In the marketing for The Mandalorian and Grogu, fans have seen the baby alien nodding, using the Force, and eating cookies. However, Kathleen Kennedy recently confirmed to Variety that Grogu will not speak.
Grogu eating a cookie – Star Wars, YouTube
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Kennedy made her comments while discussing the future of Lucasfilm, framing the decision to keep Grogu mute as an advantage rather than a limitation. Unlike Master Yoda, who spoke in inverted phrases, she expressed certainty that audiences would fall deeper in love with Grogu even though, as she put it, “on the big screen, he never says a word.”
The comments also highlight how Lucasfilm sees Grogu fitting into the broader Star Wars franchise.
A Lesson From E.T.
Kennedy was at the Golden Reel Awards in Los Angeles, where she was receiving an honorary award from the Motion Picture Sound Editors. In her acceptance speech, the controversial producer reflected on her work with Steven Spielberg on E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial. She said that she and the director spent significant time worrying about E.T.’s look “but it wasn’t until we heard those heavy, shuffling footsteps and the raspy, melodic breathing that E.T. became real. He wasn’t a puppet anymore, he was a friend.”
The iconic flying bicycle scene from E.T.: The Extraterrestrial – Rotten Tomatoes Trailers, YouTube
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That alien, voiced by Pat Welsh, delivered some of the most iconic lines of the 1980s. Later, speaking backstage, Kennedy compared E.T. to Grogu. She said that he is, “another perfect example of a character that has to emote and you have to feel connected to, and he never speaks a word.”
Of course, E.T. does actually speak throughout the course of the film, something a producer on one of the most iconic films of all time likely knows. E.T. slowly learns how to speak throughout the movie, until at the very end he’s able to emote a full sentence “I’ll be right here.”
Some fans have noted that Grogu’s babbling has often come close to sounding like words. However, the little green guy has yet to speak clearly. Since he comes from a species that ages very slowly, Kennedy’s comments suggest that audiences may never hear Grogu say his first words.
The Limits of Baby Yoda
When Grogu—first called “The Child” on The Mandalorian and “Baby Yoda” in popular culture—was introduced in 2019, he became a cultural phenomenon. By preserving his childlike character and not giving him speech, Lucasfilm may be protecting what has made him iconic.
A screenshot from The Mandalorian and Grogu Super Bowl spot – Lucasfilm
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At the same time, critics have pointed out that this decision may limit the character’s growth. Grogu will likely continue growing stronger in his ability to use the Force, yet he will continue to communicate through gestures and baby talk. After a certain point, some fans may challenge the idea that “Baby Yoda” is less of a key character in the Star Wars universe and more of a marketing opportunity.
The Future of Grogu at Lucasfilm
Kennedy is in the process of handing Lucasfilm leadership, including the future of Grogu, over to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. What they will choose to do with the character remains an open question. Much of that may depend on the success of Jon Favreau’s upcoming film. The outgoing president of Lucasfilm greenlit the film and serves as its producer, but the franchise’s future rests in other hands.
Leslye Headland, Dave Filoni, and Kathleen Kennedy – Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
If The Mandalorian and Grogu succeeds, Lucasfilm may see little reason to change what has worked so far. But if the character is going to grow beyond the role of mascot, the studio may eventually have to decide whether Grogu’s silence is part of the mystery—or a limitation the franchise can no longer avoid.
How do you feel about Kathleen Kennedy saying that Grogu will never speak? Sound off in the comments!
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