Major Star Wars show "cancelled"; new season not happening

Star Wars has dominated all of the fields that its properties have been placed into. It has been a big screen phenomenon, dominating the silver screen for decades with its legendary Skywalker Saga. It has also made its presence felt in the world of written fiction too, entertaining fans and adding to the lore via novels and comic books.

In 2019, however, it added live-action streaming television to its repertoire when The Mandalorian arrived on Disney Plus, furthering the Star Wars story and kicking off a whole new chapter for the Lucasfilm franchise, paving the way for more shows such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, and The Acolyte.

But now, many fans consider it a sad time to be a Star Wars fan. Fresh off the news that the franchise's most recent series The Acolyte will not be returning for a second season comes some not-so-hopeful news about the original Star Wars Disney Plus series.

The Mandalorian season 4 is reportedly not happening

According to trusted, reliable insider Daniel Richtman, The Mandalorian will not return for a fourth season. The character will be back in the confirmed upcoming movie The Mandalorian and Grogu but the insider says he has confirmed that this will now serve as the final chapter of the series, adding that there will be "no season 4".

If you're not ready to say goodbye to Din Djarin just yet, there is some good news. Richtman reveals that the character "will be in other projects after that" but adds that The Mandalorian as a series "will be over".

As shocking as this report is, it's also not entirely unexpected. The Mandalorian's potential cancellation as a series doesn't signal the show's lack of popularity; in fact, it's quite the opposite. Lucasfilm obviously know that fans are invested enough in the characters of Mando and "Baby Yoda" that they were willing to take the story to the big screen. However, the moment that The Mandalorian and Grogu was announced as a movie, it threw the fate of the series into question.

Prior to that, the show had already been renewed for a fourth season. Fans were anticipating it after the third season marked a triumphant comeback for the show after nearly three years off-the-air. But when the movie was announced, it raised some eyebrows because it would clearly affect the continuity of the series. And after The Book of Boba Fett already did that, nobody was really sure what to make of this decision. Especially when it came with the fear of losing The Mandalorian.

While this is only the beginning of Din Djarin and Grogu's story, the thought of The Mandalorian ending is a bittersweet one, particularly because we didn't know that season 3 might be its last when it aired. Though well-received in general, the third season was considered weaker than the former two, which likely wouldn't have happened if it had been written as a final season. And even though it certainly doesn't impact the standard of the trilogy of seasons as a whole, the idea of the show ending without a proper final season does render it all feeling a bit unfinished.

The Mandalorian may just be the most popular show in that galaxy so far, far away. It began with the beginning of the Disney Plus streaming service, instantly reeling in longtime fans of the Star Wars movie series but also appealing to casual viewers because of its standalone quality. It's obviously best to wait on an official announcement from Lucasfilm and Disney Plus before assuming the show's fate, but this report is worth keeping in mind given the source. In the meantime, we know that Mando and Grogu will be back in The Mandalorian and Grogu.