‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is a Hot Star Wars Watch Order Debate — and Its Own Creators Are Divided
Few questions in fandom feel as timeless as this one: when introducing someone to ‘Star Wars‘ for the very first time, which episode do you start with? It is a debate that has raged on message boards, at family dinner tables, and across social media for decades, with passionate arguments on every side. What makes the conversation newly electric is that the people being asked to weigh in are not just fans, but the architects of the franchise’s present and future.
Dave Filoni, who serves as president of Lucasfilm and is one of the most influential figures in ‘Star Wars’ storytelling today, and Jon Favreau, the writer and director behind the beloved Disney+ series ‘The Mandalorian‘, recently sat down with Collider ahead of the theatrical release of their upcoming film. The conversation covered the franchise’s future across television and film, but it was their candid back-and-forth about viewing order that quickly captured the attention of fans online.
Filoni leaned toward the preference of franchise creator George Lucas, which is to watch the ‘Star Wars’ films in chronological order, following Episodes I through IX in their in-universe timeline. But he was careful to frame it with characteristic diplomacy. When pressed for a firm recommendation, Filoni made clear he had no strong personal bias and felt the choice ultimately belonged to the parents introducing younger viewers to the saga, though if pushed he would suggest starting with Episode I. He added that he would simply defer to George Lucas himself, calling him “the maker” and stating he would not second-guess that authority.
Favreau came down on the other side of the divide. He told Collider he would begin with Episode IV, explaining that he prefers watching the saga in the order the films were originally released in theaters, partly because that is how he personally experienced them. He argued that beginning with ‘A New Hope’ drops the viewer right into the heart of the action in a way that builds tone effectively, and noted that even though the chronological order runs from one through nine, the technology of the filmmaking and the voice of the storyteller shift considerably across that span. For Favreau, honoring the release order is about honoring the experience the films were designed to create.
The timing of this exchange is particularly resonant. A newly restored version of ‘Star Wars: Episode IV’ is set to return to theaters on February 19, 2027, as part of Lucasfilm’s yearlong celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary, making Favreau’s mention of the re-release feel like more than a passing reference. Meanwhile, ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’, directed by Favreau and produced alongside Filoni, is set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026, marking the first new ‘Star Wars’ film to arrive in cinemas since 2019.
Favreau also explained that the film was designed to work as a standalone experience, accessible even to viewers who may not have followed all three seasons of the Disney+ series, while still rewarding longtime fans with the detail and continuity they expect. It is a philosophy that mirrors the very viewing order debate itself, in that the best entry point is ultimately the one that makes the galaxy feel alive to the person experiencing it for the first time.
Whether you are a lifelong defender of the release order or a chronological purist who would not dream of skipping the prequel setup, the fact that Filoni and Favreau disagree so openly is a reminder that even the people who make ‘Star Wars’ cannot fully agree on how to watch it. So which side of the debate are you on, and if you were handing someone ‘Star Wars’ for the first time, which episode would you press play on first?
