The Mandalorian season 3 continues to explore a previously unseen part of the Star Wars timeline, taking place shortly after the events of Return of the Jedi. When George Lucas introduced the Star Wars galaxy, he deliberately chose to subvert the science-fiction of his time. The Empire was sleek and militaristically efficient, but everything else had a “lived in” style that made the galaxy feel old. Characters alluded to events from before their lifetimes, notably with an initially-unexplained reference to the Clone Wars. This was a galaxy with history.
Over time, this sense of history and heritage proved to be the secret of the franchise’s success. Star Wars has become a sprawling transmedia franchise, with adventures set across the timeline. The main Skywalker saga covers just a few decades, three generations of heroes and villains, all of whom found themselves battling against the shadow of the Sith. But Lucasfilm is now telling stories set outside the parameters of the Skywalker family, although shaped significantly by it.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Is Roughly Eight Years After Return Of The Jedi (11 Years ABY)
The Mandalorian season 1 introduced viewers to the galaxy five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, eight years after the Battle of Yavin in the first Star Wars film (ABY). The Empire fragmented after the apparent death of the Emperor and the destruction of the second Death Star, allowing the Rebel Alliance to become the foundation of the New Republic. A peace treaty was established a year after Palpatine’s demise at the time of the Empire’s ultimate defeat at the Battle of Jakku. This led to the New Republic choosing to disarm – a decision that would prove to be a mistake.
Although The Mandalorian has provided no concrete dates indicating the passage of time, showrunner Jon Favreau told IGN Grogu is around 53 years old by the time of The Mandalorian season 3. He was confirmed as being aged 50 in The Mandalorian season 1 (Din Djarin was given a chain code for Baby Yoda that apparently included his year of birth). This means roughly three years have passed, and The Mandalorian season 3 is set roughly eight years after Return of the Jedi, 11 years ABY.
How Has Time Passed In The Mandalorian & The Book Of Boba Fett?
The Mandalorian’s timeline explains the depth of the relationship between Din Djarin and Grogu. Favreau’s comment suggests each season spans roughly a year. This means:
- Din Djarin and Grogu met five years after Return of the Jedi, in 8ABY, and spent roughly two years together before Luke Skywalker rescued Grogu from the Empire
- Grogu spent roughly a year with Luke Skywalker, training at the Jedi Temple on Ossus
Viewers tend to (re-)watch one season straight after another, meaning there is no real sense of the passage of time. This can make certain story arcs feel truncated; for a viewer, for example, very little time passes between Grogu’s departure at the end of The Mandalorian season 2 and his return in The Book of Boba Fett. In-universe, though, it has been roughly a year, which explains the intensity of emotion when Din Djarin tries to drop off a gift for him. This also means Grogu trained with Luke Skywalker for a year, and he could therefore be far more skilled and powerful in The Mandalorian season 3.