its head again.

Outside of the actual acting experience, Jonny Coyne also voiced how excited he was to extend the Star Wars fandom down to younger generations within his own family, as The Mandalorian and Grogu makes for a big milestone for his grandchildren. Here's how he described it.

I can only (new) hope that Lord Janu Coin wasn't too scary for his grandchildren, and that they don't hold grudges against him for holding Grogu captive for a while. Those kinds of grudges can stick.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now, and with more than enough adorable Baby Yoda moments to inspire return viewings. And don't even get me started on Babu Frik and his li'l buddies!

Generations of moviegoers have grown up on the Star Wars movies, as well as the live-action shows that have been released for those with a Disney+ subscription. After years away, the franchise is back on the big screen thanks to The Mandalorian and Grogu hitting theaters, coming from the minds of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. And those two filmmaker recently debated one of the biggest questions in the galaxy: which order should one watch the Skywalker Saga in?

Favreau and Filoni are Star Wars super fans, who are responsible or bringing together the wildly popular Mandalorian franchise. In an interview with Collider about their new movie, the pair of filmmakers were asked to settle the debate: should Star Wars be watched chronologically or in the order they were released? Favreau weighed in first, with the Elf director saying:

Some points were made. In addition being able to see how technology advanced, watching the Star Wars movies in the order they hit theaters also allows for its story to play out the way that George Lucas originally intended. We first meet Darth Vader as the villain of the 4-6, before the prequel trilogy shows how Anakin Skywalker went from a Force Sensitive young boy to the terror of the galaxy. This was the way many of us longterm fans watched the story play out, and Jon Favreau appears to be a bit of a purist in this regard.

In the same interview, Dave Filoni also shared his two cents about the ongoing Star Wars debate. In his words:

Another solid point. Star Wars is an embarrassment of riches, and there's something positive to take out of watching the Skywalker Saga in both chronological and release date order. As Filoni put it, it's basically a win-win situation.

While fans might continue debating this "controversial" question, there likely isn't one definitive answer. As Filoni pointed out, both watch orders have something to offer, and there's no "bad" way to watch the Skywalker Saga. It's just a matter of preference for whoever is pushing play.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. The movie wasn't super connected to the overall franchise, and it should be interesting to see if Starfighter follows suit.

Look, I know critics are divided on The Mandalorian and Grogu, and they took some fair shots, but I just don’t agree, because I had a blast. When I left the theater, not only did I find myself perfectly content that there weren’t any franchise-changing twists, but I also want to point out another aspect of the movie that really made an impact on me: the effects.

The Mandalorian Felt Like The Handmade Star Wars Movies Of The Past

I love how much practical filmmaking was clearly involved in The Mandalorian and Grogu. It made me feel like I was watching something from the OG era of the franchise, and after years of CGI effects in Star Wars movies and other sci-fi space epics, I was genuinely moved by it. Whether it be the puppetry used for Grogu, models and stop-motion action, it felt like Jon Favreau and the other filmmakers and craft artists working on this implemented the kind of movie tricks that really made movies more special back in the 1970s and 1980s.

When I had the chance to go on a set visit for The Mandalorian and Grogu recently, which was filmed completely in Los Angeles, we were shown to a room that exemplifies the kind of practical effects and props used on the new movie. Check out some highlights below:

After years of seeing Star Wars movies that look more like video games, the love and care around The Mandalorian and Grogu was so clear to me, even if it doesn’t have the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of the franchise. While sitting in the theater, there were times when I felt like I was watching one of those Ray Harryhausen movies my parents showed me as a kid, like the Sinbad movies or 1981’s Clash of the Titans.

Practical special effects like those feel like a dying art, but were absolutely part of the original trilogy. Back then, they implemented mechanical models, miniatures, puppets and matte paintings to illustrate the settings rather than the computer-generated technology that’s become so popular nowadays, and now that we’ve moved away from it, I see how effective it can be when a modern movie uses it.

Now I Want To Watch A Whole Movie With Grogu And The Anzellans

I think because the main character of The Mandalorian and Grogu is helmeted for most of the movie, the scenes that moved me the most were when Grogu and/or the Anzelans were the only characters in the frame, and I was watching storytelling unfold predominantly through the use of practical effects.

I literally could have watched an entire movie full of more adorable Baby Yoda moments because I think there’s something so precious about seeing these practical puppets/animatronics in front of you and knowing all the work that went into bringing them to life. It reminded me of The Muppets at times in the most complementary way, which I love for the same reasons.

I truly hope more upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows decide to go back to this more practical, handcrafted filmmaking that feels true to the spirit of why we still love and adore A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

For my entire life (and probably yours too), Star Wars movies have been the kind of films I just have to go see in theaters. But, since all of the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows in the past seven years have been available to watch at home with a Disney+ subscription, I think it’s changed things for us collectively. My excitement about The Mandalorian and Grogu has been middling, if I’m being honest. Even so, there was something in me that just didn’t feel right about skipping out on my lifelong tradition of seeing the newest Star Wars movie in theaters.

I’m so happy I did, and one big reason why is that it was a different kind of experience than we’ve been used to in Star Wars movies.

Big Twists Have Become The Norm In Star Wars Movies

Now that I think about it, because The Empire Strikes Back gave audiences one of the best twists in movie history, I think every filmmaker who’s made a Star Wars movie has been trying to recapture the feeling of watching it by having big reveals in subsequent movies. But with that, we’ve kind of found ourselves in a plot loop over the years – Kylo Ren killing his father Han Solo, Rey being a Palpatine, and so forth.

Understandably so, going into the first Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker, I thought maybe The Mandalorian and Grogu was hiding some massive twist that I wanted to experience for myself before the internet did for me. However, as critic reactions have already suggested, “This isn’t a galaxy-shaking epic”.

You may be bummed to learn this, but having seen the movie, I have to say, I appreciated watching a Star Wars movie that didn’t feel like it needed to have a moment where it needed to shock me with some family-related big reveal. It was refreshing, even.

I Enjoyed The Mandalorian And Grogu For The Low Stakes Movie It Is

The Mandalorian and Grogu is one of the more accessible Star Wars releases we’ve had in a while. You don’t have to have seen The Mandalorian TV show, or anything else before, to really appreciate it, and if you don’t see it, you’re not missing any franchise-shattering reveals. Sure, that might give some Star Wars fans permission to skip out on it, and that's totally OK! I think if you do, though, you might be missing out on something that makes it special.

While watching it, I just had fun. The cool stylized action and the Star Wars aesthetics definitely have precedence over the character development, but it definitely gives Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) more to do than ever, and it was worth the price of admission for me to see the cutest darn thing Star Wars has ever thought up have a feature-length adventure alongside the cowboy-inspired Mandalorian. It's got some gorgeous set design, fun moments and feels like a true escape for its runtime.

It’s not a perfect movie for sure, and I totally get why it's divided critics, but from my perspective, I can say I saw this movie a week ago and have thought back on it multiple times with warm and cozy thoughts about the good memories I made watching it. And, I honestly wouldn’t blink at seeing it again if given the chance. It feels like it will become my Star Wars comfort movie as well.

I also like that it feels nostalgic in a sense of it being a movie I would have loved and watched over and over when I was a kid, and less so in a way of trying to recycle a Star Wars movie I’ve already seen before, with beats it feels like it needs to hit.

I totally recommend The Mandalorian and Grogu if my thoughts get you excited for it, and it's in theaters now!

It’s been quite a while since we’ve gotten to see the adventures of a galaxy far, far away in theaters, but that’s about to change with The Mandalorian and Grogu set for release on the 2026 movie calendar on May 22. I’d think there’s no better pair to lead Star Wars back to the big screen than Pedro Pascal and “Baby Yoda,” and that’s why I was so shocked at the divided first reactions. Now the reviews are in, and while some critics had a blast, others are questioning if this even counts as a Star Wars movie.

The Mandalorian and Grogu movie comes after three seasons of The Mandalorian (streaming with a Disney+ subscription) and finds Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu on a mission to rescue Jeremy Allen White’s Rotta the Hutt. Our own Nick Venable rates the movie 4 out of 5 stars after a fun outing, writing.

Linda Marric of Hey U Guys also gives it 4 out of 5 stars, saying the movie feels nostalgic without getting trapped in the past. It has some issues, she writes, but it’s too much fun to dwell on any of them for too long. In Marric’s words:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY rates the movie 3 out of 4 stars, saying that the upcoming Star Wars flick embraces both its bizarre and adorable elements for an adventure that harkens back to some of the franchise’s best efforts. The Mandalorian and Grogu offers a new hope to a brand that seems to be readjusting, Truitt says, writing:

Jake Kleinman of Polygon questions what defines a Star Wars movie — lightsabers? Skywalkers? The Force? Kleinman says impressive set pieces, high stakes and a good vs. evil conflict are non-negotiables. The Mandalorian and Grogu, however, has none of these things, but the critic says the movie is a “damn good time” anyway. His review reads:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo borrows a phrase from Yoda to say that The Mandalorian and Grogu chooses “do not” instead of “do” — it doesn’t even try. In trying to make a Star Wars film accessible to even non-Star Wars fans, Lussier says that Jon Favreau has neglected to do justice to those who have followed the franchise for so long. The critic calls this movie nothing more than a side quest, writing:

Tom Jorgensen of IGN echoes that sentiment, as he rates the film a “Mediocre” 5 out of 10. The critic agrees that rather than catering to existing Star Wars fans, The Mandalorian and Grogu feels laser-focused on people who have only heard about the show.

Critics seem to be divided over Jon Favreau’s latest contribution to the Star Wars universe with a 61% Rotten Tomatoes score. However, I think it’s safe to say that fans who have committed decades of their lives to the fandom will likely take a chance on the first big-screen project from the franchise in seven years.

How well it will do at the box office is a different question altogether. Catch The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters starting Friday, May 22.

When Spidey swings onto the 2026 movie calendar in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, fans are expecting a bit of a reset. After the emotional gut-punch ending of No Way Home, Peter Parker is essentially starting from scratch, with no one remembering who he is. That detail means we’ll be missing out on one of the key connections between Peter Parker and the rest of the MCU, at least in this next outing, if not forever.

During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Marvel director and occasional co-star Jon Favreau casually droped a pretty big update while promoting his upcoming feature The Mandalorian and Grogu. When asked about the next Spider-Man film, he didn't dance around his absence, saying:

I’ll forgive the Iron Man helmer for getting the details slightly off there. It’s not Peter who loses his memory, but rather everyone else forgets that he exists. Regardless of who's brains have been affected, it all amounts to his MCU character Happy Hogan officially sitting this next adventure out. (Kimmel playfully suggests he's skewing the truth, but Favreau commits to playing it honest.)

The Swingers vet goes on to elaborate, and if you’ve seen Spider-Man: No Way Home, it lines up with how that film ends:

For those who might not remember (or haven’t seen it somehow), No Way Home ends with Peter making the ultimate sacrifice, choosing to have the entire world forget who he is to save it. That includes the people closest to him, like MJ, Ned, and yes, Happy Hogan. So even though Happy still exists in the MCU, the guiding-light relationship that grounded Peter in those earlier films is essentially gone.

From a story standpoint, it makes sense. Still, it’s a bit of a bummer. Happy Hogan has been part of the MCU since the very beginning, dating all the way back to Iron Man. Over time, he evolves from Tony Stark’s right-hand man into one of Peter Parker’s most consistent support systems.

Based on what’s been teased so far, including that first Brand New Day trailer, the movie looks like it’s really leaning into Peter being on his own. No safety net, no built-in support system, just him figuring things out at street level, which, honestly, is where the character tends to thrive in a lot of other versions. It’s a noticeably different tone from what we’ve gotten in the MCU up to this point.

That said, Favreau doesn’t completely close the door on returning. He leaves things open-ended enough to suggest their paths could cross again down the line, which is definitely something for fans to hold onto. But for now, it looks like Spider-Man: Brand New Day is moving forward without one of its most familiar faces.

Favreau’s latest Star Wars directorial project, The Mandalorian and Grogu, hits theaters May 22, while the next chapter in Tom Holland's Spider-Man franchise swings into theaters July 31.

It feels like a Jedi mind trick to think about it, but The Mandalorian was actually one of the first new TV shows you could watch with a Disney+ subscription when the platform was launched in 2019. Since then, we’ve seen all sorts of other original shows from a galaxy far, far away, with more being announced all the time. So, why is The Mandalorian moving to the big screen for its next adventure?

Earlier this month, CinemaBlend and a handful of other press outlets had the chance to learn more about The Mandalorian & Grogu movie from director Jon Favreau on what’s left of the Los Angeles sets after seeing the first 18 minutes of the movie. Here’s what the filmmaker said when asked about why he decided to make the next installment of The Mandalorian into a movie rather than going with Season 4, which was well underway before the pivot was announced:

The Mandalorian & Grogu now serves as the first theatrical Star Wars movie since Rise of Skywalker back in 2019. Favreau communicated his interest in recapturing “the feeling” he had when he first saw Star Wars back in 1977. And, there are some things that the team on the TV show just couldn’t achieve at the pace of a TV show, that he was excited about exploring with an IMAX release. As he also shared:

Another inspiration? There’s now a whole new generation of kids who literally weren’t old enough to watch a Star Wars movie in theaters yet! The Mandalorian & Grogu will be their first experience, and Jon Favreau wants to make that special. He also said this:

The Mandalorian & Grogu production designer was also on hand at the Los Angeles sets that day to tell us that making a movie rather than a TV show allowed the team to move into “massive stages” they couldn’t before. Since the series moves at a faster pace, they wouldn’t have time to create the kind of sets they did on this feature, which he said sometimes took two to three months.

So, in short, Jon Favreau wanted to make a large-scale Star Wars movie with his established and beloved characters from The Mandalorian. And, can you blame him? We’re talking about the guy who literally helped start the MCU by helming Iron Man in 2008. We’re so curious how The Mandalorian & Grogu will stack up to the TV show and build on the universe when it comes out on May 22.

Gina Carano’s issues with Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company have been well-documented at this point. The Mandalorian co-star was fired from the entertainment corporations back in 2021 after sharing social media posts that stirred up controversy. By 2024, Carano formally sued her former employers on the grounds of alleged wrongful termination and more. With that lawsuit now settled, it would seem Carano has since had at least one chat with two of her former collaborators, Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau.

How Did Gina Carano’s Post-Lawsuit Talk With The Lucasfilm Bigwigs Go Down?

For context, the lawsuit Carano filed against her ex-bosses was reportedly settled sometime around the late summer of 2025. At that time, it was reported that the actress was pleased with how everything ultimately panned out in the matter. One intriguing detail that was also included in Disney’s statement was the company mentioning that “we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.” That tidbit seemed to suggest that Carano could possibly return to Lucasfilm at some point.

As of this writing, there’s been no official announcement regarding whether Gina Carano will actually rejoin the Star Wars franchise and reprise her role as Cara Dune. Interestingly enough, though, she recently revealed on an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show (which was posted to YouTube) that she actually did speak to newly installed Lucasfilm co-CEO Dave Filoni as well as Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau. As for what the vibe was when the trio talked, Carano shared this:

By the sounds of it, the three collaborators had a jovial conversation when they reunited after the legal drama. Carano worked with Favreau and Filoni on the first two seasons of The Mandalorian (and those are still available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.) Before the character of Cara Dune was written out, it was also rumored that Carano might be leading a since-scrapped spinoff, Rangers of the New Republic. So, given this info on the friendly meeting, it’s hard not to wonder if Carano may suit up again with the legal drama done.

Why Was Gina Carano Fired And Why Did She File Suit Against Disney & Co.?

Ahead of her firing, Carano made headlines for several social media posts she shared, which included critiques about COVID-19 pandemic protocols and voter fraud claims regarding the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Carano also poked fun at pronouns being used by social media users. The star’s dismissal from the Star Wars franchise came after she shared a post that appeared to compare the experience of being a conservative to the Holocaust.

Carano subsequently cited what she believed to be a double standard, since her co-star, Pedro Pascal, didn’t receive disciplinary action for political posts he’d shared. In the lawsuit she filed in 2024, Carano cited both wrongful termination and sex discrimination as her reasons for filing suit. The Deadpool alum sought $75,000 in punitive damages and her suit was also backed by Tesla founder Elon Musk. When responding, Disney argued for its “a constitutional right to dissociate its own artistic message from Carano's outspoken 'political beliefs.”’ The company’s attempt to have the suit dismissed also proved unsuccessful.

