Published Feb 10, 2026, 6:30 PM EST
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
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While it might have been divisive, The Mandalorian & Grogu’s Super Bowl TV spot still supports a pretty big Star Wars theory. Granted, it didn't feature very many reveals, but what was there was quite telling.
The new Super Bowl spot is simply a fun and creative parody of past big game commercials. However, that's why the controversy arose, as we still don't have a full Mandalorian and Grogu trailer (with only a few months left until the movie's release). Regardless, one key element supports a pretty cool theory about The Mandalorian & Grogu's plot.
The Mandalorian & Grogu's Super Bowl Spot Stars Episode V's Tauntauns
In the new Super Bowl spot, Budweiser Clydesdales are swapped for tauntauns, the classic bipedal mounts introduced in The Empire Strikes Back used by the Rebel Alliance. As a team of tauntauns pulls Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and Grogu through the snow on a hover-sled, a Sam Elliot voiceover talks about their bond before ending with: "This Is The Way."
Assuming tauntauns actually appear in The Mandalorian & Grogu movie itself, there's a pretty exciting implication to be made. Combined with footage of a trio of AT-AT walkers in September's teaser, it's very likely that the upcoming Star Wars movie will be returning to a classic original trilogy location.
A Snow Planet, Tauntauns, & AT-ATs: Is Star Wars Returning To The Empire Strikes Back's Hoth?
According to official Star Wars lore, tauntauns are native to the ice planet of Hoth. Combined with the Imperial walkers seen in past footage and a return to the icy world from The Empire Strikes Back feels entirely plausible.
After all, one of the few things we know about the movie's plot is that Din Djarin and Grogu are working with the New Republic to track down the Imperial Remnant. Perhaps one of these factions has repurposed the Rebellion's former Echo Base as a secret holdout?
A return to Hoth in The Mandalorian & Grogu is a pretty exciting possibility, and an idea that would be the perfect bridge between the Galactic Civil War and New Republic eras of the Star Wars timeline (a specialty of The Mandalorian series on Disney+).
The Mandalorian & Grogu releases in theaters on May 22nd, 2026.
Release Date May 22, 2026
English (US) ·