Star Wars’ most adorable and successful creature designs – but can they truly keep him as a baby forever, or will a shift happen sooner than we think? There were multiple reasons that The Mandalorian became such a sensation when its first season was released on Disney+ in 2019. People wanted to see what Lucasfilm could do in a live-action TV format, and others wanted to see if Star Wars could still produce that same magic after the divisive sequel trilogy.

The Mandalorian had a winning formula; Din Djarin was an intriguing character, and anyone, regardless of their previous history with Star Wars, could step into the show and understand what was going on. But, perhaps most importantly, Baby Yoda, only later officially named Grogu, became an instant merchandising hit. Together, Grogu and Din created a formidable duo, not only in of power but emotional resonance as well. Father-son dynamics have a long tradition in Star Wars, after all. But what happens if – or rather when – Grogu grows up?

Star Wars Has Been Able To Keep Grogu Adorable As A Baby

So far, Star Wars has held on to Grogu’s star power and adorable nature. Though the exact amount of time that has ed between Din’s rescue of Grogu in The Mandalorian season 1 and their settling down at the end of season 3 is slightly unclear – creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have both provided different timelines for The Mandalorian – it seems to have been no more than 1–3 years (making their separation between season 2 and The Book of Boba Fett relatively short, as well).

Of course, for a species that can live until they’re 900 years old – as the elder Yoda did – a year or two is merely a blip. It’s no surprise that Grogu seemingly hasn’t aged or progressed developmentally besides his skills with the Force, unlocked with the help of Ahsoka Tano and Luke Skywalker. For now, his rudimentary (yet no less surprising) connection to the Force and his attachment to Din have provided enough character development for Grogu.

At some point, though, he’ll need to change and grow further. A stagnant character is a doomed one. Grogu may be adorable now, but he can’t always stay that way. Would you say Yoda or Yaddle were adorable? Probably not.

Grogu Will Have To Speak One Day... & That Will Make Him Less "Adorable"

One day, perhaps after The Mandalorian & Grogu or Filoni’s Mandalorian culmination movie – and a possible Mandalorian season 4, though this has yet to be confirmed – Grogu will finally learn to speak. He may not talk the way Yoda does, as we know Yaddle didn’t use his peculiar vernacular either, but Grogu will, at one point or another, utter his first true word. “Yes,” “No,” “Din,” “Father,” who knows? When that happens, though, some of Baby Yoda’s adorable mystery will finally begin to fade.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is slated for release on May 22, 2026.

When he starts to talk, he’ll be able to share more of what he’s feeling or thinking; he may begin to annoy Din Djarin, as so many other kids lovingly annoy their parents, too. This is not to say that their relationship won’t become even better – the depth of their feelings for one another may grow stronger – but part of Grogu’s appeal as “Baby Yoda” is how he currently expresses himself.

How long can Lucasfilm keep Baby Yoda small without making the audience feel cheated or suspicious?

Grogu's eyes, his calculated head movements, his adorable baby sounds, they were all designed to make the audience fall in love with and feel a fierce protectiveness over this tiny, oddly powerful Force-sensitive alien creature. When Grogu grows up and learns to speak one day, part of that spell will break. Is that the right move for Star Wars, though? How long can Lucasfilm keep Baby Yoda small without making the audience feel cheated or suspicious?

This Is A Change Star Wars WILL Have To Make

At some point, despite the unrivaled success of Baby Yoda/Grogu as a character, Star Wars will have to make the difficult decision to age him up or at the very least have him enter the next stage of development. Grogu exists at a pivotal moment in the galaxy’s timeline for Force-sensitives; though less than a handful of Jedi remain, this is a time of hope and relative peace. Luke Skywalker is trying to revive the Order, and Grogu will be a part of that story, even if his only time spent with Luke was during The Book of Boba Fett (though I doubt it).

Grogu is powerfully connected to the Force. That much is clear. In the fight against the Imperial Remnant and Grand iral Thrawn, he’ll undoubtedly become a key player and a force to be reckoned with. While the shift from adorable baby to fearsome youngling needs to happen at some point, I can’t deny I’ll miss Baby Yoda, but I’m looking forward to seeing what a more grown-up Grogu can accomplish in Star Wars as well.