Eventually, Carano’s team saw a win in the spring of 2025 when it was ruled that the House of Mouse had to disclose information in regard to how various actors linked to the Star Wars franchise had been paid. News of the lawsuit settlement came months later.

It’s honestly hard to say whether Gina Carano – who’s set to face Rhonda Rousey in an MMA fight this May – will actually play Cara Dune again following the drama she’s experienced in recent years. Carano herself referred to that time as “embarrassing,” and she initially seemed to share mixed feelings about the prospect of playing Dune again. At the very least, though, Carano’s comments on her chat with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni suggest she doesn’t have bad blood with the duo.

The Mandalorian & Grogu isn't only the first of upcoming Star Wars movies to hit the big screen in a while, it's also the first time we've seen characters based on one of the Disney+ TV shows be adapted for movie theaters. As such, there have understandably been some questions from fans. When CinemaBlend had the chance to see the opening of one of the most exciting of 2026 movie releases, presented by director Jon Favreau. And one thing we've been wondering about the movie more makes sense now. Let's get into it:

Fans Like Me Have Been Wondering How Din Got Another Razor Crest

If you're a viewer of The Mandalorian TV show, you might have noticed that Din's Razor Crest ship has mysteriously back in the marketing, including The Mandalorian & Grogu trailer. Oh, and there's even a LEGO set for it. But ever since that was revealed, fans have pointed out one thing about it. How is it around?

You know the one that exploded in Season 2? Well, when we had the chance to see the first 18 minutes of the movie as presented by director Jon Favreau, the question was answered. And it's kind of been set up already... just not directly.

How The Mandalorian & Grogu Explains How He Gets The New Ship

The Mandalorian & Grogu starts by taking the audience right inside the action of one of Din and Grogu's bounty missions which takes place around and inside the famous AT-ATs. It's a thrilling way to start the film, and is already full of so many moments that had me giggling and "oohhing" over Grogu (who's apparently going to "level up" in this one) in particular. Once they finish the messy mission, they meet with Sigourney Weaver's new character of Colonel Ward to settle up and get assigned for the next thing.

And, it's Colonel Ward who gives Din a new Razor Crest for a very specific reason. She needs him to go on a mission relating to the Hutt family (hence Jeremy Allen White's role of the muscular son of Jabba), and the ship is basically an advance to get him to agree to the very dangerous ask. Our first look at Mandalorian & Grogu ended with him jetting off with the Razor Crest, which is sort of the perfect setup for the movie to take place (and leave me wanting more!)

We'll get to see where exactly the Razor Crest takes Din and Grogu when the movie hits theaters on May 22!

Since it was first announced that the Star Wars franchise was developing The Mandalorian And Grogu as a film, I've been concerned about a particular hurdle facing the project: while Star Wars in general is known for providing spectacle, audiences have been (for lack of a better word) trained to see the adventures with the titular characters on the small screen, and I've wondered how the approach will change with the story moving to a new medium. The good news is that director Jon Favreau seems to be very aware of that special complication, and he seems to have approached it by using all of the big screen blockbuster tools at his disposal.

The official Star Wars Twitter account has posted clips from a roundtable interview with the director and stars of The Mandalorian And Grogu – specifically Jon Favreau, Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Grogu – and it includes standout commentary from the filmmaker about the cinematic experience that he is looking to provide with his first feature in the canon. The work is going to be featured on some of the biggest screens on Earth, and he made a point of using both cutting edge technology and "classic" effects to make the movie a spectacle and an experience audiences will never forget:

A filmmaker trying to recapture one of the most magical experiences they ever had in a theater and imbue it into their work sounds like a rather extreme goal and one that might be impossible… but I certainly admire Jon Favreau, a die-hard Star Wars fan, for setting just a lofty target, especially because The Mandalorian And Grogu is going to need that energy. I don't think there is anybody on the planet who really expects it to recreate what it was like for audiences in 1977 to see George Lucas' grade space adventure for the first time – a film that forever changed pop culture – but even a percentage of success in that direction would be a big win.

Still, Favreau doubled down on the sentiment, adding:

If all goes according to plan, we are now less than two months away on the 2026 movie release calendar from all experiencing that level of excitement. With a cast that includes the aforementioned Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver as well as Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, The Mandalorian And Grogu will be arriving in theaters everywhere on May 22.

One thing I’ve been curious about when it comes to the upcoming Star Wars movie The Mandalorian And Grogu is the way in which the film is going to expand beyond what those with a Disney+ subscription have already seen on The Mandalorian. The streaming series has been worthy of the franchise in terms of lore and scale, but moving the action to the big screen suggests a story and character developments worthy of blockbuster status. A lot is being kept secret for now (as is tradition when it comes to this canon), but one thing we now know is on the way is a “leveled up” Grogu.

Audiences have seen Grogu become more and more capable across three seasons of The Mandalorian (let’s not forget that he was a helpless infant when he was first introduced in the pilot), and it appears as though we may see an exclamation point put on his maturity in what is set to be the next big screen Star Wars experience.

Director Jon Favreau recently spoke about his new movie at an event promoting the project’s merchandising (via Polygon), and one thing he teased is how The Mandalorian And Grogu will be utilizing the latter of its two titular characters:

Audiences have seen Grogu execute some pretty awesome Jedi powers, and he’s surely picked up a lot from his time hanging out with Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin – and it should be quite a show when he uses both aspects of his training to take care of business. What that fully looks like, we don’t know, but expectations are high.

Of course, it should also be recognized within this conversation that there is still a lot we don’t know about Grogu, and there are some key things that we’re waiting for him to do. One significant thing is that we still don’t know anything about his species (beyond the fact that it’s the same species as Yoda and Yaddle), and we are also still waiting for his first English words. I have no idea if either of those things will end up being explored in The Mandalorian And Grogu, but they would be reveals worthy of the big screen experience.

Also starring Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White, the next chapter in the Star Wars universe is now just a few months away from arriving – Disney set to debut the blockbuster in theaters everywhere on May 22. There is a lot to be excited about and plenty we don’t know about as we await its release, so stay tuned here on CinemaBlend in the coming weeks for all of the latest and coolest updates.

Jon Favreau might as well be considered Disney royalty at this point, having not only directed the live-action remakes of The Jungle Book and The Lion King, but also continued to play Happy Hogan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after directing the first two Iron Man movies. However, it’s through Star Wars that Favreau has shined brightest over at the Mouse House, as he created the Disney+ subscription-exclusive shows The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, as well as directed and co-wrote the upcoming 2026 movie The Mandalorian & Grogu. But what does Favreau’s future in this franchise look like after its release?

The filmmaker addressed this while speaking at a special event that unveiled the first toys and merchandise for The Mandalorian & Grogu (via Polygon). This is the first upcoming Star Wars movie since the release of The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, but it sounds like once it’s been delivered to the public, Favreau wants to step away from a galaxy far, far away. In his words:

While some fans of Jon Favreau might be disappointed to learn he’s preparing to leave Star Wars behind him once The Mandalorian & Grogu is out, he’s also given more to this franchise than most. Even before The Mandalorian’s premiere in 2019, he’d voiced Pre Vizsla in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rio Durant in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Then, on top of his behind-the-scenes work on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, he also voiced Paz Vizsla on both shows, and is credited as an executive producer on Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew. Few creatives will ever match that amount of work he put in.

That means of the adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu continue after their cinematic debut, someone else will have to take the reins from Jon Favreau, whether that happens in another movie or The Mandalorian Season 4. It’s too soon to tell what will happen on that front, as Disney and Lucasfilm will undoubtedly wait to see how The Mandalorian & Grogu performs in theaters before deciding how to proceed. There was also a time when newly-installed Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni was going to make a movie tying together all the New Republic-set Star Wars shows, but there’s been no update on that project in a long time.

The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters on May 22, but specific story details are still being kept secret. In addition to Pedro Pascal reprising Din Djarin, the movie also stars Sigourney Weaver as a New Republic colonel named Ward and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta, Jabba the Hutt’s jacked son. If this is indeed the last time Jon Favreau contributes to the Star Wars franchise, my fingers are crossed he ends his run with a bang.

There are major movie franchises, and then there's Star Wars. Generations have been brought up by the galaxy far, far away, which has brought new projects to theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. There haven't been any Star Wars movies in theaters for years, but that'll change with The Mandalorian and Grogu. Director Jon Favreau recently spoke about the challenges of taking that story from TV to theaters, and some serious points were made.

What we know about The Mandalorian and Grogu is limited, but there's a ton of hype around the upcoming Star Wars movie. While speaking at the Star Wars: Most Wanted event (via ScreenRant) Favreau talked about the practical challenges of bringing his franchise to the big screen, saying:

Touche. Going from TV screens and smart devices to an IMAX screen is going to be a huge transition for Din Djarin and Grogu. And as such, Jon Favreau's movie had to step up its game visually, especially related to visual and special effects, as it has to be on the same level as previous Star Wars movies. Talk about pressure.

Star Wars has been missing from theaters since The Rise of Skywalker's ending, so that's also likely adding some stakes to the situation. Later in the same appearance, Jon Favreau spoke about another new challenge to The Mandalorian and Grogu: keeping people's attention for a full movie. In his words:

Honestly, I didn't even think about this. But this is going to be a huge adjustment for fans of the live-action Star Wars show. Not only is a movie going to be significantly longer, but fans are going to have to adjust the way they enjoy the adventure. That means to pausing, no bathroom breaks, and no scrolling on your phone. And Favreau wants to make sure the story is compelling enough to make that happen.

The Season 3 finale of The Mandalorian made some big changes, with Grogu now older, trained in The Force, and much more capable than when we met him years ago. And it should be fun to see where the beloved characters go in their movie debut.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is currently expected to arrive in theaters on May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. The movie's Super Bowl trailer was the subject of some backlash, so hopefully we're treated to more footage soon.

The Star Wars movies are pretty beloved, with generations growing up on the galaxy far, far away. In recent years we were also treated to a number of live-action shows, which are released for those with a Disney+ subscription. The first of these titles was The Mandalorian, which is going to the big screen with the upcoming Star Wars movie The Mandalorian and Grogu. That show was created by filmmaker Jon Favreau, who recently teased how Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin will be different when we see his story continue in theaters.

What we know about The Mandalorian and Grogu is limited, but fans are excited to see how the franchise goes from TV to film. The Mandalorian's Season 3 finale saw Din and Grogu get a happy ending, and in a conversation with Empire Favreau spoke about what comes next. In his words:

That's definitely intriguing. While Season 1 of The Mandalorian was captivating partly thanks to the title character's badass career as a bounty hunter, it sounds like we'll be seeing new colors from Pedro Pascal's character in the forthcoming movie. He's seemingly leaving that career behind to try and fight the the remnants of The Galactic Empire, including Giancarlo Esposito's Moff Gideon. And I'm curious to see what Rebel heroes he might interact with in the forthcoming blockbuster.

While Moff Gideon seemingly died in Season 3, fans are still expecting him to return in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Cloning is on the table for the franchise, opening up the narrative doors. If not, it should be interesting to see who the movie's title characters end up fighting against as official "good guys."

The Mandalorian and Grogu will be the first Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker's ending, so the pressure is on. Later in the same interview, Jon Favreau went on to speak more about the story for his blockbuster, and the emphasis on its title characters. In his words:

While Season 2's finale saw Grogu leave to be trained by Luke Skywalker, we got to see him reunite with Din during the third season. And now that Baby Yoda is stronger in The Force and involved in the action, I can't wait to see the way the title characters of The Mandalorian and Grogu's relationship changes for the big screen.

All will be revealed when The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. For now we can re-watch the hit TV show over on Disney+.

Following a years-long hiatus, the film branch of the Star Wars franchise is ramping up yet again, with the next movie to hit theaters being The Mandalorian and Grogu. Based on Jon Favreau’s acclaimed TV show, the flick is set to follow the titular characters as they set off on a new adventure. Early footage also suggests that in their travels, Din Djarin and his surrogate, Force-wielding son will cross paths with Rotta the Hutt, who’s voiced by Jeremy Allen White. Now, White is finally opening up about the role and how he landed it.

To say Jeremy Allen White is one of the most in-demand stars in Hollywood right now is putting it lightly. His latest film is Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, which sees him play the one and only Bruce Springsteen. Despite Allen’s rising status, though, I still wouldn’t have predicted he’d join Mandalorian and Grogu, let alone as the voice of Jabba the Hutt’s son. White broke his silence on the gig while speaking with GMA (as seen on YouTube), and it apparently all came together due to a meeting with director and co-writer Favreau:

The Iron Man helmer is indeed someone who knows talent, and he has no qualms about reaching out to actors he’d love to collaborate with. His work on Mandalorian is no different, as actors like Giancarlo Esposito and Sigourney Weaver (who’s also in the movie) have spoken about the filmmaker contacting them personally about working together. When it comes to White’s experience, it sounds like he’s enjoyed the opportunity to help bring a Star Wars character to life for the big screen:

At this point, I’m already trying to imagine how the Bear star’s kids (and audiences as a whole) will react to seeing the muscular Hutt on the big screen. Rotta originally made his on-screen debut in the animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars, during which he appeared as a Huttlet who’d been kidnapped by Asajj Ventress.

In the Star Wars timeline, Mandalorian and Grogu takes place decades after the events of The Clone Wars and the TV show it spawned, so it makes sense that Rotta has grown considerably since then. His exact role in the story is relatively unknown at this point, but I’m curious as to how he fits in. Of course, I’m also curious as to how White ultimately approaches the character from a performance standpoint. The Hutts not only have their own language, but their vocal tones can also be quite deep.

Jeremy Allen White is a talented performer, though, so I’m confident that he and Jon Favreau managed to find a voice that perfectly suited this version of the character. Barring any further reveals via additional trailers, fans will see and hear Rotta when The Mandalorian and Grogu blasts into theaters on May 22 amid the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream other Star Wars movies as well as TV shows using a Disney+ subscription.

Robert Downey Jr. is coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday. It’s a big deal because no single actor is as responsible for the success of the MCU as Downey. Had the original Iron Man not been the success it was, the franchise likely wouldn’t be here today, and it’s incredible that the movie worked as well as it did, considering they were basically making it up as they went along.

Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is absolutely one of the coolest characters in the MCU, and you can tell because he’s often wearing sunglasses, an accessory that he wears significantly more than most of his Avengers buddies. It turns out the reason for the glasses, at least in one key scene, was as much for function as fashion, as Downey once told Vanity Fair he wore them to hide the fact he was reading his lines. Downey said…

It’s unclear if Tony Stark's penchant for sunglasses was born entirely from this scene, or not, or if the continued use of sunglasses was done for the same reason, but it honestly wouldn’t be surprising. If Downey wasn’t originally going to be wearing sunglasses in a scene that takes place on a bright sunny day in the desert, then why would he in so many other scenes?

I had never come across this explanation before, and while it all makes perfect sense, it’s also sort of fascinating that this was something that needed to be done. For a franchise that would become revolutionary for the way that it seemed to put thought into creating connections between different characters and films, the first Iron Man wasn’t thought out in advance at all.

It makes the success of the film, as well as the franchise that would follow from it, all the more remarkable. The possibility of making a misstep is certainly increased if one doesn’t really have a plan. Clearly, however, what Favreau and Downey knew they wanted to make was exactly what it needed to be. Downey continued…

Considering the massive size of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, making up as they go along likely has not been an option. Still, fans will be excited to see Robert Downey Jr. again in a new Marvel movie, although considering his Doctor Doom mask, he’ll probably skip the sunglasses.

If you’re somebody who enjoys seeing celebrities in person, there are few places more reliable than Disneyland. Famous people love going to the iconic park as much as anybody, and its proximity to Hollywood means that famous people are there quite often.

And so when Jon Favreau was seen by @DisneyScoopGuy in the Disneyland Resort esplanade yesterday, it wasn’t necessarily a newsworthy occurrence. Except that he had an entire crew with him, which meant he wasn’t just there for fun and to get lunch at Disneyland's exclusive Club 33 that celebrities always get to visit and I can only dream of. He was working.

