Yesterday was May the 4th, the galaxy’s favorite holiday, and Lucasfilm pulled out all the stops to celebrate the impending cinematic return of our favorite bounty hunter and his Force-sensitive apprentice. To mark Star Wars Day, special sneak-peek fan events for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu took place at select IMAX® cinemas across the globe—and Melbourne was right in the center of the action.
25 Minutes of Pure Action at Melbourne IMAX Last night, we headed down to the Melbourne IMAX at the Museum to catch an exclusive 25-minute preview of the highly anticipated film. From what we saw, this action-packed feature is shaping up to be the absolute perfect re-entry point for Star Wars fans. After a few years’ hiatus from the cinema, experiencing the galaxy far, far away in a massive IMAX format is exactly the theatrical comeback the franchise needs. The scale, the sound, and the kinetic energy of the footage prove that Mando and Grogu belong on the big screen.
Melbourne wasn’t the only city getting in on the fun. Lucasfilm hosted simultaneous special look events around the world to ring in May the 4th.
In Los Angeles, co-writer/producer and Lucasfilm president/chief creative officer Dave Filoni made a surprise appearance at AMC The Grove 14 to introduce the screening and chat with fans. Over on the East Coast, The Mandalorian himself was joined by Grogu at New York’s AMC Lincoln Square 13 to introduce the screening and pose for photos.
Meanwhile, in Berlin, Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and director/co-writer/producer Jon Favreau hit the city’s UCI Luxe Cinemas. Following a special footage screening for over 1,000 attendees, the trio participated in an epic photo stunt with fans on the Spree River. This followed Favreau’s recent stop in Madrid last week for a fan event and photo call at Cine Callao, the city’s historic Art Deco cinema.
So, where does the new film pick up? The evil Empire has fallen, but Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.
Directed by Jon Favreau, the film features a stacked cast including Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and Jeremy Allen White. The script was penned by Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Noah Kloor. Production is handled by Kathleen Kennedy, p.g.a., Ian Bryce, p.g.a., Favreau, p.g.a., and Filoni, p.g.a., with Karen Gilchrist, John Bartnicki, and Carrie Beck serving as executive producers. Topping it all off is a brand-new score composed by the brilliant Ludwig Göransson.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens exclusively in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on May 21, 2026. Advance tickets are currently available for purchase wherever tickets are sold, we personally recommend Hoyts IMAX or APEX if you are in Melbourne Central for the ultimate experience.
Based on our 25-minute IMAX preview, Jon Favreau is delivering an action-packed, visually stunning epic. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to return to a Star Wars theatrical release, this is the way.
