Book of Boba Fett: Jon Favreau explains why Mando and Grogu needed to reunite for The Mandalorian

When Grogu left with Luke Skywalker to begin his Jedi training at the end of the second season of The Mandalorian, fans believed that we would be seeing much less of the little guy. However, Grogu’s Jedi training didn’t last all that long as he was soon reunited with Din Djarin in The Book of Boba Fett, setting the stage for The Mandalorian season 3.

While speaking with Empire, The Mandalorian co-creator Jon Favreau explained why Grogu and Mando needed to be brought back together for The Mandalorian. “We couldn’t just hit a hard reset,” Favreau said. “It’s going to be interesting to see how this unfolds for people who may not have seen The Book Of Boba Fett. But I think The Book Of Boba Fett offered time to pass. You saw what Mando was like without Baby Yoda and we saw what Grogu was like without the Mandalorian and neither of them was doing too good. So them coming back together was a really good plot point that allows us to jump back into Season 3 while maintaining the central relationship.”

Although Grogu’s training with Luke was cut short, Jon Favreau said that they “had to service both things. Just because this kid has the potential and had training, does he belong away from the Mandalorian? I saw it more like Paper Moon, where the whole thing is about delivering the kid to the blood relative, only to realise that, whether genetically through her father or just through bonding, Tatum O’Neal has to end up with Ryan O’Neal. That ending feels really good to me. And this little kid [Grogu] is given a decision to choose. And the kid chooses the emotional relationship and wants to be with the Mandalorian, and passing up Yoda’s lightsaber. Part of you wants to see him develop in that way, and part the other.” But now that Grogu has had some Jedi training, it makes his passage into the Mandalorian culture all the more interesting. “Historically, Mandalorians developed all of those tools and armour and weapons to be able to counteract the Force abilities of Jedi,” Favreau said. “So as a storyteller this offers tremendous opportunity.“

“The journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue,” reads the official synopsis. “Once a lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin has reunited with Grogu. Meanwhile, the New Republic struggles to lead the galaxy away from its dark history. The Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together.” The Mandalorian season 3 will debut on Disney+ on March 1st.