My initial assumption was that Favreau was on hand to film a prerecorded message for next month’s Destination D23 event. The Disney Fan Club event will have a presentation updating fans on the future of Disney Parks, and the Iron Man director might have been planning to give fans a peek at the upcoming Mandalorian update to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run or even the Stark Flight Lab at Avengers Campus, given his connection to both franchises.

However, it turns out he was there for a very different project. In addition to everything else the actor and director is doing for Disney, he’s also producing an upcoming Disney+ series about Walt Disney’s original hit character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and that’s seemingly what’s shooting at Disneyland right now.

Disney+'s Oswald The Lucky Rabbit Series Is Seemingly Filming At Disneyland, And Kathryn Hahn Is On Board

Earlier this year, it was announced that Jon Favreau would produce a Disney+ series about Oswald the Lucky Rabbit that would blend animation and live-action. Beyond that, we had no real details, but based on other images snapped by guests visiting Disneyland yesterday and today, it seems that at least part of the series is taking place at Disneyland Resort, and also that Agatha All Along’s Kathryn Hahn is co-starring in the series.

As a lover of all things Disneyland, a student of Disney history, and a fan of Kathryn Hahn and Jon Favreau, I am absolutely loving this. Considering its popularity and existence for 70 years, surprisingly few movies or TV series have ever actually filmed inside the park, outside of the nearly required “ABC sitcom family visits Disneyland” episode that nearly every show has. It will be quite cool to see it on screen when the series finally debuts.

The fact that the “real” Oswald will seemingly visit Disneyland would seem to indicate the show could be going for some sort of Who Framed Roger Rabbit-style story that sees Oswald as a cartoon actor in the real world. Oswald himself is a character who can often be seen across the esplanade at Disney California Adventure. It will be interesting to see if that’s actually referenced in the show.

Considering that a previous attempt at a Disney+ Oswald series was cancelled, the fact that filming is seemingly happening is great news, as it means this project will almost certainly see the light of day. The production crew is back at Disneyland today, as production appears to be continuing. I’m now very excited to learn where in the park filming is happening and what other stars might be involved in the new show.

How perfect is it that Sigourney Weaver is in The Mandalorian And Grogu movie? The 2026 release will be the first Star Wars film since The Rise of Skywalker, and when we got a first look during this past weekend’s Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan, we also learned more about Weaver’s new character through first footage and a short chat with Weaver herself. I especially loved hearing from the Alien icon about her lovely experience in a galaxy far, far away.

After we experienced Star Wars Celebration’s panel, which also included the surprise announcement Ryan Gosling will be in the next Star Wars movie after The Mandalorian And Grogu, Sigourney Weaver told us this about stepping onto Jon Favreau’s set:

Someone start blasting the cantina music from Star Wars, because it sounds like Weaver had an epic time in one of the galaxy’s bars during her time on The Mandalorian And Grogu. But as she shared with us, a scene where she’s interacting with an alien giving her a drink might have already been cut. Oh, how I wish I could have been a fly on the wall with Weaver on the set of the movie following her sweet descriptions of the whole experience.

As the actress shared, the set was full of crew members who have been working on Star Wars films and TV shows for years upon years, and it was such a joy to join the family. Weaver also offered insight into her character with these words:

In the footage we watched at Star Wars Celebration, Weaver seems to be in charge of Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and Grogu as they are sent on an important mission to save the galaxy. Weaver has previously gushed about working with Grogu, but it was especially interesting to hear from her what working with the puppet looked like on set. As she continued:

We're looking forward to learning more about Weaver’s character in the year leading up to The Mandalorian And Grogu's release on May 22, 2026. We still have yet to see what’s going on with Jeremy Allen White’s alleged character in the movie! You can keep track of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows here on CinemaBlend as we wait.

When CinemaBlend attended Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan over the weekend, we had the chance to see The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau unveil the first footage from the movie to a crowd of fans (which looked incredible). Immediately after, we got to chat with the filmmaker about making his first Star Wars movie, and how its 2026 release will mark a full circle moment for him, thanks to Avengers: Doomsday and Robert Downey Jr.

Since The Mandalorian and Grogu release date is over a year away, it probably hasn’t occurred to most that the Star Wars movie is coming out three weeks apart from Avengers: Doomsday. When I asked Favreau about this, here’s how he responded:

The Avengers: Doomsday release date is set for May 1, 2026, while The Mandalorian And Grogu is coming out on May 22. Considering Favreau helmed the first Iron Man movie with Robert Downey Jr, which effectively started the MCU, it’s kind of amazing that his first Star Wars movie will be sharing air with the return of RDJ.

Downey is set to star as the next big Avengers villain, Doctor Doom, alongside a huge cast, which was unveiled last month. This will be his first Marvel movie in years, as well as the first one where he won't be playing Iron Man.

Favreau has been at the forefront of big movie franchises multiple times now, not only through Iron Man, but through his live-action The Jungle Book movie, too. After being a huge part of The Mandalorian series for three seasons, he also talked about having the chance to make a bigger-scale story this time around. In his words:

Ever since this Star Wars TV show became a hit, we’ve been wondering whether The Mandalorian could become a movie, and via the footage we saw at Star Wars Celebration, the director is absolutely taking advantage of his “bigger canvas.”

The footage opened with an awesome fight sequence from Mando before showing all sorts of exciting nuggets from the movie, from tons of Grogu using the force moments, to Sigourney Weaver’s character, to the return of AT-AT to the big screen. As Favreau also shared with us:

Jon Favreau has a great track record of creating big-screen experiences for audiences, and The Mandalorian and Grogu will be no exception. While we wait for the release, you can check out other upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows (and more exclusives from Star Wars Celebration) here on CinemaBlend.

We are here at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan to report live on all the big news on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows coming out of the convention! We've so been looking forward to this after the event skipped a year following 2023's London celebration, and this one's poised to be epic! And the convention is kicking things off with a panel for The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, hitting theaters in summer 2026.

Going into the panel we knew writer/director Jon Favreau, writer Dave Filoni and "special guests" are set to grace this kick-off panel, but of course it exceeded our expectations with all of what came out of it. Here's what happened while we were there. (And check out what happened at the Lucasfilm Animation panel from Friday as well).

I am seated at the Makuhari Messe's Celebration Stage on this beautiful morning in Tokyo with the the warmth of ramen I had last night still soothing my soul. A ton of fans are already seated as a DJ hypes up the audiences.

I can't wait to learn about the first Star Wars movie since Rise of Skywalker! We've loved seeing The Mandalorian with our Disney+ subscription, but this going to be a whole new experience. Stay tuned as attendees continue to take their seats and the whole thing officially starts at the top of the hour...

OK, cell phones and a rainbow of lightsabers are up to the sound of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" blasting as we wait for the panel to begin. The host is getting everyone fist bumping and getting energized. It's almost time!!

The panel has opened with a clip of Princess Leia doing her "Only Hope" monologue as a montage plays featuring Luke, Mando, Rey, Ahsoka, Anakin Padmé, Cassian, Yoda, Darth Vader and such as our wristbands glow. Star Wars Celebration sure can hype up a crowd. I'm in my feels about Star Wars already.

R2D2 and C3PO are on stage, people! They've come to greet the crowd in Japanese and introduce Dave Filoni and Kathleen Kennedy! The audience gave them a warm standing ovation before Kennedy thanked attendees for being the "best fans in the galaxy"!

Filoni also pointed out how Japan was of course a huge inspiration for George Lucas, making it the perfect setting for this year's celebration. This is the first time it's been in Japan since 2008 during the sixth celebration.

Kathleen Kennedy is now speaking to the "numerous" films Star Wars is working on, from Filoni, along with directors Simon Kinberg, Taika Waititi, James Mangold and more. But wait, now she's introducing Deadpool and Wolverine director (and future Star Wars filmmaker) Shawn Levy to the stage!! What a huge surprise. Looks like we're getting more than The Mandalorian And Grogu out of this panel.

Levy has announced they are shooting his Star Wars movie THIS FALL. He's calling it a "standalone adventure" that takes place a few years after the events of episode 9! The attendees reacted to that with a big "OHH" from the crowd. Here's one thing he said to the crowd:

"[Kathleen Kennedy] and I sort of talked for a while about, well, maybe there's a movie we could work on together. And I remember in August of 2022, I got a call that I'll never forget. Kathy said, let's do it. And so we started developing a movie and it was wide open as to what it would be."

It's definitely exciting to hear about the new era of Star Wars is well on its way to emerging after the franchise mostly taking place on Disney+ in recent years.

Levy mentioned that their have been rumors that Ryan Gosling is in his movie which first circulated in January. And low and behold: RYAN GOSLING is on stage! The actor received a standing ovation while wearing a "Never Tell Me The Odds" baseball cap. He also sweetly shared a photo from his mom of his Star Wars bedsheets from childhood that she somehow still has. Clearly the actor has been a longtime fan of the franchise.

Gosling says the movie is a "great story with original characters" and praises Levy, adding that he doesn't think there is "a more perfect filmmaker than Shawn." Levy also jumped in to clarify it's not a sequel and it will not be attached to the sequel films.

Now we have a title: Star Wars: Starfighter. And, it's coming to theaters on May 28, 2027. We got a first look at the logo at the panel. Here it is:

OK, after that bombshell... we're moving to The Mandalorian and Grogu with Jon Favreau now joining Kennedy and Filoni ton stage to talk about the 2026 release.

Sigourney Weaver and Pedro Pascal are on stage now! Pascal shared that he's not at all surprised that The Mandalorian is such a hit. He knew it would be a big deal since he was first introduced to the TV show's storyboards.

The audience really embraced Weaver when she arrived, and she's really taken aback. There's a photo on the screen of her on set in a rebel pilot outfit and some droids. She said that while she hadn't seen the series while it was coming out, Favreau asked her to watch it and Grogu "stole" her heart.

Favreau brought on Grogu on stage next (yay, my wish came true!) Now that all the main stars are on stage (except for the rumored Jeremy Allen White), they are going to show first footage now.

The footage was KILLER! Favreau said they aren't quite ready to release a trailer yet, but that felt close to one. It started with an epic fight sequence with Mando in brand new all black armor before cutting to more scenes from the film.

Guys, there was much Grogu, be still my heart. In one moment Mando flew through the air with him in his arms and there was quite a few moments of him using the Force. Sigourney Weaver's character looks like she's not having any of Din Djarin's antics, calling his style "messy" in one scene before looking a bit bothered by Grogu in another. One standout element of it all was seeing the return of the AT-AT in a snowy scene. The movie is set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026.

That's all for the panel. I'm running to a press line next with the cast, so stay tuned for exclusive interviews along with more panel live blogs with Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau and more to break down what we just saw.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always growing, thanks to new projects hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will remember it all began with the first Iron Man movie, which starred Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow. The latter actress has nothing but nice thing to say about RDJ and director Jon Favreau, but she did have one complaint about her OG appearance as Pepper Potts.

While fans are looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies, more information about the shared universe's humble beginnings are still trickling out. Gwyneth Paltrow recently spoke to Vanity Fair about her movie roles, and offered some insider scoops about what it was like on the MCU's very first movie.

What Gwyneth Paltrow Said About Working On The Original Iron Man

While the MCU is a well-oiled machine at this point, Iron Man was a big risk. It was the first entry into the shared universe, and featured studio execs thought casting Robert Downey Jr. was a risk. But once on set it sounds like Paltrow, Downey, and Favreau did some serious collaboration to bring the blockbuster to life. As she shared:

Honestly, this does sound like a unique way of working on such a giant blocbuster. Marvel is known for its tight security, and the way that Kevin Feige and company methodically introduce new characters and stories. But Iron Man was more of an experiment, one filled with a ton of improvisation.

This unique type of collaboration between Favreau, Paltrow, and Downey paid off in the end, as Iron Man was hugely popular and kickstarted an entire shared universe. And while Paltrow might forget she was in Spider-Man: Homecoming, she's got lots of praise for the director of the OG MCU film. As she continued:

While it definitely sounds like filming the first Iron Man movie all those years ago was a positive experience for the Oscar-winning actress, there was one aspect of playing Pepper Potts that she wasn't a fan of.

The Aspect Of Iron Man That Gwyneth Wasn't A Fan Of

While gushing about filming the OG Iron Man film, Paltrow spoke about one sore point from the 2008 movie. In her words:

She certainly didn't mince words. While Paltrow would go on to play Pepper Potts in a whopping seven movies in the MCU, that doesn't mean that she was a big fan of her first wig. Luckily it didn't deter her from returning to that role time and time again.

It's currently unclear if/when Paltrow will return to the MCU, but she's been good about popping in for cameos. The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Thunderbolts* on May 2nd as pat of the 2025 movie release list.

Over the more than 100 years that the Walt Disney Company has existed, it has produced numerous iconic characters. None of them hold a candle to the success of Mickey Mouse, of course, but before Mickey, there was another that not everybody knows about. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Walt Disney’s first creation, and nearly a century later, Oswald is reportedly coming back.

Earlier this week, it was reported that a Disney+ animated series based on The Princess and the Frog’s Tiana had been shelved, but today, Deadline says another animated character will be getting his own show instead. Jon Favreau is reportedly writing and producing the new series that will combine animation with live-action.

It’s an interesting choice to focus a new series around a character who is nearly 100 years old, one that many audiences won’t know, but this isn’t even the first time that a new series based on Oswald has been proposed, and I think it’s all because Disney CEO Bob Iger is a big Oswald fan.

Bob Iger Brought Oswald Back To Disney

The story of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is the story of the birth of Mickey Mouse himself. While Walt Disney and his animating partner Ub Iwerks developed the look and style of the character in the 1920s, it was owned by Universal, who the Disney Brothers Studio was working for. Ultimately, Walt lost Oswald in a power struggle with his distributor, driving him to develop a new character, who became Mickey Mouse.

Decades later, in one of the strangest deals in Hollywood history, Disney CEO Bob Iger would trade the contract of sportscaster Al Michaels to Universal-owned NBC for, among other things, the rights to Oswald the Lucky the Rabbit and all the original cartoons that Walt and his animators had created.

Why did Bob Iger do this? Well, because he made a promise to Walt Disney’s daughter. Upon the return of Oswald to Disney, Diane Disney Miller said…

Whatever it was that made Bob Iger a big fan of Oswald, he clearly was one. Oswald would go on to appear in the Epic Mickey video game and its sequel, as well as various merchandise. He’s also a character in the parks, often found at Disney’s California Adventure.

Iger Gave The Greenlight to An Oswald Series Once Already

But that’s not the end of the story because the new Disney+ series based on Oswald actually isn’t the first time that such a show had been planned. Back in 2021, we learned that another Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series had been in development for Disney+. Bob Iger was reportedly a big proponent of the concept.

However, that project fell apart. While it’s unclear why, Bob Iger was no longer CEO at the time that we learned the project was dead. At that point, the job belonged to Bob Chapek. Now Iger is CEO again, and a new Oswald series is in early production. A coincidence? Maybe, but I doubt it.

As a fan of Disney history, and Oswald specifically, I’m excited about this new show. I just hope it actually happens. Bob Iger is set to leave Disney again at the end of 2026, and without Oswald’s champion running the show, anything could happen.

I think a lot of us are guilty of this. Christmas comes to an end. But we have spent so much time preparing for the holiday season, baking cookies and watching beloved Christmas movies, that we’re not ready to say goodbye to the annual season of giving. However, Will Ferrell just gave us the best indicator yet that it’s time to take down that tinsel, and to start removing the stockings from the mantle over the fireplace. The iconic comedian who’s always in need of more cowbell went to an L.A. Kings hockey game in his Buddy the Elf costume. But man, did he make Buddy look rough.

There was no Christmas spirit present on funnyman Will Ferrell as he sat near the ice and cheered on the Kings, who prevailed over the Philadelphia Flyers 5 to 4 on Sunday night. Ferrell made sure that the cameraperson in the arena caught “Buddy” chugging a beer:

And later in the game, Ferrell put a cigarette between his lips and stared down the camera, as if daring him to share this bad boy look with Santa. We guarantee that Buddy would end up on the Naughty List if he behaved this way during the year!

Will Ferrell and director Jon Favreau produced an instant holiday classic when they released Elf in 2003. Some people apparently love it so much, they watch it year round… even on July 4th. Now that’s dedication!

