‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ Director Jon Favreau Honors His Own ‘Star Wars’ Ties & Touts First Franchise Movie Entirely Shot In L.A. At Chinese Theatre Premiere

With The Mandalorian & Grogu, director Jon Favreau deepened the Star Wars franchise’s Los Angeles ties — a fact that did not go unmentioned during Thursday night’s premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

“This is where Star Wars, 49 years ago to the month, started,” Favreau told the audience inside the theater. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope opened at the Chinese Theater on May 25, 1977. “We’re still telling Star Wars stories. The baton has been passed down to other filmmakers, but here we are. Hopefully, we’ll get some of that magic and some of the energy here.”