House of R: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Trailer Reactions

Podcast: House of R
Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Mallory Rubin & Joanna Robinson

Overview: A Galactic Return (04:28)

Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson dive into their signature "Deep Dive" style to break down the first teaser trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu, the next big-screen Star Wars adventure. The pod is electric with anticipation, as this marks the first Star Wars film since The Rise of Skywalker, and both hosts dissect the trailer’s implications for characters, story, and the future of the franchise.

Opening Context: Star Wars Back on the Big Screen

• Trailer Release & Movie Details:

  • The film drops May 22, 2026—seven years since the last Star Wars movie.
  • Jon Favreau directs; written by Favreau and Dave Filoni.
  • Story follows Din Djarin and Grogu, now enlisted by the New Republic to hunt Imperial Remnant warlords (04:56).
  • “This basically looks like a trailer for season four of the Mandalorian, which is coming to us in the form of a movie.” – Mallory (07:08).

• Atmosphere and Marketing Notes:

  • Adventure-focused poster; tagline: “If you’re searching for new adventure, this is the way.”
  • Logo and font evoke a whimsical, Indiana Jones-esque tone—“season one vibes,” focusing less on lore, more on fun and creatures (07:56).

• Quote Highlight:

  • “We're just doing straight adventure... they're trying to just like, drill in on the best of what the Mandalorian can be…” – Joanna (09:16)

Key Highlights: Hosts' Top Five Moments

1. Grogu: The Adorable Centerpiece

Led by Mallory (22:22)

• Grogu’s delightful trailer moments:

  • Cooing and using a telescope behind a sand dune (07:00).
  • Using the Force for snacks—Sigourney Weaver’s character pulls the bowl away (25:02).
  • Pressing ship buttons (“pressing all the buttons”) (25:14).
  • Swimming in a crystalline pool—evoking Nirvana album cover vibes (28:21).
  • Popcorn moment at gladiator match (30:01).
  • New gadgets: Uses slime-firing wrist rocket in a closing, comedic beat (27:11; 59:14).

• Host Banter:

  • “I mean, this kid snacks. It’s his snack budget. Press a button and unscrew a bauble... all sorts of parts in a ship!” – Mallory (13:58)

• Grogu’s enduring cuteness powers the hype and merchandising appeal.

  • “He's so cute. This could be the whole movie, and I’d be content.” – Mallory (23:07)

2. Big Set Piece: AT-ATs Over Cliffs

Joanna’s #1 (16:31)

• AT-AT walkers lumber through snowy mountains—a nod to Hannibal crossing the Alps.
• Spectacle of an AT-AT falling off a cliff is “bigger than something filmed in the volume” (17:28).
• Noted for grand-scale, cinematic visuals that separate this from TV (17:24); speculated to possibly open the movie (19:11).
• Hosts joke about the Empire’s poor tactical decisions:
  • “...a machine of that shape and form on a snowy mountain pass... You just simply can’t.” – Mallory (18:12)

3. Sigourney Weaver Joins the Star Wars Universe

Both hosts highlight (32:00; 33:53)

• Weaver’s character (possibly “Colonel Ward,” not confirmed) debuts in a bar scene, exuding Ripley-esque authority.
• Appears to lead the Adelphi Outpost and may have a major role.
• Mallory and Joanna are excited for meta reasons (space queen in another franchise!) and for her press tour stories.
  • “Sigourney in Star Wars is going to be really fun and exciting and I think we’re all lucky to see it.” – Joanna (33:53)
• Introduction marks a seamless, quick orientation for audience; interaction with Grogu foreshadows comedic and heartfelt moments.

4. The Anzellan Uprising

Mutual highlight (36:52)

• Babu Frik and fellow Anzellans feature heavily—on trailers, poster, and in a merchandising slam-dunk sequence:
  • Grogu + 3 Anzellans cruising a speeder (49:00).
  • Anzellans play a bigger role, possibly joining the adventure beyond Navarro.
  • “Nothing has ever screamed—‘this is here so that you buy this merch’—more than [that] shot...” – Mallory (40:10)
• Joanna waxes poetic about her love for the Anzellans, despite their divisiveness in the fandom.