In the movie, Ferrell plays a man born to human parents who ends up crawling into Santa’s bag by mistake, and getting raised at the North Pole as an elf. Now a grown man, Buddy (Ferrell) heads to New York City to find his birth father (James Caan) and possibly rediscover the magic of Christmas. It’s the ideal mix of Ferrell comedy and holiday cheer, and that has helped Elf sustain the waves of Christmas competitors that have followed in its wake.

Buddy may be a very excited elf, fascinated by all the small wonders that he finds in the modern world. But Ferrell in the photos above looks like he wants to drink himself to sleep, and possibly set his pajamas on fire by passing out under the mistletoe with a lit cig in his mouth. It’s official, friends. Christmas is over. Bah humbug. Time to move on to 2025.

Speaking of 2025, there are plenty of things to look forward to in the pending new year, including a slate of fresh upcoming theatrical movie releases that will have all of us flocking to the multiplex. And you won’t have to wait very long for a new Will Ferrell movie, as he’s about appear alongside Reese Witherspoon in an anticipated wedding comedy called You’re Cordially Invited, which will be available to anyone with a Prime Video subscription. So cheer up, Buddy! Things are looking up. Also, the Kings won. That’s reason to cheer.

The first Iron Man movie was a huge movie in the history of Hollywood for more reasons than you may realize. Yes, it’s the movie that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it was also the movie that turned Robert Downey Jr. into an A-list movie star and Jon Favreau into one of the top filmmakers in the world. It’s not surprising the two bonded over the experience.

Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau have a number of relationships on and off screen, but in reality, the two have become close friends. The pair spoke previously to Forbes about their relationship and Favreau, who famously fought to cast Downey as Tony Stark when the studio was unsure, says Downey has since done the same for him. Favreau explained…

Behind the scenes, Favreau directed Downey in the first two Iron Man movies. On screen Favreau plays Tony Stark’s employee but also his friend. In reality, it seems clear the two are true friends, who have continued to support each other throughout their careers. Favreau moved on from Marvel to becoming one of the architects of the modern Star Wars franchise. Downey has become one of the most in-demand actors across Hollywood who recently won an Academy Award.

But the friendship between Downey and Favreau is more than just friends. Downey himself says the pair are like brothers, not just in their closeness but in the way the two of them can occasionally have disagreements. Downey said…

At this point it doesn’t really seem like either Downey or Favreau need the other to help them with opportunities. Both of them have plenty of opportunities, but that’s because of the success the two have had with those opportunities they were given early on. Both stars have continued to find success and it seems sure that each of them has enjoyed watching the other succeed. As Favreau puts it…

With Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU, and Favreau’s Happy Hogan still part of it, appearing as recently as Deadpool & Wolverine, the two friends may find themselves together once again.

Like so many of the best Marvel movies, Deadpool & Wolverine is full of wonderful moments that pay homage to what’s come before. In the case of the record-breaking superhero movie, this included an early and brilliant scene with Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan, one of the biggest cameos of them all. But I was shocked to find out that this scene could have featured a very different MCU legend sitting across from Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson.

This pivotal scene set in 2018, or right around the time of Avengers: Infinity War in the MCU timeline, sees Wade trying to become one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in his journey to find himself and a place in the world. While those who’ve seen the 2024 movie know that Happy is the one to break the bad news for the foul-mouthed antihero, Reynolds revealed in the commentary track on the Deadpool & Wolverine home release that he and director Shawn Levy toyed around with “like 65 versions of the scene,” including one that with Tony Stark:

It would have been great to see Robert Downey Jr. reprise his famous role as Iron Man five years (in real life, not the MCU) after his tragic, yet heroic death in Avengers: Endgame, and the moment would have been huge. However, it makes sense why Reynolds and Levy decided just to keep it as Happy having the pivotal conversation with Deadpool and not the iconic “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.”

Later on in his breakdown of the scene, Reynolds revealed that after he and Levy watched the scene and Favreau’s performance in it, they never went back:

On top of that, Shawn Levy explained in the commentary track that having Happy in that scene instead of someone like Tony Stark – or Nick Fury, who was also considered at one point – was a better fit for Wade’s journey:

Though I see why the decision was made, I can’t stop thinking about what that meeting at Avengers HQ would have looked like with Robert Downey Jr. trading barbs with Ryan Reynolds. The same goes for Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, which could have led to some great The Hitman’s Bodyguard jokes.

But who knows, maybe we’ll get to see RDJ and Reynolds cross paths when the Academy Award winner takes on the role of Doctor Doom in some of the upcoming MCU movies. That is, if Deadpool remains Marvel Jesus for the foreseeable future.

Deadpool & Wolverine is currently available on Digital, with the physical release hitting shelves on October 22nd.

Before the latest Marvel movie in the timeline, Deadpool & Wolverine, brought back characters from several Marvel franchises, Spider-Man: No Way Home was the first in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to unite characters from multiple cinematic universes. It brought together three different big-screen versions of Spider-Man, and it almost included a reference to another Marvel movie that wouldn’t have been out of place if it had come from Deadpool.

Spider-Man: No Way Home included the surprise return of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdoch in a brief scene, confirming the actor was officially reprising his role in the MCU as Daredevil. At the Tampa Bay Comic Con (via Popverse), Cox says there was a line that was shot, but never used, that saw Jon Favreau, who played Foggy Nelson in Ben Affleck’s Daredevil, make reference to the former role. Cox explained…

Unfortunately, the line did not make it into the final film. In the flick, Cox and Favreau's characters speak briefly about potential legal issues that Happy Hogan could be in, and Hogan tries to talk his way out of responsibility. I can easily see an alternate take where Hogan says he is "foggy" on the subject, and I kind of wish it had made the final version.

To be fair, I had nearly forgotten Jon Favreau was in Daredevil, and it's been a long time since I've seen Affleck's version. A lot of people probably would have missed the joke, which may be why the scene wasn’t used. Still, it’s just the sort of joke that Daredevil & Wolverine could have also used in its wild narrative, which also involves Happy.

In fact, Jon Favreau appears briefly in Deadpool & Wolverine as Happy Hogan, the same role he played in No Way Home. While a “Foggy” joke wouldn’t have had much context in that moment, later in the film Deadpool meets Jennifer Garner’s Electra and they make fun of the Daredevil movie and its ill-fated sequel. Some sort of reference to Favreau having appeared earlier in the movie certainly wouldn’t have been out of place.

Considering Deadpool & Wolverine included Channing Tatum as Gambit, a reference to a movie that never existed, a Foggy Nelson joke with Favreau certainly wouldn’t have been too obscure for the new Marvel movie. But who knows? With Charlie Cox’s role in the MCU only increasing with Daredevil: Born Again premiering next year, there might even be a chance for the new Foggy Nelson and the old Foggy Nelson to meet in some future MCU project. Certainly, that moment would not go by without a knowing reference.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the biggest movie franchise of all time, and with the massive Disney company behind it, it feels like there’s nothing it can’t do. It’s easy to forget, however, that the MCU started before Disney bought Marvel. In the early days, some things were considered that involved Disney, but couldn’t be done.

I was at the recent D23 event in Anaheim, California, and was lucky enough to attend a panel discussion on the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. It’s an iconic event in Disney history as the company that would become Walt Disney Imagineering developed four attractions at the event that would become part of Disneyland in various ways. The fair is also connected to Marvel, as Iron Man 2 used the fair’s location for a major scene, but also considered another iconic spot: Disneyland itself.

Kevin Feige And Jon Favreau Considered Using Disneyland For Iron Man 2’s Finale

Midway through the D23 panel moderated by the great Leonard Maltin, Marvel Studios president, and noted Disneyland nerd, Kevin Feige, and director of the first two Iron Man movies, Jon Favreau, joined the conversation. Feige then revealed that when the production of Iron Man 2 was considering major spots for the film’s finale battle, Flushing Meadows, NY was decided on only after they concluded that Disney would never consider a request to use its flagship theme park…

Even if Disney had owned Marvel, it feels like Disneyland appearing in Iron Man 2 would have been a long shot. Disneyland has only allowed filming inside its park a few times over its nearly 70-year history. Most of those have been for its own movies, and none of them have resulted in the park being blown up, which seems likely to have been the case here. As awesome as a superhero battle at the top of the Matterhorn would look, one has to imagine the Matterhorn itself would come out of that looking a little worse for wear.

Instead, Iron Man 2’s Stark Expo takes place at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the site of the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Jon Favreau had grown up across the street from the park, though he was born the year after the fair concluded.

Other Iron Man 2 Scenes Are Inspired By Walt Disney And It’s A Small World 

While Disneyland did not appear in Iron Man 2, the man who built it was, in a manner of speaking. Jon Favreau talked about the old films of Howard Stark, (played by John Slattery) that Tony watches in the movie, and how those were filmed in a way to intentionally reference Walt Disney’s on-screen persona. Favreau said…

The movie would also include an original song, written by the late Richard Sherman, half of the songwriting Sherman Brothers duo. They wrote multiple great and optimistic songs for the 1964 World’s Fair, including “It’s A Small World” and “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" for the iconic Carousel of Progress.

A major Marvel movie finale at Disneyland would have been incredible to see, and maybe now that Disney does own Marvel, such a thing can happen one day. Still, Iron Man 2 brings in plenty of references to classic Disney, showing how important the studio was to Marvel, even before they became joined.

Iron Man may not have come to Disneyland, but Disneyland will come to Iron Man. At the same D23 event, it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark for an upcoming Disneyland Resort attraction, Stark's Flight Lab, which is set to be added to the existing Avengers Campus area at Disney California Adventure Park.

When it comes to the smartest TV detectives we’ve ever seen, Adrian Monk definitely can count himself among them – right next to Columbo, Sherlock Holmes, and Luther (to name a few). For eight seasons of the USA Network series, Adrian Monk’s tendency to see all the details, often tied with his OCD, matched with his personal motivation to get “the guy” following the death of his wife, Trudy, was exciting to tune into week-to-week. All the while, major actors would often guest star. Some of which were big names before Monk, and others that have since skyrocketed into fame. 

Jeffrey Dean Morgan 

Over a decade before Jeffrey Dean Morgan became The Walking Dead’s Negan, the famed TV actor was in the Season 3 premiere of Monk, “Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan.” In the episode, Monk travels with the SFPD team to New York City to do some work in association with the murder of Trudy, but in the meantime, Monk gets embroiled in the case of a recently deceased Latvian ambassador. Morgan’s character catches the detective’s eye in connection to the ambassador’s death. 

Malcolm McDowell

The lead of Stanley Kubrick’s masterful A Clockwork Orange, Malcolm McDowell, made his way into Monk during Season 4 in a particularly great episode of the series that takes the detective into the world of fashion. In “Mr. Monk Goes To A Fashion Show,” he decides to pay a visit to the inspector of his favorite collared shirts when he notices recent inconsistencies. It leads him and Natalie to meet a British fashion designer named Julian Hodge, played by McDowell. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Did you know that Silver Linings Playbook Oscar winner, Jennifer Lawrence, was in Monk? Back in 2006, when the actress was a teenager and had not yet starred in any movies, she had a very small role as a high school mascot in the Season 5 episode “Mr. Monk and the Big Game.” Her head is covered for most of her scene, but she does take off the helmet for a moment in the episode. 

Jason Alexander 

Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander guest starred in Monk for the Season 4 premiere “Mr. Monk and the Other Detective” as another P.I. in town named Marty Eels. During Monk’s latest case, the detective begins to be overshadowed by Alexander’s character, which hilariously has Monk calling him a cheater. As Eels becomes a big competitor for Monk, it’s a blast to see Shalhoub and Alexander act together. 

John Turturro 

Monk perfectly cast the detective’s brother in 2004 by bringing in John Turturro in a fabulous guest role, that he would play in three episodes. Turturro, who is famous for being in movies with the Coen Brothers, Spike Lee and Adam Sandler played Ambrose, who suffers from severe agoraphobia and deepened Monk’s backstory. He was so memorable in the series that he earned an Emmy for “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series” for the episode in which he debuted the character, in Season 2’s “Mr. Monk and the Three Pies”. 

Stanley Tucci

One of the strongest Monk episodes of the series is definitely Season 5’s “Mr. Monk and the Actor.” In the 2006 episode, an actor named David Ruskin is set to play Adrian Monk in a movie based on his life and comes to shadow Adrian on his cases. Stanley Tucci plays Ruskin as the actor goes a bit too method with the role of Adrian and debunks some demons regarding what it’s like to be Monk. Tucci won an Emmy for the guest role, and was actually a finalist to play Adrian Monk prior to his guest role. 

Rainn Wilson 

Just a couple years before Rainn Wilson would become Dwight Schrute on one of the best sitcoms of all time, The Office, the actor made a small guest appearance on Monk in Season 2. He played a massive baseball fan and collector as Adrian Monk looked into a case involving a star baseball player. 

James Brolin 

Longtime TV and movie actor James Brolin (who is also the father of Josh Brolin and husband to Barbara Streisand), made his way into Monk for 2005’s Vegas episode. Brolin plays a millionaire casino owner who becomes a suspect following the death of his wife, and Stottlemeyer brings in Monk to solve the case. 

Sean Astin 

In Season 5, Lord of the Rings and The Goonies actor, Sean Astin crossed paths with Tony Shalhoub’s Monk in an episode called “Mr. Monk Is At Your Service.” Astin plays a young billionaire, Paul Buchanan, whom Monk and Natalie come across amidst a visit to Natalie’s parents' wealthy neighborhood. Monk ends up going undercover as Paul’s butler to learn more about him. 

Sarah Silverman 

Famed standup comedian, Sarah Silverman, guest starred in three episodes of Monk over the years as a character named Marci Maven. She first became part of the procedural in 2004 for “Mr. Monk and the TV Star,”  where she played an obsessed fan of the star of a hit show made up for the series called Crime Lab S.F. 

Danny Trejo 

In “Mr. Monk Goes To Jail” in Season 2, Danny Trejo, of Spy Kids, From Dusk Till Dawn and Desperado (among many of his movies), also got to work alongside Tony Shalhoub’s Monk. During the episode, Monk goes undercover as the cellmate of Trejo’s character, who is a convicted quadruple murderer. As you may suspect, comedy ensues. 

Snoop Dogg 

Snoop Dogg was also in Monk for the Season’s “Mr. Monk and the Rapper,” where he played a fictional hip hop star, Murderuss. In the episode, Murderuss approaches the detective to hire him to clear his name after becoming the primary suspect in the death of another rapper. The best part? Snoop Dogg actually raps Monk’s famous “here’s what happened” segment at the end. 

Alfred Molina

Beloved character actor, Alfred Molina, has also been part of Monk for a Season 6 episode. What’s interesting about Molina, is he was actually one of the finalists to play the lead role of Adrian Monk before Shalhoub was cast. In his guest role, he played a billionaire software mogul whose beach house has a view of a nudist beach. 

Jon Favreau 

MCU actor and famed director Jon Favreau was in “Mr. Monk Goes To The Dentist,” which aired during the series’ fourth season in 2006. Favreau plays a dentist who Lieutenant Disher goes to and swears murdered someone while he was under anesthesia for a procedure. 

Carmen Electra

All-star actor, model and singer Carmen Electra can be found in the Monk episode “Mr. Monk and the Panic Room” which came out in 2004. The episode has the detective investigating a crime scene where it seems like a chimpanzee has killed his owner. The victim is a record producer and Electra plays his pop star wife. 

Craig T. Nelson 

Poltergeist and Parenthood actor Craig T. Nelson earned a very important role in Monk for its two-part finale, “Mr. Monk and the End.” He plays Judge Ethan Rickover, who was on the California Court of Appeals and has a history with Monk’s late wife, Trudy. 

Tim Curry 

In Season 1, an enemy of Monk’s was introduced as financier Dale “The Whale” Biederbeck. After the character was originated by Adam Arkin, none other than The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Tim Curry embodied the role for a brief time in “Mr. Monk Goes To Jail.” 

Niecy Nash

Reno 911’s Niecy Nash made a guest spot in Monk in the early days for “Mr. Monk and the Girl Who Cried Wolf.” The episode follows Adrian’s first assistant Sharona as she starts to believe she’s losing her sanity when she keeps seeing a man with a screwdriver sticking out of his ear (that no one else can see). Neicy Nash plays Sharona’s friend and fellow nurse, Varla should step in to assist Monk. 

