No time for a Mandalorian rewatch before getting your Grogu on? We got you covered

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Not too long ago in this very galaxy, audiences watched a helmeted bounty hunter meet a mysterious big-eyed alien toddler on their TVs, and “Star Wars” was changed forever.After charming fans for three (and a half) seasons, the Mandalorian and Grogu — the once unnamed child unofficially dubbed Baby Yoda, who has since been promoted to title character status — are making their way to the big screen Friday.“The Mandalorian and Grogu” will see the duo take on a job from the New Republic that brings them into the orbit of a familiar “Star Wars” crime family — the Hutts.Streaming series creator Jon Favreau shepherds his hit into an enjoyable if inessential summer popcorn movie loaded with the creatures you’re looking for.Directed by “The Mandalorian” creator Jon Favreau, the movie takes place some time after the events of the show’s third season, which concluded in 2023.

In the Season 3 finale, the gunslinging warrior Din Djarin officially adopted his Force-sensitive charge, whose full name then became Din Grogu, and took him on as a proper Mandalorian apprentice.Needing to be a bit more discerning about the jobs that he takes as he trains his kid, Mando became a gun-for-hire for the New Republic, helping them track down any remaining Imperial sympathizers and others who threaten the galaxy’s tenuous peace.Premiering in 2019, “The Mandalorian” was meant to appeal to the “Star Wars” faithful while also being an entry point for those new to the franchise.The show has developed its own lore over the years as characters from other movies and shows joined the fray to expand the show’s footprint in “Star Wars” canon.Here’s a spoiler-free rundown of what you need to know about the Mandalorian, Grogu and the rest of the players who take center stage in the first “Star Wars” movie since 2019.Not really! Although the movie is a continuation of ...