5. Bar Fights & Nostalgic Action

Joanna (41:12)

• Din Djarin delivers signature close-quarters, gritty bar fight energy—echoes the series' roots (41:12).
• Grogu leaps onto Din’s back after a high kick, evoking classic Mando/child bonding (42:18).
• Mallory draws parallels to Season 1, Episode 1’s “Warm or cold” bounty line—“right back to that opening stretch in such a fun little way” (42:19).

Animated Legends & Deep Fandom Cuts

Zeb and Rada the Hutt—Fandom Surprises

Mallory (43:45)

• Zeb from Rebels gets a blink-and-miss fight scene and is featured on the poster—potential for larger on-screen presence (44:31).
• Rada the Hutt (aka “Stinky”), now swole and jacked, appears as a gladiator (46:01).
• Possible tie-ins to past Hutt storylines: “Are you thinking there are two huts on the poster?” – Mallory (50:08)
• Hosts speculate on crossover connective tissue, but hope film is accessible without “homework.”

Creatures, Critters, and Star Wars Lore Easter Eggs

Joanna (51:45; 53:18)

• Classic Favreau/Filoni creature features, including the Dejarik (holochess) monster, underwater adversaries, and other blink-and-miss aliens.
• Hope for movie to “keep it simple, stupid” but still reward deep-cut fans with pointed references and creative worldbuilding.

Thematic Reflections & Meta-Observations

• Adventure Over Lore:

  • Both hosts hope for a lighter, fun, creature- and action-centric film, without burdensome lore or Skywalker-fatigue.

• Fandom Pulse:

  • Joanna notes polarized reactions: “On the movie subreddit, every comment was negative. On the Star Wars subreddit every comment was positive. So the diehards are in...” (55:14)
  • The need to convince a wider, perhaps “movie-only” audience to show up for a franchise now used to home viewing (55:30).

• Quote:

  • “[Star Wars] just needs to be fun and spectacular in that way that makes it feel worth bringing your kids to the movie theater for...” – Joanna (55:30)

• Future Speculation:

  • Will this story lead straight to more Mando TV? New crossovers featuring Thrawn and other icons? The trailer suggests a self-contained adventure, but grand cross-franchise shenanigans are possible.

Notable Quotes & Fun Moments

• Grogu’s Merch Destiny:
  • “I think discipline, I need. He needs some discipline. He’s eating people’s babies...” – Joanna (24:38)
• Bar Fight Vibes:
  • “That looked like expensive liquor that broke. I mean, the tab on that is going to be steep.” – Mallory (42:53)
• Indy Grogu:
  • “I have now a vision in my mind of Grogu in a tiny fedora…” – Mallory (12:29)
• Meta Game:
  • “They put it on the poster. They’re ready for you to get excited.” – Joanna on Anzellans (40:10)
• Deep Lore vs. Accessibility:
  • “It would behoove them a la what Marvel has been doing to...make it so you don’t feel like you have to do a ton of homework to understand this.” – Joanna (49:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:28 — Opening “snapshot” of what the movie and trailer are promising
• 16:14 — AT-AT as cinematic spectacle; hosts’ favorite elements
• 22:22 — Grogu moments (telescope, snacks, swimming, popcorn)
• 32:00 — Sigourney Weaver’s character/impact
• 36:52 — Anzellans, merch, and comedic sidekicks
• 41:12 — Bar fight and Season 1 nostalgia
• 43:45 — Cameo blitz: Zeb & Rada the Hutt enter the chat
• 51:45 — Creature-feature delights and worldbuilding
• 55:14 — Reception in fandom and need for broader appeal
• 57:25 — Speculation about movie’s ripple effects in Star Wars canon

Conclusion: Spirit of Fun and Wonder

Mallory and Joanna exude excitement—hopeful for a fresh era for Star Wars that delivers fun, spectacle, kid-friendly adventure, and just enough deep-cuts for loyal fans. They encourage everyone (especially Grogu devotees) to enjoy the ride, popcorn buckets in hand:
“We really want Star Wars to be great. And so I hope this is great and ushers in a new era... of really fun, nothing-to-do-with-Skywalkers movies.” – Joanna (56:00)

Next Up: House of R returns for Alien Earth finale pod, featuring special guests Rob Mahoney and Timothy Olyphant (Cobb Vanth himself!) (02:23).