Jeffrey Donovan 

The star of Burn Notice, which also was on USA Network like Monk, turned up in the detective series in the episode “Mr. Monk and the Astronaut.” In the Season 4 episode, Jeffrey Donovan plays an astronaut who Monk is sure killed someone, but his alibi is airtight… considering he was in space when the murder occurred. 

Laurie Metcalf 

Roseanne actress Laurie Metcalf had some fun on Monk when she guest starred in the Season 4 episode “Mr. Monk Bumps His Head.” When Adrian wakes up in a small town with amnesia, Metcalf’s unhinged character uses the opportunity to convince the detective he is her husband. 

Nick Offerman 

Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman made an appearance in 2005’s “Mr. Monk and the Election” before he became famous for playing the very quotable Ron Swanson. Look out for the actor in his clean-shaven days during the Season 3 episode that has Natalie Teager running for the school board. 

Jane Lynch 

Before actress Jane Lynch rocked sweatsuits on Glee, she did guest for “Mr. Monk Gets Married.” In the episode, Randy Disher is concerned about his mother getting suddenly married to a man who is 30 years younger (played by Lost’s Nestor Carbonell) than him and asks Monk to look into it. This leads Monk and Sharona to pretend to be a married couple for a retreat that Lynch’s psychologist character is in charge of. 

Amy Sedaris 

The very funny Amy Sedaris was on two episodes of Monk to play Sharona’s younger sister, Gail. She first appeared in 2002’s “Mr. Monk and the Earthquake” before also being part of 2003’s “Mr. Monk Goes To The Theater.” Since she’s an actress in the series, her part in a local play that turns into a crime scene makes the second episode a particularly juicy appearance for Sedaris. 

Rachel Dratch

Saturday Night Live’s Rachel Dratch found her way into Monk for “Mr. Monk and the Missing Granny.” In the 2004 episode, Dratch’s character is stressed about the kidnapping of her grandmother and offers to help reinstate Monk to the police force if he can help find her alive. 

Howie Mandel

The Gremlins actor and game and competition show host played the role of Ralph Roberts in two episodes of Monk in 2008. Howie Mandel played the head of a religious cult called Siblings of the Sun in the Season 7 episodes. Mandel is a germaphobe in real life like Monk is.

Holland Taylor

Two and a Half Men actress Holland Taylor played Natalie Teager’s mother Peggy in two episodes of Monk. In the series, Peggy is a well-off woman who married into the Davenport Toothpaste business. She is part of 2005’s “Mr. Monk Goes To A Wedding” and 2007’s “Mr. Monk Is At Your Service.” 

Gena Rowlands

Gena Rowlands is an Academy Award nominee who starred in movies like Woman Under The Influence and Gloria in her youth before famously playing the older version of Allie in The Notebook. In Season 7’s “Mr. Monk and the Lady Next Door,” Monk becomes friendly with Rowlands’ Marge Johnson, but suspicions about her true intentions begin to grow. 

Ariel Winter

Before Ariel Winter became part of Modern Family’s Dunphy family, the actress was in Monk as an eight-year-old for “Mr. Monk and the Astronaut.” She has a small but pivotal role as the neighbor of the victim, whose place in the story leads Monk to track down the killer. 

Julie Bowen

In Season 7’s “Mr. Monk and the Bully,” Julie Bowen plays a character that Adrian Monk investigates after his childhood bully comes out of the woodwork asking for help from the detective. The Truman Show’s Noah Emmerich plays her husband and Monk’s former bully. Julie Bowen is a two-time Emmy winner for her leading role in ABC’s Modern Family. 

Eric Stonestreet

Modern Family’s Cameron Tucker was on Monk the same year the hit ABC comedy first arrived on network television. In “Mr. Monk and the UFO,” Eric Stonestreet plays a small role as a local mechanic named Boom-Boom whom Monk offends and ends up raising his estimate. 

Sung Kang 

Sung Kang, who famously played Han in the Fast and the Furious movies, also guest starred in Monk as two separate characters. First in “Mr. Monk vs. the Cobra” he plays an employee of a martial arts school they visit while investigating the death of a fictional kung fu star, Sonny Chow. Four years later, Kang stars in “Mr. Monk on Wheels” as the cousin of a criminal named John Kuramoto.

Angela Kinsey 

The Office actress Angela Kinsey had a guest role in Monk as Arlene Boras for two episodes of the series. She plays an X-ray technician who was in Alfred Molina’s episode, “Mr. Monk and the Naked Man.” She reprised her role for the 100th episode of Monk as well. 

Warning: SPOILERS for Deadpool & Wolverine are ahead!

Iron Man was the first of the Marvel movies in order, and while Robert Downey Jr. rightly gets a lot of credit for its success and helping to launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008, Jon Favreau also played a big role in the production as its director. While Favreau only helmed one of MCU installment after that, Iron Man 2, he’s continued to contribute to the franchise by playing Happy Hogan, who turned out to be one of the big cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine. As we come up on two weeks since the threequel’s arrival on the 2024 movies schedule, Ryan Reynolds penned a tribute to Favreau following his brief Deadpool 3 appearance.

The Wade Wilson actor took to his social media accounts, including Instagram, to share some official photos of his and Favreau’s scene together in Deadpool & Wolverine, as well as a behind-the-scenes picture of the two of them with director Shawn Levy, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios co-president Louis D’Esposito. He heaped a lot of praise on the Elf and Chef filmmaker in the post’s caption, which you can read below:

Happy Hogan got looped into the Deadpool & Wolverine proceedings when in 2018, after using Cable’s time travel device to undo Vanessa’s death and make various other changes to Earth-10005’s timeline (as seen in Deadpool 2), Wade somehow made his way over to Earth-616 and tried to join the Avengers. Happy, who handled the interview on Tony Stark’s behalf, felt Wade wasn’t a good fit to be one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and passed on the Merc with the Mouth’s application. Deadpool might not have had the best interaction with Happy, but Ryan Reynolds greatly enjoyed working with Jon Favreau both on camera and talking out ideas behind the scenes.

Reynolds has been on a roll lately complimenting people on social media who made surprise appearances in Deadpool & Wolverine, including Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Garner, Dafne Keen and Channing Tatum. The former three respectively reprised their roles of Blade, Elektra and Laura/X-23, while Tatum finally got to play Gambit after the character’s spinoff movie was scrapped in 2019 following Disney’s acquisition of Fox. Deadpool 3 marked Jon Favreau’s eighth time playing Happy Hogan, who was previously seen in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is the character’s last chronological appearance.

If/when we’ll see Jon Favreau play Happy Hogan again remains to be seen, though the upcoming Marvel movie Armor Wars and the upcoming Marvel TV show Ironheart seem like good bets given their ties to Tony Stark. Otherwise, use your Disney+ subscription to stream his past Happy appearances, and remember that Favreau is continuing his work in the Star Wars franchise by directing, writing and executive producing 2026’s The Mandalorian & Grogu.

It’s been over three years since Lucasfilm cut ties with Gina Carano due to controversial social media posts shared by the MMA fighter-turned-actress. After discussing her experiences with the Disney-owned company over the next several years, Carano filed suit against the House of Mouse in February 2024. The legal entanglement is ongoing, with both sides sharing arguments for their specific cases. Now, it would appear that the situation could take a significant turn ahead of the trial scheduled for next year. That’s because the possibility of Carano’s ex-co-star Pedro Pascal and other notable individuals testifying now seems to be on the table.

Both Gina Carano and Lucasfilm recently filed legal documents, which name a host of major players from Disney as potential witnesses who could testify in court. On the Star Wars side of this, Din Djarin actor Pedro Pascal, series creator Jon Favreau, LF president Kathleeen and publicity chief Lynnne Hale were all named. Per THR, other notable individuals on that list include former Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek and TV personality Bear Gryllis, who hosted Carano for an episode of his reality series, Running Wild.

Each of the individuals mentioned in the filings had some kind of professional and/or personal connection to the ex-Cara Dune actress. Jon Favreau and Kathleen Kennedy were her employers while she starred on The Mandalorian (which has been a hit with Disney+ subscription holders). And, of course, she and the previously Djarin portrayer collaborated during the show’s first two seasons. Finally, Bob Chapek was overseeing the House of Mouse at the time of the Fast & Furious 6 alum’s dismissal.

The trade also reports that the legal documents share details regarding the points of contention in the case. One of them is whether Gina Carano was technically under contract when she was let go from the job in February 2021. There’s also the matter of whether Carano received equal treatment compared to her male co-stars when it came to her social media activities. (Carano herself once opened up about her polarizing presence on the Internet.)

As it stands, Ms. Carano is suing Disney and Lucasfilm for alleged discrimination and wrongful termination. On top of that, she’s seeking $75,000 in punitive damages and wants a court order that would force her former employers to recast her on the Star Wars show. Carano’s lawsuit is being helped along by businessman Elon Musk, who’s funding it with the help of X’s chief of business operations, Joe Benarroch. The plaintiff is arguing that she was fired for “voicing right-wing opinions on social media.” She appears to view that as a double standard due to Pascal and some of her other peers sharing left-leaning views online.

Disney fired back at the suit after it was filed, arguing that it was in the corporation’s First Amendment rights to “dissociate its own artistic message from Carano's outspoken 'political beliefs.'” Legal documents also seemed to suggest that the company felt compelled to finally cut ties with Carano after she shared a post that appeared to compare being rebuked for one’s political leanings to the persecution of Jewish people during the Holocaust.

Gina Carano has opened up about the suit since it was filed and has been real about how “embarrassing” it is to be going through such a public matter with her ex-colleagues. Additionally, Carano called out the media following reports that she wanted to rejoin The Mandalorian amid the lawsuit. Whether or not any of that will come to pass remains to be seen. All that can be said right now is that Carano is currently set to receive her day in court on September 25, 2025 and, ahead of that date, it’ll be known if Pedro Pascal and others will indeed be called to testify.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article will straight-up ruin just about all of the best cameos in the threequel, so if you have not seen the movie, maybe hop over to our Deadpool & Wolverine review and avoid spoiling yourself. 

For some fans, epic and even funny superhero movie cameos are the best part of any comic book flick. The new superhero movie Deadpool & Wolverine has them by the crapload thanks to a script that takes full advantage of the MCU’s recent experimentation with multiverse travel and allows Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth and Hugh Jackman’s X-Man to interact with both new Marvel movie characters and favorites from the 20th Century Fox era. 

In case there are any character or celebrity sightings that slipped past you or went over your head, I will we cover the most crucial examples later in this article. However, first, I will take a closer look at the Deadpool & Wolverine cameos that made the most jaw-dropping impact to the Marvel timeline. You're welcome.

Deadpool & Wolverine's Biggest Cameos

Jon Favreau As Happy Hogan

Early on in Deadpool & Wolverine, we see a 2018-era Wade Wilson seeking a chance to become part of the Avengers in a meeting with Happy Hogan (Iron Man director Jon Favreau). Things do not go in the Merc’s favor, however, when Tony Stark’s former right-hand man points out that his request to join the world’s greatest heroes is more self-serving and should be selfless.

Henry Cavill As The Cavillrine

Deadpool’s search for a variant of Logan who could save his dying timeline brings him face to face with several unique versions of the adamantium-clawed mutant, who are all played by Jackman, of course… except for one. Previous rumors of Henry Cavill playing a Wolverine variant proved to be true, with the former Superman actor appearing extra bulky in the role of, as Deadpool dubs him “the Cavillrine.”

Chris Evans As Johnny Storm

Chris Evans’ cameo just might be the most surprising of all because we — and Deadpool — assume we are seeing his return as Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America. That is, until he shouts “Flame on!”, reveals his Fantastic Four outfit and confirms he is reprising his first Marvel movie character, Johnny Storm, a.k.a The Human Torch. Sadly, the reprisal also proves brief after Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) takes his skin off for talking shit, which Deadpool proves was not his fault in Deadpool & Wolverine’s end-credits scene.

Aaron Stanford As Pyro

Johnny Storm is unable to defend himself after his incendiary abilities are absorbed by one of Cassandra’s lead henchpeople, Pyro. Aaron Stanford returns to play the fire-manipulating mutant whom he first portrayed in one of the best X-Men movies, X2: X-Men United.

Tyler Mane As Sabretooth

After playing Victor “Sabretooth” Creed in 2000’s X-Men, Tyler Mane was replaced in  X-Men Origins: Wolverine — which more deeply explored his and Logan’s relationship as brothers — with Liev Schreiber. For Deadpool & Wolverine, the former professional wrestler got to put the fangs back on for another, overdue showdown with Jackman’s Wolverine that sees him lose his head… literally.

Toad

Another X-Men movies alum serving Cassandra’s will is Toad, named for his inhumanly long tongue, who is portrayed by an unidentified actor this time. Had Ray Park reprised the character, that could have given Deadpool a perfect opportunity to poke fun at the actor’s more iconic role: Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

Juggernaut

Another Fox-era Marvel version of an X-Men character showing up as a Nova henchperson is Juggernaut, whose helmet proves to be a vital instrument in helping Deadpool and Wolverine escape The Void. Vinnie Jones, who previously played the mutant in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, does not reprise the role here, but it was a fun callback, even if Reynolds previously voiced a CGI Juggernaut in Deadpool 2.

Jennifer Garner As Elektra

Deadpool and Wolverine eventually cross paths with another group of Fox-era Marvel movie characters, including Elektra Natchios, played by the already-confirmed Jennifer Garner. The actor previously portrayed the assassin in 2003’s Daredevil opposite her future ex-husband, Ben Affleck, in the title role — whose absence is mentioned in a cheeky bit — and in her own self-titled spinoff from 2005.

Wesley Snipes As Blade

Also part of Elektra’s group is Wesley Snipes as the title role from the original Blade movies, which — despite rumors Snipes would appear — was also quite a surprise, considering Reynolds told IGN there was tension between them on the Blade: Trinity set. The film also sees Snipes reference Marvel’s upcoming Blade reboot with Mahershala Ali by toutin himself as the one and only Blade there will ever be.

Channing Tatum As Gambit

Years ago, Fox attempted a movie starring Channing Tatum as X-Men character Remy LaBeau, a.k.a. Gambit, that never made it out of development hell. However, Tatum would finally portray the mutant card shark in a hilarious Deadpool & Wolverine appearance that sees him don a sometimes indecipherable Cajun accent.

Dafne Keen As Laura/X-23

Perhaps the one cameo with the most emotional heft is Dafne Keen, reprising her role from 2017’s Logan as Laura, otherwise known X-23, who is a young, clawed woman made from Logan’s DNA. She helps encourage the disillusioned mutant to step up and be the hero he failed to be in his own timeline.

Wunmi Mosaku As Hunter B-15

Outside of Happy Hogan, the one other major MCU character to appear in Deadpool & Wolverine is Hunter B-15, played by Wunmi Mosaku. It is nice to see her in her fully-fledged position as the leader of TVA, who thanks Wade and Logan for their help saving the Marvel Multiverse.

Deadpool & Wolverine Cameos You Might Have Missed

Psylocke

Another one of the classic X-Men movie characters employed by Cassandra in The Void is Psylocke, who is seen mostly in the background. In fact, we are not even sure who portrayed the telekinetic mutant, but we are pretty sure it was neither Mei Mleançon from X-Men: The Last Stand, nor Olivia Munn from X-Men: Apocalypse.

Lady Deathstrike

We are also not sure who dons the retractable fingernails to play Lady Deathstrike in Deadpool & Wolverine, but it does not appear to be X2’s Kelly Hu. Perhaps this version of the mutant is different from the one Logan killed in that film.

Blake Lively As Lady Deadpool

There were plenty of rumors about who would play Lady Deadpool, including Taylor Swift and Blake Lively. The latter turned out to be true and was confirmed in the film’s credits, but a part of us wishes we could have seen Reynolds’ real-life spouse in the Lady Deadpool suit rather than just voice her.

Matthew McConaughey As Cowboy Deadpool

We also never got to see who played a Western version of the Merc known as Cowboy Deadpool. However, audiences who listened closely enough to his few lines might have been able to recognize the voice of Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey.

Nathan Fillion As Headpool

Nathan Fillion can now add a third name to the list of multiple MCU characters he has played, following “Monstrous Inmate” and Karja in the first and third Guardians of the Galaxy movies, respectively. The former Firefly cast member voices Headpool, which also marks the second time he has played a disembodied head, following his role on Santa Clarita Diet.

