Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau Reveal Their Preferred ‘Star Wars’ Watch Order

The upcoming future of the Star Wars is moving back to theaters in a big way, and it is closely tied to the success of Disney+’s series The Mandalorian. The next chapter, titled Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, continues the story of Din Djarin and Grogu as they face new dangers in the galaxy after the fall of the Empire.

The information comes from an interview with Collider, where Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni talked about the film and the wider direction of Star Wars storytelling. Both creators explained how the movie connects to other parts of the franchise while still trying to work as a standalone experience for new viewers.

Jon Favreau, who co-wrote and directs the film, said the story had to change after earlier plans for a fourth season of the show were altered. He explained that the new version of the project was written to work better as a film rather than a series.

“We came up with the new script for this together,” Favreau said. He added that even though the story connects to other Star Wars projects, it is designed so new audiences can still understand it without needing to watch everything before.

He also explained that the film still fits into the larger universe, even if it is more accessible. According to Favreau, the story is shaped by everything happening around it in the Star Wars timeline, including upcoming shows and past events. This allows characters and ideas from different series to naturally appear without forcing viewers to know all the background details.

Dave Filoni, who is now the President of Lucasfilm, added that the goal is to make the film an easy entry point for new fans. He said the story should feel open and simple enough for people who have never watched the shows before, especially younger viewers.

“It’s an entry point,” Filoni said. “We don’t want you to feel like you had to catch up on all these other series and shows.”

He explained that fans who have seen other Star Wars projects will still notice connections, but those details are not required to enjoy the story. For example, characters from animated series like Star Wars Rebels may appear, but they are written in a way that new viewers can still follow the plot.

Filoni also said he does not think of these references as “Easter eggs.” Instead, he sees them as natural parts of the same universe, since everything in Star Wars exists in one connected galaxy.

The discussion also touched on how Star Wars stories should be watched. Favreau and Filoni were asked about the “correct” viewing order for the franchise. The question has been debated by fans for years, especially when introducing new viewers.

Favreau said he personally prefers the original release order of the films, starting with Episode IV, because that is how he first experienced the saga.

Filoni, however, said there is no single correct way to watch the franchise.

“There’s no wrong way to watch Star Wars,” Filoni said.

He explained that it depends on the viewer and the experience they want. While he acknowledges that some people prefer starting from Episode I, he does not believe one method is better than another.

“I wouldn’t second-guess the maker,” he added, referring to creator George Lucas and the original structure of the saga.

Both creators agreed that the most important thing is the experience itself, not the order in which it is watched. They believe Star Wars works in multiple ways because of its long history and interconnected storytelling style.

The interview also covered the future of Star Wars projects beyond Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. Filoni spoke about ongoing development across both live-action and animated series. He mentioned that more stories are already in motion, including new seasons of existing shows and additional spin-off projects.

He said there are many creative plans happening at the same time, and the goal is to keep building the universe step by step. Favreau and Filoni both emphasized that they are working closely together to make sure the stories stay connected while still being easy for audiences to enjoy.

The return of Star Wars to theaters marks a new phase for the franchise, blending television storytelling with big-screen releases. With The Mandalorian continuing to expand and new films being developed, both creators see this as the beginning of a larger connected era for the galaxy far, far away.

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