Lucasfilm’s 36-second Mandalorian and Grogu Super Bowl ad pays homage to classic commercials, but fans are disappointed.

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While The Mandalorian and Grogu made an appearance during this year’s Super Bowl, it wasn’t a typical trailer for the Star Wars film.

Instead, viewers were treated to a 36-second ad featuring Mando and Grogu journeying through snowy landscapes on tauntauns. Grogu takes the reins and even gives a tauntaun a gentle pat at the end of the spot.

So, why skip the traditional trailer? Lucasfilm’s marketing lead Ryan Stankevich explained the creative choice.

“Our creative and marketing team came up with a unique concept that pays homage to classic Big Game ads from the past,” he stated in a release accompanying the commercial. “Working with Jon Favreau, the teams at Lucasfilm and ILM created a spot that felt instantly iconic, cinematic, and quintessentially Star Wars. It captured the warmth, humor, and emotional bond between these two beloved characters, making it the perfect next step in our campaign leading up to their big screen debut this summer.”

However, fans have expressed disappointment with this approach. “It was a cute ad, but it would have been better if it ended with ‘trailer online now’ or ‘trailer coming soon’… something! The movie is out in 3 months, and nobody knows what it’s about. Just more nostalgia, and this time it’s for an unrelated beer commercial,” one viewer commented.

“It would have been great if we had more than one underwhelming teaser and weren’t just three months away from release. The marketing for this is worse than it was for Solo,” another added.

“Hot take: I actually didn’t mind it. If people weren’t expecting a trailer, the spot might have been better received,” offered another perspective.

“Fumble after fumble. This could have been a fun homage or spoof if they had attached an actual trailer. Instead, just months before release, it seems like the movie has nothing interesting to show,” another fan remarked.

“It’s amusing that people were confused by this; it’s the most straightforward parody of a common Super Bowl ad ever. That said, this marketing strategy for a Star Wars movie would raise major red flags if they weren’t already raised by that trailer,” someone else noted.

The Super Bowl ad follows the film’s initial trailer, which hinted at Mando and Grogu embarking on another adventure. You can find more details in our breakdown of The Mandalorian and Grogu trailer.

The Mandalorian and Grogu premieres on May 22. In the meantime, stay updated with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.