When The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters next year on May 22, 2026 — marking the first new Star Wars movie in over six years — it will undoubtedly draw attention. But just four days later, on May 26, 2026, arrives something even rarer: a brand-new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series with Grand Theft Auto VI, the first in more than a dozen years. On paper, both events should be massive — the *Barbenheimer* of 2026. A new Star Wars film? A new GTA game!? It's like pop culture Christmas!
Yet, despite the hype surrounding both releases, one feels far more uncertain than the other. While we can safely assume that GTA 6 will be a cultural and commercial juggernaut — let’s face it, it already is — the same can’t necessarily be said for *The Mandalorian and Grogu*. The Star Wars franchise has become so omnipresent that its magic has started to fade for many fans. It’s like being offered pizza every single day — something that sounds exciting at first, but eventually becomes overwhelming, predictable, and even exhausting.
I remember telling my Noni as a kid that I’d eat pizza every day if I could — no hesitation. She laughed and told me I’d get sick of it. I didn’t believe her. Pizza every day sounded like heaven! But guess what? She was right. After a while, pizza every day wasn’t fun anymore — it was gross, unhealthy, and honestly, kind of ruined pizza for me for a long time.
That’s where Star Wars is right now: oversaturated and repetitive. Meanwhile, the anticipation for *GTA 6* has been building for over a decade. That kind of wait breeds excitement, speculation, and genuine eagerness — something that Disney and Lucasfilm could learn a thing or two from. When it comes to 2026, one release will feel like another slice of the same old pie, and the other? Well, it might just remind us why we fell in love with gaming — and storytelling — in the first place.