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Star Wars fans clamoring for a glimpse of The Mandalorian and Grogu during the Super Bowl were left blinking at the screen after an ad for the movie debuted with no new footage this past weekend.
Instead, the 30-second big game spot directed by Jon Favreau delivered a spoof of the classic Budweiser Clydesdales commercials, featuring Tauntauns in place of horses. Mando and Grogu both took turns handling the Tauntaun reins as they dashed through the snow. A gruff voiceover narrated the whole scene, which naturally ended with the line, “This is the way.”
While some viewers found this tribute to the iconic Budweiser commercials endearing, others were disappointed not to see a fresh trailer for the upcoming Star Wars movie, which is set to be released in May. It’s now been four long months since the last trailer debuted eye-popping footage of AT-ATs, Sigourney Weaver’s Republic character, a new Razor Crest, and more besides.
It’s certainly a cute ad, but that disappointment is understandable. This is the first time that Disney and Lucasfilm have had the opportunity to market a Star Wars film at the Super Bowl in over six years, and those spots don’t come cheap. At the low end, it costs $8 million to purchase 30 seconds of time, with some brands paying $10 million. That’s a lot of money to spend on a Mando and Grogu-themed Budweiser parody ad that probably cost a fair bit to create in the first place.
“I genuinely hope that 10 Mil didn’t go to waste and there’s an actual second trailer dropping today,” commented one viewer who definitely did not get their wish, while another thought it looked like an A.I. video. THR assures viewers that Favreau shot the spot in live-action with the Lucasfilm creature team, puppeteers, and ILM.
On the positive side, some said they appreciated the gag. “Thought Mando was gonna toss me a cold Bud Light,” one wrote; another admitted that “Nostalgia baiting with the Tauntauns: 100% effective.”
Yep, if there’s one thing Star Wars consistently finds effective, it’s nostalgia baiting with member berries, and this ad will surely have delighted a section of the fan base with its sense of fun. Anyone waiting for new The Mandalorian and Grogu footage, however, will just have to keep on waiting.
The Mandalorian and Grogu comes to theaters on May 22, 2026.
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