Inez Reynolds As Kidpool

A younger, but still equally foul-mouthed variant of Wade Wilson known as Kidpool has a very close connection to Reynolds and Lively. She is played by the power couple’s oldest daughter, Inez.

Paul Mullin As Welshpool

Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed a Deadpool variant bearing the flag of Wales on his outfit. This one is called Welshpool and, as Reynolds confirmed on X, he is played by Paul Mullin — a professional footballer from the Wrexham AFC, which is owned by Reynolds and Rob McElhenny.

We can’t remember the last time a great superhero movie blew us away with so many insane cameos like this. Catch Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters now!

Everybody's got their favorite Friends character when it comes to Ross Gellar, Rachel Green, Chandler Bing, Monica Gellar, Phoebe Buffay and Joey Tribbiani. But what about the dozens of other people who came in and out of their lives over the NBC Must See TV show's 10 seasons? Here are 32 side characters from one of the best sitcoms of all time that we still love today:

Janice Litman-Goralnik

Oh. My. God! Chandler's on-off girlfriend Janice Litman-Goralnik (Maggie Wheeler) was nothing short of iconic, and despite all the cute moments Chandler and Monica blessed us with in Friends' later seasons, there is still a contingency of the fandom that thinks he and Janice should have been endgame. 

Carol Willick

Things weren't always easy for Ross (David Schwimmer) and his ex-wife Carol Willick (Jane Sibbett), as the series opened with them navigating not just their divorce, but their unexpected pregnancy and her new relationship. However, they continued to be there for each other when needed — Ross walking Carol down the aisle at her wedding, for instance — and we couldn't help but love her too.

Julie

The six Friends had a lot of girlfriends come and go over the years, but poor Julie (Lauren Tom) was simply a victim of bad timing. She came back into Ross' life just as Rachel was finally reciprocating his years-long crush on her. Julie was never anything but sweet and kind, but nobody could have stood in the way of Ross and Rachel finally getting together.

Richard Burke

Tom Selleck was one of Friends' best guest stars, playing Richard Burke, Monica's fan-favorite Season 2 boyfriend. Forget the fact that he was 21 years older and her dad's best friend. He still fit in just fine with Monica's close-knit friend group, even if Joey and Chandler did see him more as a father figure. Their breakup because Richard didn't want to have more children was truly heartbreaking.

Gunther

No one will ever forget Gunther, the Central Perk barista with hair brighter than the sun. James Michael Tyler stood mostly quietly behind the counter for an impressive 162 episodes, secretly pining for Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) the entire time.

Frank Jr.

Phoebe's half-brother Frank Jr. (Giovanni Ribisi) really seemed to prove which side of the family her wacky personality came from. Frank Jr. was hard to rein in, but he had so much love for his sister, and you can't help but smile at how enthusiastic he was to be having triplets with his wife Alice. Because he never had a dad around, and "now I always will, 'cause, you know, it'll be me!"  

Marcel The Monkey

It was certainly a unique choice of Friends to bring in a pet monkey for Ross. Marcel, who was actually a capuchin named Katie, was a hilarious companion to the newly divorced character in the first season. To this day can Friends fans even hear "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" without thinking of Marcel?

Ugly Naked Guy

It may be strange to love a character whose face we never saw, but Ugly Naked Guy provided quite a few comedic moments for the gang watching him from Monica's apartment.

Rhonda

Sherri Shepherd has said she loved guest starring on Friends as Rhonda, a museum employee who helped Matt LeBlanc's Joey (a new tour guide) navigate the lunchtime situation. Just as Joey was hurt that Ross chose to sit with the other scientists rather than him, we can all understand why Rhonda called out Peter, a fellow employee she'd known since grade school, for the same thing. After all, she shared her pudding with him. She gave him her Snack Pack!

Sandra Green

Marlo Thomas made a few appearances over the years as Rachel's mother Sandra Green, and she was at her best when she was marveling at the life her daughter had created. Sandra had never had to take care of herself, and she admired Rachel for being brave enough to not go through with a wedding to a man she didn't love.

Jack Gellar

Who was more lovable than Ross and Monica's dad Jack? The character, played by Elliott Gould, may have still shown a little favoritism toward Ross, but Jack clearly had a soft spot for his little Harmonica. Fans continue to love him for his musings on being buried at sea, selling ice on the Internet and the sun-dried tomato business. Don't tell me your heart didn't melt when he went to check on Monica (Courteney Cox) after her breakup with Richard.

Estelle Leonard

Estelle Leonard, played by a heavily made-up June Gable, was not the most talented of talent agents, as Joey struggled as an actor possibly more than necessary over the years. However, her exaggerated New York accent and chain-smoking proclivities made for consistent laughs in an unforgettable role.

David

It's hard to believe Hank Azaria appeared in only three episodes as David, the scientist who was forced to move to Minsk (which is not in Russia) so soon after he and Phoebe fell in love. I wouldn't have been upset if she'd ended up with him.

Mike Hannigan

It's hard to argue against Mike Hannigan though. Paul Rudd played a pretty significant role in Seasons 9 and 10, as his character eventually married Phoebe. Mike didn't always understand Phoebe's unconventional ways, but he always allowed her to be herself, even if that meant changing his name to Crap Bag to prove a point to Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock.

Mr. Heckles

Anybody who's ever had a noisy upstairs neighbor can likely relate to Mr. Heckles. Larry Hankin's character was a bizarre one, indeed, as he spent his sporadic appearances either telling Monica and co. to keep it down or insisting that he could have a cat/play the oboe/have birds, etc. According to "The One With the Flashback," we also have Mr. Heckles to thank for Joey and Chandler becoming roommates!

Susan Bunch

Susan Bunch gets a bad rap on Friends, and I honestly don't get it. We all know that Ross was kind of the worst, and nobody got the brunt of his pettiness more than the woman Carol left him for. While their interactions were often strained, Susan was as understanding as possible of Ross' perspective, but she never allowed herself to be pushed aside, especially when it came to Carol or their son Ben, and I love that. 

Eddie

Man alive! Who didn't love this dehydrating maniac? Adam Goldberg played Eddie, Chandler's roommate when Joey temporarily moved into his own place. Eddie didn't always have a strong grasp on reality, and there was really nothing creepier than finding out he liked to sneak into Chandler's room to watch him sleep, but Eddie sure was an amazing character who fans continue to love to this day.

Ursula Buffay

The character of Ursula Buffay originated on Mad About You, with Friends creating Phoebe as her identical twin to justify Lisa Kudrow's appearance on both NBC series. Ursula was the "evil twin" of sorts, just as flighty as Phoebe but with none of the warmth. She was still a heck of a lot of fun to watch.

Leonard Green

It was interesting to get to meet Rachel's dad Leonard Green (Ron Leibman), the man who spoiled his three daughters so shamelessly, but the best part about this character was how ruthless he could be, particularly toward Ross. "Nice hair. What'd you do, swim here?" Classic.

Nora Bing

Like many of the Friends characters, Chandler had a loving but complicated relationship with his mom Nora Bing (Morgan Fairchild), particularly because of her line of work writing erotic novels. But how fun was it for his friends to be able to meet the woman who wrote page 79 of Mistress B... well, never mind.

Jill Green

If there's one thing we learned about Rachel's sisters on Friends, it's that they're used to getting what they want. Reese Witherspoon was a joy to watch as Jill Green, who easily manipulated everyone around her, even dating Ross for no other reason than to prove to Rachel that she could. After all, the only thing she can't have is dairy!

Erica The Birth Mother

Erica (played by Anna Faris) wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but she made the process of Monica and Chandler adopting her twins extremely easy for them, despite the fact that they lied to her about their identities during their first meeting.

Erika The Obsessed Fan

Brooke Shields went way over the top to play Erika, Joey's stalker who somehow didn't understand that his soap opera character Drake Ramoray didn't exist in the real world. Her hand-licking scene lives in infamy, and who didn't love watching her throw water in Joey's face after she saw him kissing another character on Days of Our Lives? 

Paul Stevens

Things could have gotten all kinds of weird when Rachel started dating Paul Stevens (Bruce Willis), the father of Ross' girlfriend Elizabeth. Oh, and they definitely did get weird, but one can't blame Paul for giving himself that mirror pep talk before he continued his romantic weekend with Rachel. Everybody needs a little reminder that they're a neat guy (and a love machine).

Parker

Alec Baldwin guest-starred as Phoebe's date Parker in Season 8, and how could you not love how excited he got about every little thing? The brake lights were "aglow with the light of a thousand fairies!" The Long Island Expressway was "a concrete miracle!" Parker, I just want to take a mental picture of you ... click!

Pete Becker

Who hasn't dreamed of being pursued by a multi-millionaire? Jon Favreau guest-starred in six episodes as Pete Becker, and I can't even be mad that he tried to woo Monica by leaving $20,000 tips and whisking her away to Rome for pizza on their first date. Too bad their relationship couldn't withstand Pete's dream of becoming the Ultimate Fighting Champion.

Amy Green

While Rachel's sister Jill was defined by her manipulative personality, Amy Green was the very definition of self-centered. Christina Applegate's character couldn't be bothered to learn anyone's name (even Rachel's daughter Emma), constantly mistook Ross for a guy who worked at the falafel stand and somehow still thought she would get custody of Emma if something happened to Ross and Rachel. Talk about a character you loved to hate!

Judy Gellar

Christina Pickles appeared 19 times in Friends' 10 seasons as Monica and Ross' mom Judy, and while the micro-aggressions she hurled at Monica were pretty brutal, it was downright hilarious to see what aspect of her daughter's life she would nit-pick next: The un-fluffed pillow? The "easy" lasagna she made for dinner? Still not having a boyfriend? It was a lot, but it was relatable to a lot of Friends viewers.

Mr. Treeger

Sure, Mr. Treeger made Rachel cry that one time, but he wasn't exactly wrong in calling her out for being spoiled. As far as building superintendents go Michael G. Hagerty's character was a pretty nice one, not evicting Monica from the apartment she was apparently living in illegally. He also had a great storyline where he learned to dance so he could impress a woman he liked at the Super Ball.

Alice Knight

If you can get past the age difference between Frank Jr. and his wife Alice Knight (Debra Jo Rupp), and the fact that he was her student (her BEST student, obviously), the love between them was so undeniable. In pretty much all of their appearances together, they couldn't keep their hands off of each other, and that's one of the things that made Alice such a great side character.

Charlie Wheeler

Ross and Joey each had a lot of girlfriends over the series' 10 seasons, and they both dated Aisha Tyler's Charlie Wheeler. One can certainly see how they'd both be attracted to her, as she was brilliant, beautiful and pretty funny too. Frankly it was also nice to see a Black character with a major storyline.

Kathy

It's a little surprising that Kathy is so beloved by Friends fans, given the fact that she ultimately cheated on both Joey and Chandler. But the Joey situation was just unfortunate, because he was dating other people too, and Paget Brewster's on-screen chemistry with Matthew Perry was simply electric. I join many other Friends fans in wishing she and Chandler had lasted longer ... and ended differently.

Friends may have aired its final episode decades ago, but you know what they say: I'll be there for you, and that includes all of the beloved side characters that we met along the way. You can revisit any of your favorite episodes and guest stars, as all 10 seasons are available to stream with a Max subscription.

Acting and directing are two very different skills, and for someone to be able to do both is a mark of a hard-working and talented person. It doesn't always work out for actors, but it's remarkable how often it does. Here are 32 such examples of great actors who became great directors as well. 

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood's career has lasted an unbelievable eight decades. He started humbling with small roles in the '50s and as the decades have gone on, he's only gotten bigger and bigger. After directing his first movie, 1971's Play Misty for Me, he's gone on to helm a remarkable 39 more and has won 2 Best Director Oscars, for 1993's Unforgiven and 2005's Million Dollar Baby.

Ron Howard

Ron Howard has been in the lives and living rooms of Americans since he was just a kid as an actor on The Andy Griffith Show. He went on to star in Happy Days in the 1970s before directing his first low-budget film, Grand Theft Auto, in 1977. He's since gone on to direct such classics as Splash, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and many others. 

Bradley Cooper

If the start of Bradley Cooper's directing career is any indication, you can expect huge things. So far, the actor-turned-director has only helmed two movies, A Star Is Born and Maestro and both have been nominated for Best Picture Oscars. Not a shabby record. 

Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall got her first big break on the sitcom The Odd Couple but became a household name as Lavern in Lavern & Shirley. She didn't stay in TV though, instead, she started directing and made two of the most beloved Gen X movies of all time, Big and A League of Their Own. 

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck might not have been the first actor you picked to become a director, but his stellar career as an actor is matched by his work as a director. In fact, though he's never won an acting Oscar (something that should be remedied), he did win Best Director for Argo. 

Robert Redford

By the time Robert Redford directed his first movie, Ordinary People, in 1980, he was already one of the most legendary film stars ever. The second half of his career is as known for his directing as it is for his acting, with movies like Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It.

Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau's acting career started humbling with supporting roles in movies like Rudy and PCU. After he wrote and starred in Swingers, his star shined a little brighter. That was only the beginning though. Favreau has the honor of directing the movie that launched the most successful film franchise of all time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Iron Man and its sequel. He's since moved on to Disney live-action remakes with The Lion King and The Jungle Book. Oh, and he also directed one of the most beloved holiday movies ever with. Elf.

Mel Gibson

The controversial career of Mel Gibson began with a small movie that made huge waves in his native Australia. Mad Max made him famous and by the late late-'80s, he was one of the biggest stars in the world. He then moved into directing and reached his pinnacle early with Braveheart for which he won Best Director. 

Richard Attenborough

As an actor, Richard Attenborough starred in massive hits across generations with movies like The Great Escape and Jurassic Park. As a director, he helmed some of the best biopics of all time, like Gandhi, A Cry Freedom, and Chaplin as well a the legendary war flick, A Bridge Too Far. 

Regina King

Regina King's directorial career is only getting started, but judging by her first movie, One Night In Miami, the future is bright. So far, the Academy Award-winning actress has mostly directed TV shows, but you can be sure more films will be coming her way.

Denzel Washington

What can we say about Denzel Washington that hasn't already been said? He's a living legend at this point, as a multiple Oscar winner and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's also one heck of a director with movies like Fences and The Great Debaters.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski became part of our collective family as Jim on The Office. Who would have thought from that role, his career in Hollywood would reach the point that he is a major power player? Now that he's moved into directing, the sky is truly the limit. The first movie Krasinski directed, The Hollars, made for a humble beginning, but his second, A Quiet Place established him as a force to reckon with and it's since become a franchise.

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks might not have been an actor you'd have guessed would go into directing, like others on this list, but she has in a big way. She has shown she can direct blockbusters like Pitch Perfect 2 and indie darlings like that one about the bear who indulges in some, uh, white powder he finds, and goes on a rampage.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig is quickly becoming a voice of a generation. Her direction and writing of Barbie has been praised far and wide for its snappy dialog and heartfelt message. Gerwig's acting career started in the mid-'00s when she was mostly in smaller, supporting roles. Since moving into directing, she's become a huge star.

Jordan Peele

Key & Peele was a huge hit for Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, and made them both stars. No one expected Peele to turn to directing horror movies, but that's exactly what he did and we should all be grateful for it. With massive hits like Get Out, Nope, and Us, the future is bright for Peele and for all of us too, who will get to watch his work.

Rob Reiner

Though he had a leg up coming from a Hollywood family, Rob Reiner has staked out a claim all his own in the entertainment business. First as an actor on the hit show All in the Family, then as the director of some of the most loved movies of all time. Starting with his first movie, This is Spinal Tap, and running through the '80s and early '90s, he had an unbelievable run that included The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Misery. Wow!

George Clooney

Not only is George Clooney one of the most bankable movie stars ever, he's also a fantastic director. His acting career is legendary and his directing career, while not quite at the level of his acting, is still fantastic. He's directed TV (Catch-22) and movies (The Boys In The Boat, The Midnight Sky, Good Night, and Good Luck, among others) and you can be sure there will be more from him.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's directing career hasn't always gotten the best reviews, but I'd say her movies are very underrated. The talented actress has an eye for behind the camera as well, and movies like Unbroken and First They Killed My Father are powerful movies.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton's acting career came on as a slow burn to fame, but his directing career started with a band. His first film was a masterpiece called Sling Blade. he followed that up with the underrated All The Pretty Horse and a few others, though his pace has slowed over the last couple of decades. Let's hope he finds that directing bug again. 

