Star Wars in 2026 looks stacked—and pivotal. Sage & Sydney break down everything we (actually) know and what it means for the next phase: the theatrical return with The Mandalorian & Grogu, where Ahsoka S2 might land, why Disney and Lucasfilm are shifting focus back to movies, and how animation—Maul: Shadow Lord and Visions S3—could quietly carry the torch. We discuss accessibility for casual theatergoers, the "Mandoverse" cleanup, timeline headaches (Thrawn vs. Palpatine setup), and why confident, story-first shows like Andor and Skeleton Crew should be the north star.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro: What does 2026 mean for Star Wars?
0:24 – Quick rewind: 2024–2025 highlights (Acolyte, Skeleton Crew, Andor S2)
0:55 – 2026 at a glance: films, live action, animation
1:49 – The Mandalorian & Grogu: return to theaters and why it's "safe"
2:34 – Season 4 repurposed? How we got here since Celebration 2023
3:36 – Kicking off May 2026: expectations for Star Wars' big-screen comeback
4:01 – TV → Movie: risks of the first-ever jump for a Star Wars series
4:51 – Can Mando & Grogu work for casuals without homework?
5:54 – The "funnel" problem: movies up top, everything else below
6:48 – Ahsoka S2 outlook: loose ends, recasts, and pacing fears
8:10 – Why Disney is de-prioritizing TV (and why that might help)
9:45 – What "story-first" looks like: Andor & Skeleton Crew as models
10:54 – Cash grab worries vs. opportunity to reset in theaters
11:52 – What to wrap and what to leave open (please don't rush Thrawn)
13:02 – Villain trouble: showing threat vs. telling it (Thrawn's challenge)
14:26 – Timeline tangle: needing Palpatine setup without breaking Thrawn
15:23 – Animation slate: Maul: Shadow Lord & Visions S3 (what we know)
16:20 – Why animation keeps delivering (and live action wobbles)
17:06 – Dates check: only Mando & Grogu is firm (May); others TBD
17:35 – Wrap-up: hopes, worries, and what we'll watch for next

─────────

JOIN OUR DISCORD!
https://discord.gg/cdQgvgg3

➤ Listen to our podcasts here: https://bit.ly/3gJIBg9
➤ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsUplink
➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starwarsuplink/

Your place for everything Star Wars Gaming, the TV Shows, and Movies!

Star Wars Uplink aims to bring you the best Star Wars podcast every week, discussing the latest and greatest from the Star Wars Universe! New Star Wars movie trailers, Disney Plus TV Show Reviews, Reaction Videos, Star Wars Theory breakdowns, and Star Wars Lore Explained!

If you're looking for videos and podcasts on: The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, The Acolyte, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi Wan Kenobi, Bad Batch, Clone Wars, Rebels, Jedi Survivor, Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars Hunters, and every new Star Wars movie, you're at the right place!

With almost a decade of podcast experience and 350+ episodes, we're here to keep you up to date on everything going on in the Galaxy Far, Far Away!

─────────

We would highly appreciate any constructive feedback or review from you! Let us know in the comment section below, or on any of our socials! Our listeners are our priority, so we want to make the best content we possibly can! Please consider sharing the podcast with your family, friends, and followers. It would be highly appreciated! ❤️

We hope you have a good rest of your day, and remember... May The Force Be With You.

─────────

For any business inquiries, please Email us at: contact@uplinkpodcast.com

The Mandalorian & Grogu — Official Trailer is here... Is this the triumphant theatrical return Star Wars deserves—or a repackaged Season 4 built in a boardroom? We analyze the visuals, tone, story setup (or lack thereof), character regression (Razor Crest back? disintegration rifle?!), and what this means for Din Djarin, Grogu, and Star Wars on the big screen after seven years away. We also talk creative direction under Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau, the "Volume" look vs. true cinematic scale, and why this trailer makes some fans worry about stakes, heart, and purpose. Plus: why we still have hope for future films like Starfighter and what Star Wars needs to do next to win back theaters—not just Disney+.

If you're into Star Wars movies, Disney+ shows, and game tie-ins, this deep-dive reaction is for you.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro: Mandalorian & Grogu trailer reaction
0:16 – "Official trailer" status & expectations
0:30 – First impressions: trying not to be (too) negative
1:01 – Repurposed Season 4? Why the trailer feels like a TV cut
2:15 – "Spreadsheet turned into a movie": setup without a point
3:02 – TV vs movie: where's the cinematic leap?
4:11 – Seven years back to theaters… for this?
5:00 – Visuals debate: pretty TV vs true theatrical quality
5:41 – Lost grit: from dusty Western to candy-coated shine
6:13 – Aimed at kids now? The Grogu-first pivot
7:00 – What made S1–S2 work: the parent-child arc
8:16 – The official synopsis (and why it disappoints)
9:01 – "Now he's in Star Wars": losing the outsider mystique
9:58 – Character regression: Razor Crest, rifle, reset
11:11 – Theater vs streaming: why this feels Disney+ ready
12:51 – Remembering S1's artistry and collaboration
13:45 – S3, fan service, and ignoring earned moments
14:49 – "Distract with cameos": the meme problem
15:54 – Why we still love Star Wars: hope, heart, meaning
16:45 – Looking ahead: cautious hope for Starf Fighter
17:35 – Final takeaways & call for better creative choices
18:00 – Outro & how to share your thoughts

─────────

JOIN OUR DISCORD!
https://discord.gg/cdQgvgg3

➤ Listen to our podcasts here: https://bit.ly/3gJIBg9
➤ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsUplink
➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starwarsuplink/

Your place for everything Star Wars Gaming, the TV Shows, and Movies!

