Disney and Lucasfilm are taking a very unusual approach to marketing The Mandalorian and Grogu. Instead of debuting footage exclusively in theaters, at conventions, or through a major televised event, the company has now dropped the first 10 minutes of the upcoming Star Wars film directly inside Fortnite through a new “Watch Party Island” experience.
And after going hands-on with the experience firsthand, it’s clear Disney is going all-in on gaming cross-promotion as it tries to build momentum for what is arguably the most important Star Wars theatrical release since the sequel trilogy.
The new experience was created by Epic Games, Disney, Lucasfilm, Fairview Portals, and Beyond Creative, with players able to explore Nevarro and watch footage from the upcoming movie in a virtual amphitheater.
The ‘Fortnite’ Experience Drops Players Into a Star Wars Battle
The experience begins aboard a ship heading toward Nevarro before things quickly go sideways.
Imperial forces attack the vessel, forcing players to rush into escape pods before crashing onto the planet below. Once players land on Nevarro, they immediately engage in combat against Stormtroopers before eventually gaining access to the city itself.
From there, the experience becomes more of a social exploration hub. Players can roam around Nevarro before making their way to the amphitheater, where a countdown clock tracks the next showing of the exclusive footage.
It’s one of the more ambitious promotional tie-ins Disney has ever attempted for Star Wars, and it feels much closer to a playable marketing event than a simple crossover skin drop.
This also isn’t the first time Lucasfilm has used Fortnite for major Star Wars story content.
IG-11 in Fortnite on Nevarro – Epic Games
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Ahead of The Rise of Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine’s mysterious broadcast to the galaxy — the message referenced in the film’s opening crawl — was first delivered through a special in-game Fortnite event. However, this latest collaboration feels substantially larger in scale.
Instead of a one-off audio tease, Disney and Epic Games have now built an entire playable Star Wars experience around The Mandalorian and Grogu, complete with combat encounters, exploration, social spaces, and extended footage from the film itself.
Jon Favreau Personally Introduces the Footage
The footage itself opens with director Jon Favreau welcoming players to the event before transitioning into a large-scale action sequence featuring Din Djarin and Grogu.
The opening appears to center around an assault on a bunker occupied by what looks to be an Imperial warlord. The sequence is loaded with heavy action, including blaster firefights, explosions, Force abilities, and even towering AT-AT walkers.
A screenshot from The Mandalorian and Grogu Super Bowl spot – Lucasfilm
The footage leans heavily into spectacle from the very beginning, seemingly designed to reassure audiences that The Mandalorian and Grogu will feel larger and more cinematic than the Disney+ series. However, early reviews have indicated this isn’t the case.
After the extended opening sequence, the footage concludes with a sizzle reel-style trailer teasing additional moments from the film.
Lucasfilm Continues Pushing ‘Fortnite’ as a Major Star Wars Platform
As previously reported, Epic Games recently opened the door for creators to build their own Star Wars-inspired islands using Unreal Editor for Fortnite and Fortnite Creative. That initiative included official access to characters, locations, weapons, and gameplay tools from the franchise.
Jon Favreau said: “On The Mandalorian, everything comes back to detail… materials, lighting, sound. They’re what make the world feel real. Our team at Fairview Portals brought those elements together with Lucasfilm and Epic in Fortnite to recreate the tone and texture of that world, inviting players to a new way to step into it.”
A screencap from The Mandalorian and Grogu – YouTube, Star Wars
READ: Jon Favreau Says He Doesn’t Know Why Disney Made ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ a Movie
Lucasfilm executive James Waugh also emphasized the company’s desire to use Fortnite as a creative platform for younger audiences.
“‘Star Wars’ endures because it inspires imagination across generations,” he said. “Bringing that spirit into Fortnite creates new ways for fans to explore their own creativity, building and sharing experiences that reflect what the galaxy means to them and how they connect with it.”
Disney Is Betting Big on ‘Fortnite’ Ahead of Star Wars’ Theatrical Return
What makes this particularly notable is the timing.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is supposed to mark the return of Star Wars to theaters after years of uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s cinematic future. Disney clearly understands the pressure surrounding the release, especially after divisive sequel-era reactions and recent struggles with several Disney+ projects.
A piece of the Mandalorian and Grogu movie poster – Disney
Instead of relying solely on traditional trailers and television spots, Lucasfilm appears to be attempting to generate excitement directly through gaming culture and online communities.
Whether that strategy works remains to be seen, but there’s no question Disney is treating Fortnite as a major pillar of its marketing campaign for The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Have you checked out the Mandalorian and Grogu foortage in Fortnite? sound off in the comments and let us know!
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