Ben Stiller

There was a time in the '90s and '00s when it seemed like Ben Stiller was in every movie released. Not only was he working hard in front of the camera, he was killing it behind the camera as well. Starting really with Reality Bites, and moving on to great movies like the controversial but hilarious Tropic Thunder, and the Zoolander movies. 

Jodie Foster

The great Jodie Foster has been an acclaimed actor and star since her teenage years and of course, that talent has translated to directing. Though lately she's done mostly TV work like directing episodes of Black Mirror and Orange is the New Black, she's done a few movies too, like Little Man Tate and Money Monster.

Kevin Costner

In addition to being one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Kevin Costner has never shied away from making epic films. Though he's only directed four movies in his career, they have all been big films. Starting with Dances With Wolves in 1990, he's since directed The Postman, Open Range, and 2024's Horizon: An American Saga.

Tim Robbins

The directing bug caught Tim Robbins in the early '90s and he directed a couple of great movies with Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking. He's directed a smattering of movies and TV shows more recently, but he's mostly stuck to acting over the last few years. 

Sean Penn

Since the early 1980s, Sean Penn has been wowing moviegoers with his impressive acting chops and diversity. In the '90s he dipped his toe into directing with his first film, The Indian Runner and has directed a good handful of movies since, with his best being Into The Wild in 2007. 

Zach Braff

Acting-wise Zach Braff's big break came as a regular cast member of the hit sitcom Scrubs. As a directed, he burst onto the scene with his very first movie, Garden State in 2004. He's continued directing here and there over the last 20 years, including the great movie about getting older, Going In Style, and a few others, in addition to some TV work. 

Warren Beatty

In the 1970s, there was no bigger movie star than Warren Beatty. By the end of the decade, he had moved into directing as well, starting with 1978's Heaven Can Wait and continuing the '80s and '90s with acclaimed movies like Red and maybe his most remembered, Dick Tracy in 1990.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is a force of nature. For decades she's been one of the best and most popular actresses in Hollywood, and though she's only dipped her toes into directing, mostly in TV, she's on this list for one important reason. Keaton directed the music video for "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and that is a stone-cold Gen X classic. 

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh might be as well known for his directing as he is for his acting, and that's really saying something. Not only has he directed some of the best Shakespeare adaptions for the silver screen, but more recently he's been killing it with his Agatha Christie adaptations. 

Leonard Nimoy

Appropriately, Leonard Nimoy's first foray into feature film direction came in the Star Trek franchise when he directed both Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Outside of the iconic franchise he helped make famous he also directed the beloved Three Men and a Baby. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has always been a self-starter. His work to get the original Rocky made is legendary and after it made him a huge star, he wasted no time getting into directing, starting with Rocky II and adding Rocky III, Rocky IV, and 2006's Rocky Balboa as well. Of course, he's also directed in two other franchises he was at the center of with 2008's Rambo and the first Expendable movie. 

Helen Hunt

This one might surprise you, but Helen Hunt has had an impressive career as a director. Most of her work has been on television on shows varying from her own Mad About You and This Is Us. She also has two feature films under her belt with 2007's Then She Found Me and 2014's Ride. 

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton is seemingly everywhere these days, popping up in all kinds of movies and TV shows from Star Wars stuff to Dark Matter. He's also started directing, but his output is limited, with 2015's underrated The Gift and 2018 Boy Erased. Let's hope he finds more time to direct in his busy schedule. 

Before Robert Downey Jr. became the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, propelling it to unprecedented success, his casting faced skepticism from many who didn't see him as a reliable choice for major roles. However, director Jon Favreau was convinced of RDJ's undeniable charisma and pushed for him to be cast as Tony Stark. Favreau's intuition paid off: Downey Jr. revitalized his career and recently celebrated his first Oscar win for his performance in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. The visionary behind Chef recently shared insights into a scene where the natural banter between Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow beautifully transitioned from off-screen to on-screen, marking a memorable moment in the MCU's debut film.

A significant part of Iron Man's charm comes from the dynamic between Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow. In an interview with People, Jon Favreau discussed how the chemistry between the two actors enhanced one of the movie's most memorable scenes, shedding light on the creative process that made Iron Man such a groundbreaking film. The director recounted the astute way he handled that moment, saying: 

A notable instance was the Shakespeare in Love star's impromptu correction during a script reading, as she pointed out an art-related inaccuracy. Her director recounted:

The director and actor could have gotten uptight or defensive by the correction, but neither did; instead, he took note, and Robert Downey Jr. played along, giving the script some realism. The Swingers writer continued:

The rest, as they say, is cinematic history. The on-screen dynamic between the two A-listers is so compelling it could stand toe-to-toe with the most iconic romantic comedy duos. The Iron Man 2 helmer also seems to share this sentiment, further noting:

The actors behind Pepper Potts and Tony Stark continue to enjoy a playful friendship off-screen. And, as is the case with their director, it's hard not to "love" the real-life differences between the actors that helped that along. The two are also still close today. More recently, even as Gwyneth Paltrow was getting her hair styled during Robert Downey Jr.’s 2024 Oscar win, she didn't miss out on the celebration. Paltrow shared a hilarious on-brand video in honor of his victory.

As for Jon Favreau, he expressed his joy over the Stark actor's recent accolades, particularly for his role as the cunning Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer. “It’s nice that the sun is shining on him because it takes turns,” the director shared. It's sweet to see the filmmaker share so much love for his actors and continue to highlight just how crucial their chemistry was to the success of Iron Man.

If you have a Peacock subscription, you can watch the Avengers star's Oscar-winning performance in Oppenheimer. Meanwhile, Marvel enthusiasts can also relive the memorable on-screen partnership between Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow in the MCU by watching the Marvel movies in order with a Disney+ subscription.

It's remarkable to consider that, despite a career filled with unforgettable roles spanning five decades, Robert Downey Jr.'s recent Academy Award win for Oppenheimer marks the first time the acclaimed actor has received this prestigious award. Winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film, quickly prompted celebration from his Iron Man co-star, Gwyneth Paltrow on social media. Alongside Paltrow's congratulations, the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang actor's achievement also garnered praise from his Marvel Cinematic Universe colleagues, Jeremy Renner and Jon Favreau.

Following the Oscars and the subsequent Governor’s Ball, PEOPLE magazine had the opportunity to speak with Jeremy Renner and Jon Favreau about Robert's significant achievement. Both the Hawkeye performer and Zathura helmer opened up about their friend's notable accomplishment, with Favreau offering his insights on the significance of this moment for the A-lister:  

Jeremy, who has shared the screen with Downey Jr. in some of the best Marvel shows and superhero movies, expressed his profound pride and joy for his friend's accomplishment. Reflecting on Robert’s journey and the resilience he has shown through his career, Renner said:

The Chaplain star and his friends should feel a sense of pride because it is undoubtedly a significant achievement. As Favreau observed, the actor is genuinely experiencing a remarkable moment. Downey knows how to celebrate, as evidenced by his social media post celebrating his first Oscar victory. He shared an image on Instagram Stories that captured him relishing the moment, wearing a cozy golden robe and holding his newly-won Oscar while sipping coffee, with a caption that read: “Oh happy day…” It’s a post that harkens back to his days as Tony Stark. 

Fresh off the awards season buzz, the Sherlock Holmes star isn't hitting the brakes anytime soon. Up next for Downey is The Sympathizer, a gripping HBO series where he does double duty both in front of and behind the camera, bringing Viet Thanh Nguyen's acclaimed novel to life. Once it drops, those with a Max subscription are in for a treat, as they'll get exclusive streaming access to this highly anticipated show. And those of you with a Peacock subscription can visit the Avengers alum’s Oscar-winning performance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which is now streaming. 

Of course, if you are a Marvel fan, you could revisit RDJ’s time collaboration with Renner and Favreau in the MCU by streaming all the Marvel movies in order with a Disney+ subscription. 

There are long-running franchises, and then there's Star Wars. Generations grew up with the galaxy far, far away, which continues to expand through movies and live-action shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. The first of these shows was The Mandalorian, which is going to make its way to the big screen with Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian and Grogu. But that upcoming Star Wars movies' budget is reportedly going to be way small for the franchise, and I'm so confused. 

What we know about The Mandalorian and Grogu is limited, but fans are excited to see the beloved title characters make their way from the small to silver screen. But despite how much passion is behind the property, a report by Bespin Bulletin indicates that Lucasfilm is looking to spend less money on future Star Wars flicks. And they claim the Mandalorian movie's budget is actually less than full season of the series.

While this hasn't been confirmed by the studio yet, it's sure to give some Star Wars fans reason to pause. Bringing the franchise to life is understandably expensive, thanks to visual effects, make-up, production design, and more. The first season of The Mandalorian cost $120 million, so the movie will presumably follow suit if this report is to believed. And considering how successful the show has been, this small budget is a bit mystifying. 

While $120 million is a big chunk of money, it's small change compared to the budget of recent Star Wars movies. For example, the last flick to hit theaters was The Rise of Skywalker, which had a budget of a whopping $416 million. But that huge sum also made Episode IX's box office performance precarious, as it needed to hit really big to make a profit.

If The Mandalorain and Grogu is successfully made on such a smaller budget, Lucasfilm could end up making a ton of money. The Disney+ series is wildly popular, and smart money says plenty of fans would shell out to see the title characters travel through the galaxy on the big screen. We'll just have to wait and see how much money the studio actually commits to this exciting project. Maybe they'll give Mando the big budget he deserves after all. 

Fans are eager to see what comes next for Pedro Pascal's title character after The Mandalorian's Season 3 finale. Grogu and Din Djarin seem to have found their happy ending, but it's rarely thats simple in the galaxy far far away. And if Season 4 happens before the movie, a ton could potentially change.

It's been years since The Rise of Skywalker's release, and Star Wars has been noticeably missing from theaters. Lucasfilm announced a new trilogy, which didn't include The Mandalorian flick or Taika Waititi's announced project. We'll just have to see when these projects start production, and what their budgets are.

None of these Star Wars movies have release dates yet. While we wait for information, check the 2024 movie release dates. 

It's hard to believe that it has been nearly three years since WandaVision finished its run as the debut Marvel series on Disney+. This has left the future of one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most tragic characters, Vision, in limbo, though the rumored Vision series is apparently moving forward. What's even more unbelievable is that it has been over fifteen years since the actor behind the android joined the newly created MCU as Tony Stark's AI assistant, J.A.R.V.I.S. Recently, Paul Bettany opened up about the humorous shade that Iron Man helmer Jon Favreau made when pitching the film to him.

During a discussion at MegaCon Orlando (via Collider), Paul Bettany shared insights into Jon Favreau's approach to offering him the role of the advanced A.I. system. The Manhunt veteran highlighted the humorous manner in which the Jungle Book director presented the opportunity, which captures the playful and spirited atmosphere Favreau introduced to the MCU. Paul Bettany noted that the filmmaker was attracted to him for what he jokingly referred to as his absence of personality. As the actor tells it:

I mean, if we're to be honest, the Zathura director wasn't wrong when it came to that choice, as the British actor more than excelled in the role. However, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he definitely has a personality.

If you have watched the Marvel movies in chronological order, then you know there was no way of knowing just how much of a significant role Paul Bettany would play in the MCU, considering how his tenure began. He may have started just by lending his voice to Tony Stark's virtual assistant, but he became an essential part of the storyline that the House of Ideas used to create its universe. The Legion star reflected on his experience and shared more about how his role evolved from a mere voiceover to a critical character in the Avengers' lineup. He continued:

The rest, as they say, is history. Moving from the voice recording booth to the physical demands of being on set marked a significant shift for the actor. Transitioning to the role of Vision meant adapting from mere voice work to wearing an elaborate costume. The actor humorously noted the difficulty of getting into his costume, playfully stating that his dresser should receive a raise for their hard work. He detailed the demanding process of wearing the costume as, through laughter, he elaborated: 

If you have been keeping up with the state of superhero movies, you may have noticed that Marvel has faced some challenges since Avengers: Endgame's release. Due to the decreasing box office numbers, many planned upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Marvel TV shows have either been postponed or canceled as the studio adjusts their release schedule. All that aside though, there are still plenty of fans who'd love to see the A Knight's Tale alum reprise the role of the amiable android in the MCU. And that's not just due to Jon Favreau's astute (and funny) way of casting him but also due to the actor's pitch-perfect performance.

As Kevin Feige and crew reprioritize their release schedule, it will be interesting to see how and when Paul Bettany’s Vision will make his onscreen return. In the meantime, all of Bettany's appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription.

Although Disney+ subscribers have been kept well supplied with Star Wars TV shows to accompany the Star Wars movies in order on the streaming service, the galaxy far, far away hasn’t delivered a theatrical movie since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. However, there are a number of upcoming Star Wars movies in the works, and from what we know about The Mandalorian and Grogu, it’s looking it will mark the franchise’s return to the big screen. Production is reportedly set to begin this summer, and Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer, explained why Jon Favreau is the perfect director to helm the movie.

Of course, neither of these men are strangers to The Mandalorian corner of the Star Wars universe. They created it together, Favreau has written nearly every episode either on his own or with someone else, and Filoni has not only written and directed some episodes of his own, he’s played the X-Wing pilot Trapper Wolf. Now that Din Djarin and his adorable ward are making the jump to cinematic territory, Filoni gave the following rationale to Entertainment Tonight why it’s good that Favreau will be the one seated in the director’s chair:

With the exception of the Season 2 premiere, titled “The Gunslinger,” Jon Favreau has left directing duties on The Mandalorian to others, but the man has proven himself to be a notable filmmaker several times over thanks to movies like Elf, Iron Man and Chef. Even if he wasn’t already tied to Star Wars, I imagine the powers-that-be at Lucasfilm would have him on a shortlist of directors to consider for a movie. Fortunately, he’s been part of the franchise for many years now, stretching back to when he voiced Pre Vizsla in The Clone Wars.

So Jon Favreau’s filmmaking talents combined with this “shorthand” he and Dave Filoni share made him the perfect man to tackle The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will be the first movie he’s directed since 2019’s The Lion King. Alas, as with most in-development Star Wars projects, details about what we can expect from this movie are being kept closely guarded. One thing that’s probably safe to assume, though, is that Pedro Pascal will continue voicing Din Djarin for the movie, though that’s no guarantee we’ll see the character take off his helmet again.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to be released sometime in 2026, and while unclear now if The Mandalorian Season 4 will still happen, let’s not forget that Dave Filoni is also directing a Star Wars movie that will serve as a “climactic story event” for that and the other New Republic-set shows, like The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka and the forthcoming Skeleton Crew. Other Star Wars movies on the way include Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s movie following Daisy Ridley’s Rey 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, and James Mangold’s movie exploring the origins of The Force.

For the last five years Star Wars, the former king of the box office, has released no movies in theaters. Star Wars has remained a popular franchise thanks to numerous Disney+ series, but the plan for upcoming Star Wars movies has been largely a mystery. However, we now know that Star Wars is headed back to theaters thanks to one of those successful Disney+ series.

The Mandalorian and Grogu are getting a movie. Principal photography on The Mandalorian & Grogu has been completed, making it all but certain that we will finally get a new Star Wars movie on the big screen after all these years.

(SPOILER ALERT: This article contains specific details about events from The Mandalorian series, so be warned if you're not caught up on the Disney+ show!)

What Is The Mandalorian & Grogu Release Date?

When The Mandalorian & Grogu was first announced, only a production start date of “2024” was given. No release date was specifically given, but all indications were that the Mando movie was leapfrogging all the other upcoming Star Wars movies, and was going to be the first Star Wars film on the big screen since The Rise of Skywalker.

Sure enough, that has now been confirmed. In April 2024 The Mandalorian & Grogu was given an official release date of May 22, 2026, making it the first of two Star Wars films currently planned for that year.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Cast

If there was one thing more surprising than the announcement of The Mandalorian & Grogu as a film, it was the fact that almost nothing was said about the movie. This includes information that the title itself would seem to confirm. At this moment not a single cast member of the movie has been revealed, including The Mandalorian himself.

