Disney Drops Mandalorian Trailer During Kimmel Fallout — Fans Call It a “Jedi Mind Trick”
Disney and Lucasfilm released the first trailer for the film The Mandalorian and Grogu on Monday morning, hours after TV host John Oliver urged viewers to cancel Disney streaming services during a segment about the company’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC. The trailer drop and the backlash over the Kimmel suspension have run side by side in the news cycle since last week.
1. Trailer timing and reporting
2. John Oliver’s segment
3. Celebrity and writer reactions
4. Fan response and searches
5. About The Mandalorian and Grogu
6. What happens next
Trailer timing and reporting
On Monday, Disney and Lucasfilm published the first trailer for the 2026 film The Mandalorian and Grogu, which continues the story from the Disney Plus series that last released new episodes in 2023. Reporters have noted that the trailer’s release came after Disney announced the temporary removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC following Kimmel’s on-air remark linking “the MAGA gang” to a suspected shooter connected to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In addition, trade reporting said Disney sat on the trailer in the wake of Kimmel’s dismissal,
which made the unexpected Monday morning release stand out.
John Oliver’s segment
On Sept. 21, John Oliver dedicated a segment of Last Week Tonight to the issue. He described Disney’s move as a form of censorship and criticized the company’s broader corporate decisions, including a 2024 legal settlement covered in mainstream reporting. For context, the settlement was reported by the Associated Press.
Oliver said, “As for Disney, I’d argue they need to stand by Kimmel and his staff,” and added specific steps viewers could take. He noted that when people cancel Disney Plus or Hulu, there is an option to say why, and suggested examples of what to write: ‘cowardice in the face of pressure’ or ‘refusing to protect freedom of speech’ or ‘Donald Duck’s corkscrew penis.’
Oliver’s segment also referenced the company’s past dealings with political pressure and corporate settlements. For background on the 2024 settlement mentioned on the show, see reporting from the Associated Press: this AP News report. Meanwhile, Oliver included a recurring visual gag about a duck’s anatomy that he sourced from public science reporting: that Science Focus piece.
Celebrity and writer reactions
Actors and creators publicly reacted to Disney’s decision and to the Kimmel suspension. For example, Mark Ruffalo posted on Threads that Disney’s stock could fall further if the suspension became permanent; his comment appeared on Threads: Mark Ruffalo on Threads.
Other performers urged subscribers to consider pulling their dollars. Tatiana Maslany encouraged cancellations in a public post (reported by The Daily Beast): read that report. Olivia Rodrigo described the suspension as “blatant censorship and abuse of power,” according to a Billboard story: Billboard coverage. Pedro Pascal posted solidarity messages on Instagram: Pedro Pascal on Instagram.
Writers also weighed in. Damon Lindelof published a lengthy post on Instagram about his stance: Damon Lindelof on Instagram. Andor writer Dan Gilroy wrote an opinion piece for Deadline tying the moment to themes in his work: read the Deadline op-ed.
Fan response and searches
After the suspension and the trailer drop, there were measurable spikes in online activity. News outlets and search trends showed increased queries for phrases like “cancel Disney Plus” and “cancel Hulu.” Fans on the Star Wars subreddit posted mixed reactions. For example, one user wrote, “Shame, would’ve loved to have seen this. Right your wrongs Disney and maybe I’ll consider supporting your projects again.”
Another comment read, “I’m not giving Disney another dime until they decide to get back on the right side of history,” said another. Many posts included stronger language as well.
You can read discussion on the Star Wars subreddit here: Star Wars subreddit thread.
About The Mandalorian and Grogu
The film is set to arrive in summer 2026 and continues storylines from the Disney Plus series that ended in 2023. The project lists Jon Favreau as director and Dave Filoni as a key story architect. Beyond that, public details about plot and themes remain limited.
What happens next
Negotiations over Jimmy Kimmel’s future on ABC remained ongoing at the time of reporting. For one report on the status of discussions, see Vulture’s coverage: Vulture on Kimmel negotiations.
Meanwhile, Disney has not publicly changed the trailer’s release timing. Polygon has reached out for comment, according to reporting, but no public response from Disney was noted at the time of publication.
In short: Disney released a high-profile trailer the same week a debate over its corporate choices intensified. Celebrities, writers, and fans reacted quickly. And the company’s next moves could shape how audiences respond in the months ahead.
