The latest trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) confirms that Star Wars’ baby craze is here to stay. It’s going on seven years since Star Wars first introduced the world to Grogu, better known as Baby Yoda in the fandom, in The Mandalorian (2019). Grogu melted hearts around the world with his adorable design, babyish mannerisms, and special bond with Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal). He and Djarin were so successful that Lucasfilm decided to bring them to the big screen in The Mandalorian and Grogu.
In the new film, Grogu may have some competition in cuteness after the latest “babyfied” character reveal: Baby Greedo. Baby Greedo’s reveal tells us the Star Wars baby craze isn’t over yet, which inspires us to take a look back on how long the franchise has capitalized on the trend.
Who Is Baby Greedo In ‘The Mandalorian And Grogu’?
The Mandalorian and Grogu trailer teases a brand new adventure for Djarin and Grogu. As the pair aid the New Republic in its fight against the rise of imperial warlords, they face the Hutts and other alien creatures. The trailer shows that the movie is relatively light on live-action actors, featuring mostly creatures and aliens from across the galaxy. While some of the aliens are quite scary, one little guy caught our eye.
At the 1:41 mark in the trailer, during a monster attack, the camera pans toward a futuristic, space stroller holding a baby Rodian. The media and fans wasted no time in dubbing the new character “Baby Greedo.” Greedo (Paul Blake) has a minor role in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008). He’s a Rodian bounty hunter who did work for Jabba the Hutt and made the mistake of trying to take out Han Solo (Harrison Ford).
The baby Rodian in The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t actually Greedo, as the timelines simply don’t add up. Greedo is already deceased by the time of The Mandalorian and Grogu. However, since he’s the most famous Rodian in Star Wars, it just feels natural to call the baby Baby Greedo. It’s the same phenomenon with Grogu, who isn’t actually Yoda, but is most recognizable to viewers as “Baby Yoda.” Although Baby Greedo doesn’t appear to have a big role in The Mandalorian and Grogu, the fact that the nickname caught on so quickly demonstrates how deep Star Wars is into the baby craze.
Star Wars’ Baby History
While Grogu is the most famous “babyfied” Star Wars character, the franchise has a long history of introducing baby characters. The baby trend dates back to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), which introduced the baby Ewok, Nippet. Adult Ewoks are already pretty cute, so Nippet is absolutely adorable. She looks just like a little teddy bear. However, viewers were less receptive to “cute” Star Wars characters back then. The Ewoks’ cute, bear-like appearance, which contrasts sharply with their taste for human flesh, sparked some criticism in the fandom from those who felt they stood out too much in the gritty, sci-fi franchise or were just too ridiculous.
As a result, Nippet has only received love from the franchise in retrospect. The franchise would only tentatively tap back into the trend in the prequel trilogy. A deleted scene in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999) features the real Baby Greedo. In the scene, a young Greedo accuses young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) of cheating in the pod race, and the two children fight. The filmmakers likely cut it because it was a little too comedic and unnecessary. However, Revenge of the Sith (2005) offered a brief appearance by baby Luke and Leia (Aidan Barton), and fans responded more positively to the bittersweet, hopeful moment.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars marked a more substantial return to the baby trend, featuring “Baby Jabba,” who is actually Jabba’s baby son, Rotta. The pudgy little guy with the nickname “Stinky” won over fans’ hearts. The series also introduced a Baby Gungan and a Nautolan, and seemed to mark the turning point when the franchise began capitalizing on cute alien creatures. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) continued the trend by introducing baby Porgs, known as Porglets, which fans found both terrifying and oddly adorable, paving the way for Baby Yoda.
How Long Will The Star Wars Baby Craze Last?
The reception to Star Wars’ baby characters has slowly grown more positive over the years, culminating in the Baby Yoda craze. The franchise has reached a point where viewers are more willing to embrace its less serious side and indulge in adorable creatures. Still, it’s unclear how long it can ride the trend. While some are already hyping up “Baby Greedo,” some commenters are questioning when the baby alien fad will end.
Whether the craze lasts or not will largely depend on how The Mandalorian and Grogu fares. The concern with the baby craze is that the franchise will put cuteness and fan service over storytelling. So, The Mandalorian and Grogu needs to prove it’s a story worth telling and that baby characters serve a purpose beyond looks.
Even if babies aren’t the best place for live-action Star Wars movies and shows, they may still have a place in the franchise. After all, multiple franchises have tapped into the baby craze, too. From Baby Looney Tunes (2002) to Marvel’s X-Babies comics, the baby craze can be found all over media. Perhaps, an animated short-form Baby Star Wars cartoon could be in the future if Grogu and Baby Greedo work their magic in The Mandalorian and Grogu.
