Robert Irwin is the celebrity face of the theatrical launch campaign for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to open in theaters and IMAX on May 22.
The official Star Wars Instagram account announced the pairing this week. The caption invited audiences to “step inside the world of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” with Irwin as their guide. Tickets are on sale now.
On the surface, Irwin might seem like an outside pick. He built his name in wildlife television, working at Australia Zoo and carrying forward the legacy of his father, the late Steve Irwin. Steve died in 2006. Robert was two years old. He’s spent the bulk of those years in public view, and the weight of that kind of inheritance is something most people couldn’t carry with any grace. He has managed it well.
Now 22, Irwin is in the middle of a deliberate move toward mainstream entertainment. He’s currently hosting Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro – one of his most visible network television commitments to date. The move from nature presenter to primetime TV host didn’t happen overnight. The Star Wars campaign is another step in the same direction.
Anyone who knows me, knows I am a massive Star Wars fan… so touring the Mandalorian and Grogu set with Jon Favreau was an absolute dream come true! pic.twitter.com/vEkiYsFHS6
— Robert Irwin (@RobertIrwin) May 14, 2026
The Mandalorian and Grogu carries significant expectations. The original series launched on Disney+ in late 2019 and ran for three seasons, building a devoted audience around Din Djarin – a bounty hunter navigating the outer reaches of the Star Wars universe – and the child known widely as Baby Yoda. Grogu became something close to a cultural fixture. The merchandise. The memes. The reach into audiences far outside the franchise’s existing fan base.
Moving the story from a streaming series to a theatrical event is a real ask. Those fans watched three seasons on a couch. Now they’re being asked to pay for the cinema experience. IMAX availability is central to how Lucasfilm and Disney are positioning the rollout. The premium format is part of the justification for the theatrical window.
Irwin’s presence in the campaign is a smarter fit than it might first appear. His enthusiasm isn’t manufactured. It comes from years of wildlife work done well before any entertainment industry calculation entered the picture. That kind of credibility is harder to fake than a marketing brief might suggest.
The franchise’s emotional core is a stoic warrior quietly devoted to a small, strange child. Attaching a warm, genuine presence to the campaign makes reasonable sense. It’s not a stretch.
What Irwin’s involvement looks like beyond this promotional spot hasn’t been confirmed. The partnership announcement didn’t specify scope or duration. What is clear is that Disney chose him for a reason. That reason lines up with the direction Irwin’s career is heading.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens exclusively in theaters and IMAX on May 22, 2026. Tickets are available now.