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“New” version of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu released in United States

By John Freeman on 8 June 2026 • ( 0 )

A “new” version of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, featuring commentary from director Jon Favreau has been released, with stories behind every scene synced to the movie through the TheaterEars app.

TheaterEars – Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Announcement

Some Star Wars-related fan sites have opined this version has been rushed released in response to rapidly declining US box office receipts, the film dropping out of the top five in its third weekend in theaters.

The commentary cut, currently only available in the United States, was announced via the TheaterEars official Instagram, in partnership with Lucasfilm, reportedly offers context, craft insights, and behind-the-scenes perspective layered over the footage.

(Yes, incredibly, some “innovator” has come up with yet another way to spoil your cinema experience, as if modern behaviour from some patrons wasn’t annoying enough. This commentary is delivered over earbuds, meaning you could be sitting next to some wretch listening to this commentary while you try and watch a film while they possibly giggle and mutter in response to director insights).

Forbes reports The Mandalorian and Grogu earned $98 million in the United States over Memorial Day weekend, falling $5 million short of the $103 million Solo: A Star Wars Story earned over the same four-day weekend period eight years ago. In the film’s second weekend, The Mandalorian and Grogu suffered a catastrophic drop of 69% in business from its opening three-day frame.

Whether the availability of this TheaterEars-delivered version of the film will encourage returns to the cinema or simply annoy those seeing it for the first time alongside a returning patron is as much of a mystery as the Force itself.

• Read Tim Robins review of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu here on downthetubes

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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.