Star Wars Uplink aims to bring you the best Star Wars podcast every week, discussing the latest and greatest from the Star Wars Universe! New Star Wars movie trailers, Disney Plus TV Show Reviews, Reaction Videos, Star Wars Theory breakdowns, and Star Wars Lore Explained!

If you're looking for videos and podcasts on: The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, The Acolyte, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi Wan Kenobi, Bad Batch, Clone Wars, Rebels, Jedi Survivor, Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars Hunters, and every new Star Wars movie, you're at the right place!

With almost a decade of podcast experience and 350+ episodes, we're here to keep you up to date on everything going on in the Galaxy Far, Far Away!

─────────

We would highly appreciate any constructive feedback or review from you! Let us know in the comment section below, or on any of our socials! Our listeners are our priority, so we want to make the best content we possibly can! Please consider sharing the podcast with your family, friends, and followers. It would be highly appreciated! ❤️

We hope you have a good rest of your day, and remember... May The Force Be With You.

─────────

For any business inquiries, please Email us at: contact@uplinkpodcast.com

The future of Star Wars is at a crossroads. With The Mandalorian & Grogu movie already filmed and the surprising Starfighter project in production with a star-studded cast, what does this mean for the galaxy far, far away? Are Disney and Lucasfilm missing the heart of what makes Star Wars truly special—or are we seeing the dawn of a bold new era?

Join hosts Sage and Sydney as they dive deep into the next phase of Star Wars movies, explore the seven-year gap since the last theatrical release, and break down what's working (and what's not) in the galaxy of TV shows, films, and storytelling decisions.

If you love Star Wars movies, TV shows, and games, Star Wars Uplink is your home for thoughtful conversations and passionate analysis.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction & the weight of Star Wars movie gaps
0:44 – Looking back: gaps between trilogies
1:30 – The Mandalorian & Grogu movie: excitement or cash grab?
2:42 – Starfighter: cast, director, and why this feels different
4:05 – Comparing TV spin-off films vs original stories
5:20 – Why Season 3 of The Mandalorian lost its way
6:18 – Is Starfighter the real future of Star Wars?
7:20 – Have Lucasfilm & Disney lost the plot?
9:01 – Is this the final chapter for The Mandalorian?
10:18 – Pushing Star Wars forward beyond Skywalkers
11:35 – Two visions of Star Wars: fan service vs experimentation
13:01 – Why Andor and Skeleton Crew succeeded where others didn't
14:22 – The problems with fan-service storytelling
15:24 – Movies as the true pillars of Star Wars
16:26 – Upcoming trilogies and timeline placement
17:40 – Why Star Wars needs to move beyond interconnected cameos
18:53 – Dave Filoni's role and the creative challenges
19:56 – Lessons from Andor and critical success outside fan service
21:01 – Final thoughts: Will Starf Fighter redefine Star Wars?

✨ Let us know your thoughts in the comments or at starwarsuplink.com — and as always, May the Force be with you.

─────────

JOIN OUR DISCORD!
https://discord.gg/cdQgvgg3

➤ Listen to our podcasts here: https://bit.ly/3gJIBg9
➤ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsUplink
➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starwarsuplink/

Your place for everything Star Wars Gaming, the TV Shows, and Movies!

Star Wars Uplink aims to bring you the best Star Wars podcast every week, discussing the latest and greatest from the Star Wars Universe! New Star Wars movie trailers, Disney Plus TV Show Reviews, Reaction Videos, Star Wars Theory breakdowns, and Star Wars Lore Explained!

If you're looking for videos and podcasts on: The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, The Acolyte, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi Wan Kenobi, Bad Batch, Clone Wars, Rebels, Jedi Survivor, Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars Hunters, and every new Star Wars movie, you're at the right place!

With almost a decade of podcast experience and 350+ episodes, we're here to keep you up to date on everything going on in the Galaxy Far, Far Away!

─────────

We would highly appreciate any constructive feedback or review from you! Let us know in the comment section below, or on any of our socials! Our listeners are our priority, so we want to make the best content we possibly can! Please consider sharing the podcast with your family, friends, and followers. It would be highly appreciated! ❤️

We hope you have a good rest of your day, and remember... May The Force Be With You.

─────────

For any business inquiries, please Email us at: contact@uplinkpodcast.com