We can’t say with certainty that Pedro Pascal will appear in the movie. At the same time, it seems highly unlikely that we won’t see him or at the very least hear his voice. Having said that The Mandalorian & Grogu is filming around the same time as Fantastic Four so it actually appears unlikely Pascal will be the one under the Mandalorian helmet, at least most of the time.

Who else may be part of The Mandalorian & Grogu cast is another question. Seeing other characters from The Mandalorian franchise seems likely, but nothing has been announced. IN May 2024 it was reported Sigourney Weaver was in talks to appear, but it's unclear if she actually signed on, or what role she might play. Eman Esfandi, who played Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka has denied he'll appear in the film. However, a sizzle reel shown at D23 showed that another Star Wars: Rebels character Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios, will appear.

Jon Favreau Will Direct The New Movie

While little is known about who will appear in front of the camera, more is known about who will be running things behind the camera. Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Kathleen Kennedy will produce the film. It’s also been confirmed that Favreau will direct the new movie.

Surprisingly, this will only be Favreau’s second time directing any Mandalorian-related content. While he has written or co-written nearly every episode of the series, he’s only directed a single episode. Favreau and Dave Filoni are currently sharing writing credits for the film.

What The Mandalorian & Grogu May Be About

With The Mandalorian & Grogu going into production this year we’re to believe the movie will be the next chapter of this story. Therefore, trying to figure out what the movie will be about, we take a look at where Season 3 of The Mandalorian left the title characters. In The Mandalorian Season 3 ending we saw Din Djardin formally adopt Grogu, and the newly christened Din Grogu became his adoptive father’s apprentice. We also saw the pair put down roots in a home on the planet Nevarro.

With most previous plot threads seemingly resolved, the door is open to a story going in just about any direction. One assumes the story will begin where we left off. Perhaps something will happen on Nevarro that Mando and Grogu will get involved in. Or perhaps the two will be back to being bounty hunters, and that’s how the story gets rolling. Of course, it could be something much bigger.

Who The Mandalorian & Grogu Villain Could Be

Every good Star Wars movie needs a villain, and there are a couple of high-potential options for The Mandalorian & Grogu. One is Grand Admiral Thrawn. His name has been mentioned in The Mandalorian and we finally met him during the first season of Ahsoka. He’s now back in Mando’s galaxy, and we expect he will attempt to resurrect the Empire.

Another possibility is Moff Gideon. While we seemingly saw him die in Season 3 of The Mandalorian, we also saw a room full of clones of him that he was developing, so it’s possible the person we saw die was a clone, or that somewhere there’s a clone that survived and so one way or another Gideon isn't dead. Actor Giancarlo Esposito has said he's more than happy to return as Moff Gideon. Of course, Gideon was a supporter of Thrawn, so it’s possible both could be part of the new movie.

What Does The Movie Mean For Season 4 Of The Mandalorian?

The announcement of The Mandalorian & Grogu was a bit of a shock because all focus had been on The Mandalorian Season 4 on Disney+. Jon Favreau had previously stated that Season 4 was already written, and while the announcement of the new movie didn’t say anything about the new season of the show (though it did confirm Season 2 of Ahsoka was coming) we expect that the new season is happening, unless, the new movie is Season 4 of The Mandalorian.

It’s possible that, for whatever reason, the decision was made to transform what was to be Season 4 of The Mandalorian into a theatrical film. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen that with a Disney+ show. The Don Cheadle-led Armor Wars was to be a Disney+ series before the decision was made to make an Armor Wars movie instead. It’s possible that could be what happened here, but until we have confirmation, we’ll assume more Mandalorian on Disney+ is still planned.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Are Still Expected To Appear In Dave Filoni’s Planned Movie

While The Mandalorian & Grogu was a surprise announcement when it came, we were expecting to see the two title characters on the big screen at some point. At the last Star Wars celebration it was revealed that Dave Filoni would direct a theatrical Star Wars movie that would act as a blowout finale to the interconnected Star Wars series we’ve seen, including The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and the new Skeleton Crew, among possibly more. The announcement of the new movie confirmed that Dave Filoni’s movie is still one of those planned for the future, so this film is not that movie.

With The Mandalorian & Grogu less than two years away, there's still a lot we don't know about the next Star Wars movie. But we'll keep updating you as we learn more.

Star Wars is one of the most beloved film franchises of all time, with generations growing up with the galaxy far, far away. While fans are eager for upcoming Star Wars movies, the franchise has largely been expanding thanks to live-action shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. It all started out with The Mandalorian, and it turns out he's getting a movie with Grogu. I'm hyped, although I do have some questions. 

While fans are waiting for The Mandalorian Season 3, a thrilling announcement by Lucasfilm on the Star Wars website confirmed that Pedro Pascal's title character and Grogu aka Baby Yoda will be getting their own movie. That project will be helmed by Jon Favreau and is appropriately titled The Mandalorian and Grogu, although I have to wonder how this will narratively connect to the recently announced Star Wars trilogy, which included a film by Dave Filoni. Are these the actually same project or two conneected ones? Only time will tell, but Star Wars is going to return to theaters with a vengeance. 

In the announcement, Lucasfilm's own Kathleen Kennedy shared her thoughts about this exciting announcement, and the decision to give Din Djarin his own movie. Her statement reads:

She's not wrong. The Mandalorian became a sensation upon its release, and Star Wars fans are still collectively obsessed with Grogu. Putting them on the big screen seems like a great way to get butts in seats, and usher in the age of post-Skywalker Saga content. We'll just have to wait and see what the studio has up their sleeve.

I'm definitely ready to buy a ticket and go see The Mandalorian and Grogu, although I'm curious about how this new movie affects the overall plans for the Mando-verse. When Dave Filoni's Star Wars movie was announced, it seemed like it would be the end of the story that's spanned The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. But with Favreau's movie also in the works, does this mean that there's no actual end in sight? Hopefully there's a clear narrative path forward, because it's part of why I've been so old on the building narrative. 

The announcement about The Mandalorian and Grogu also confirmed that Season 2 of Ahsoka is in the works for Rosario Dawson and company. This is another thrilling update, one that shows that Lucasfilm will continue to focus on live-action shows while also bringing the franchise back to theaters. 

There are a number of balls in the air for the space opera. The new trilogy will be set across very different periods in the timeline, and are seemingly disconnected. And addition to Jon Favreau's recently announcement movie, Taika Waititi is also attached to his own Star Wars flick. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

While The Marvels may not have set any box office records and isn't among the best Marvel movies for most fans, the ending of The Marvels certainly implies we haven’t seen the last of Iman Vellani or Ms. Marvel. While it’s impossible to know when we might see her again in the upcoming Marvel movies, the actress has a laundry list of Marvel directors she’d be interested in working with, and not just because she loves their Marvel films. 

You might not have realized this, but Iman Vellani is a huge movie fan. She has been open about her love of the MCU, which went a long way to her becoming a part of it, but it turns out she just loves all sorts of movies. When Inverse recently asked Vellani what Marvel directors she wanted to work with, she dropped names that were not surprising, like Jon Favreau, or Destin Daniel Cretton, but the reason she wants to work with them might be a bit of a surprise. She explained…

If you needed more reasons to love Iman Vellani, and honestly, you really don’t, the fact that she loves Jon Favreau's underrated Chef is just another one to add to the list. She clearly has excellent taste in movies. And she’s already worked alongside the star of Short Term 12, her Marvels co-star Brie Larson, so it’s only fair she get to work with the director at some point. 

For a minute there it seemed likely that Vellani would get to work with Destin Daniel Cretton as he was set to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and it was probable, though certainly not confirmed, that the movie would bring together a lot of MCU characters, including Ms. Marvel. Cretton has reportedly dropped out of directing the movie, and with Jonathan Major's current legal troubles, it’s far from clear if that movie will even happen.

If Ms. Marvel does put together a Young Avengers team in the MCU, they will certainly need their own movie at some point, and that movie will need a director. Maybe Iman Vellani has a few suggestions of people that she thinks would be good. Even if they’ve never done a Marvel movie before, Vellani clearly knows good movies and good directors. 

Gwyneth Paltrow is happily retired from acting in favor of running her business Goop, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t think about her time filming movies. She’s had the pleasure of working with many different filmmakers during her 33-year-old acting career. When Paltrow spoke about the advice she was given by directors Wes Anderson and Jon Favreau, you’ll see that the differences between the two are quite cute.

When you work with many different directors, you tend to notice that each one has their own idea of what they want in your acting. Gwyneth Paltrow answered Vogue’s 73 questions, with one of them being how each director directs her. This was her incredibly cute answer.

This proves that all filmmakers are made differently, but it's adorable how Paltrow described each director. She worked with Jon Favreau in Marvel movies when he directed her in the first two Iron Man movies, as well as acted alongside him in Iron Man 3, Spider-Man: Homecoming (even if she forgot she had a scene in the movie) and Avengers: Endgame. When Paltrow spoke about her reasons for leaving the MCU, she mentioned that she signed onto the Iron Man movies because she was good friends with Favreau. Based on the humor he brought out in his acting roles and the wholesome family movies he directed like Elf, Zathura, and The Jungle Book, this director seems to have a heart of gold.

And then there’s the whimsical Wes Anderson, whose movies known for his unique style. Gwyneth Paltrow worked with the Oscar-nominated director in The Royal Tenenbaums, playing the adopted Tenenbaum sibling Margot. In fact, this is the only one of her movies that Paltrow said she’s willing to watch herself in, as it reminded her of the time her dad visited the set. With Anderson telling her to do his directions exactly the way he wanted, it makes sense since his actors tend to perform similarly in all of his movies. It’s clear the Rushmore director wants his characters to have deadpan mannerisms which helps the mouthfuls of witty dialogue stand out.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s days in the entertainment business may be over, but Jon Favreau and Wes Anderson still have their work cut out for them. In addition to still being involved with The Chef Show (which is on your Netflix subscription), Favreau is still hard at work as the creator of The Mandalorian (found on your Disney+ subscription). As for Wes Anderson, he recently released four short films on Netflix, including The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar, and has his 12th film in the works. These two filmmakers may be very different from each other, but they certainly know how to make a name for themselves.

Jon Favreau and Wes Anderson clearly had a great impact on Gwyneth Paltrow if she remembered their directions so well. The cute differences between the two directors show they have memorable styles of their own that can’t escape the actors who’ve worked for them. 

The Star Wars family includes a countless number of individuals, from the skilled actors who play out the storylines to the crew members diligently working behind the scenes. Unfortunately, at the end of this past week, the franchise lost one of its own. Shawna Trpcic, a veteran costume designer who worked on The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and more, passed away at the age of 56. News of her death surely comes as a surprise to fans of her work across the SW productions of more. After Trpcic’s death was confirmed, Lucasfilm EPs Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni paid tribute to her. 

Because of her work on the Star Wars shows available to Disney+ subscription holders, Shawna Trpcic worked very closely with Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau, who’ve spearheaded the various series. So it should come as no surprise that after her death, the two shared their recollections of Trpcic. In a statement released by StarWars.com, Filoni made note of her reverence for the expansive science fiction franchise. He also beautifully illustrated the impact Trpcic’s work had on the productions: 

The Iron Man director was more succinct when sharing his thoughts on the talented costumer. Nevertheless, his comments also conveyed a sense of respect for her work: 

Shawna Trpcic’s untimely passing was reported this past Friday and was eventually confirmed by Lucasfilm. The news is especially shocking because, over the past few days, Trpcic, who was survived by her two children, had seemingly been traveling and chronicling her excursion on Instagram. As of this writing, her cause of death has yet to be confirmed. You can see a recent photo taken amid her journeys below:

Born in Artesia, California, the late costume designer received her break into the entertainment industry when she was tapped for Billy Zane’s 1990 action flick, Megaville. She eventually went on to work in various costuming capacities on a slew of TV shows and movies, from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Torchwood to Toys and Leather Jackets. She also notably collaborated with writer/director Joss Whedon on a number of occasions, as she handled duties on Firefly, Angel and The Cabin in the Woods. 

The past few years, though, saw Shawna Trpcic mostly working within the world of Star Wars, of which she was a major fan. In addition to The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, she handled costuming duties on the recently aired Ahsoka series. Her work on Seasons 2 and 3 of Mando earned her two Primetime Emmy nominations, and she received a nod for BoBF as well. 

While her death is devastating, it’s lovely to see Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau honor her. More recently, Favreau has been working on The Mandalorian Season 4, while Filoni is preparing for his movie set in the galaxy far, far away. One would think they were going to recruit their late collaborator for the projects but, at this time, it’s unclear if she had committed to any upcoming Star Wars movies or shows. Something that can be said, though, is that her work was surely appreciated and, hopefully, it’ll never be forgotten.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Shawna Trpcic at this time.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite many people feeling it has recently stumbled, is still the biggest thing in movies, and that’s due, in no small part to the initial success of Iron Man. The movie took a lot of big chances, not the least of which included hiring Jon Favreau to direct and casting Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role as Tony Stark. Both men would go on to do big things for Marvel, but one early scene in Iron Man seemingly foreshadowed Favreau’s work with Star Wars.

In a video for Vanity Fair, Robert Downey Jr. talks about several of the major film roles of his career, including, of course, his star-making turn in Iron Man. It turns out that the scene early in the film where Tony escapes his captivity in his rudimentary Iron Man suit and crashes into the desert coincided with a pretty severe windstorm; one that seemingly reminded Downey of something out of Star Wars, the franchise where Jon Favreau is now focusing most of his efforts. Downey said…

Looking at the scene, it’s easy to see why it made Robert Downey Jr. think of something out of Star Wars. He could just as easily be on Tatooine in the shot where he finds himself mostly buried in the sand surrounded by the wreckage of his first Iron Man suit. Of course, the original Star Wars used North Africa for its desert planet, while Iron Man was filmed in the Alhambra Hills of California.

Downey talks about the fact that a lot of Iron Man was written while they were filming it, so there must have been moments when they were trying footage they weren’t sure would work. In this case, they were trying to get a shot and the weather wasn’t cooperating until it was. Downey seems to feel this was a sign they were all on the right track. He continued…

Certainly, in much the same way that people weren’t sure if Robert Downey Jr. was the right choice to lead a superhero movie, Jon Favreau had never directed anything of that scale before either. There’s no way he could have imagined that not only would he become a big part of the MCU both behind and in front of the camera, but his success there would lead to him becoming one of the key architects of Star Wars' first live-action series. 

Of course, it should be said that Jon Favreau hasn’t exactly been spending a lot of time in the sand making The Mandalorian. The show uses The Volume, digital screens to create most of its settings, so the series isn’t going out on location like the old says. Still, if Iron Man hadn’t worked out, Favreau might not have ended up where he did.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown into a wildly powerful force in the entertainment industry over the last decade and change. But despite the various crossovers and highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies heading to theaters, it all began with the gamble of the first Iron Man movie. That 2008 blockbuster changed the industry forever, and also started Robert Downey Jr.’s professional comeback. And RDJ has nothing but great things to say about director Jon Favreau pushing him to play Iron Man in the MCU.

The first Iron Man movie was a huge financial risk thanks to its big budget and somewhat controversial star. In the end it was a wild success that kickstarted an entire shared universe and once again made RDJ an A-lister. The Avengers: Endgame actor recently spoke to Vanity Fair about his career, opened up about the perfect timing and alchemy that resulted in his collaboration with Favreau on Iron Man. In his words:

That risk definitely paid off, as it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Tony Stark the way that Robert Downey Jr. did. He dripped charisma and humor, and those of us who watched the Marvel movies in order saw him carrying the entire cinematic universe’s emotional stakes during crossover moments like The Avengers.

As RDJ put it, he would go on to play Iron Man for over a decade, starring in a whopping nine movies in addition to a few cameos. His tenure as Tony Stark ended with Avengers: Endgame, which saw Iron Man sacrifice himself to defeat Thanos and his forces for good. But fans are still hoping he suits back up as Iron Man sometime in the future.

Jon Favreau would end up having a long career in the MCU. In addition to directing Iron Man 2, he’s got an ongoing role playing Happy Hogan in projects like the Spider-Man movies. Although given the twist ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home, it’s unclear if/when he’ll return to the big screen.

Most MCU movies including Iron Man are currently available to stream with a Disney+ subscription. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.