Sigourney Weaver may be a stranger to the galaxy far, far away on screen, but her connection to Star Wars stretches back almost five decades. Weaver, now 76, remembers the electrifying experience of seeing George Lucas’ original space epic during its 1977 run at New York City’s legendary Ziegfeld Theatre. “I was looking at three lucky actors who’d made it to the big time and were in this glorious thing, who were a little older than I was or the same age,” Weaver told USA TODAY. “They just looked like they’d made it and they were very comfortable in it, and isn’t it cool? I hope I get that lucky someday to be in a movie that has people crowded into a theater all cheering for it.”
It’s safe to say Weaver’s wish came true. After starring in iconic films and franchises like Alien, Ghostbusters, and Avatar, she’s now stepping into the Star Wars universe as Colonel Ward in The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters on May 22, 2026. This marks the first Star Wars movie since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, and fans are buzzing with anticipation.
In this new chapter, director Jon Favreau continues the adventures of the armored warrior Mando (Pedro Pascal) and his pint-sized apprentice Grogu, who captured hearts worldwide in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. Colonel Ward, Weaver’s character, is a seasoned fighter and pilot from the same Rebellion that once toppled the Empire—yes, the very one Princess Leia belonged to. Now stationed in the galaxy’s outer rim, Ward’s mission is to hunt down lingering Imperial villains who threaten to spark another war with the fledgling New Republic.
“I have so much respect for women in the armed services, their grace under pressure, their ability to make good judgments and follow their instincts and intuitions, and be very good commanders,” Weaver explained to USA TODAY. “I’ve always wanted to play someone like that.”
Favreau, who has shepherded much of the modern Star Wars resurgence, is effusive about Weaver’s performance. He describes Colonel Ward as “a force to be reckoned with.” The director’s enthusiasm is echoed by fans and industry insiders alike, who see Weaver’s addition as both a nod to her sci-fi legacy and a fresh infusion of gravitas for the franchise.
Ward’s story is deeply entwined with the series’ mainstays. She assigns Mando a critical mission, one that, as always, comes with its share of risks and surprises. But it’s her interaction with Grogu—the beloved, snack-loving alien toddler—that brings unexpected warmth and humor to the film. Weaver admits that meeting Grogu is “slightly worrying” for her character. “He seems like you could lure him away from his job if you had the right snack. (But) you find out what Grogu is capable of, and it’s incredible.”
For long-time fans, seeing Weaver don the classic X-wing fighter jumpsuit—the same legendary orange attire Mark Hamill wore as Luke Skywalker—will be an emotional moment. Weaver gets to pilot a starship, fulfilling a childhood fantasy. “I wasn’t literally in outer space flying but it was, for me, as close to flying it as I will ever get. It really made me laugh,” she said. She also teased that Ward’s X-wing squadron has a surprise in store: “a little gift from the past.”
Favreau recalls the first time he saw Weaver in full X-wing regalia. “She felt immediately authentic to ‘Star Wars,’” he said. “And even though she’d never been part of this franchise, her legacy as a science-fiction hero brought an authenticity to the role immediately.”
Weaver’s on-set experience was made all the more vivid by her scenes with the Grogu puppet. “I’m such a fan of having the real character in front of you. I’m not a good enough actor to pretend,” she confessed. “Even though I was aware that it took five puppeteers to make Grogu do what he did, I totally believed in Grogu. He was sitting at the table with me, trying to steal my food.”
While the film promises the kind of “big, huge scenes and creatures and contraptions” that have come to define Star Wars, Weaver is most taken with its more intimate core: the relationship between Mando and Grogu. “There’s a much more intimate story about Mando and Grogu, who take care of each other in the most charming and unpredictable way,” she said. It’s a marked contrast from her days as Ellen Ripley in Alien. “It’s a far cry from the ‘Alien’ universe, where the two species did not get along and it was much more of a terrorizing experience.”
Weaver has always believed that Star Wars holds up a hopeful mirror to our own world. Reflecting on her first viewing nearly 50 years ago, she said, “Yes, some of them are hostile, but the majority of people in these different galaxies and worlds are all getting along together really well. That really impressed me because I thought this is a very hopeful vision of what our world can become.”
She continued, “Even though I’ve made all these ‘Alien’ pictures where we are not getting along with the alien, the reality of the opposite is also true. Different beings from different worlds can live together harmoniously, can be friends, can work together, can save each other. All of that I love, and I continue to love it in this movie.”
With The Mandalorian and Grogu set to launch in theaters on May 22, 2026, anticipation is reaching fever pitch. The film not only marks a return to the big screen for the Star Wars saga after a seven-year hiatus but also brings together a beloved cast and a legendary new addition. Weaver’s Colonel Ward, with her blend of toughness, wisdom, and heart, is poised to leave an indelible mark on the franchise.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer, the new film promises to deliver the spectacle, charm, and sense of hope that have made Star Wars a cultural touchstone for generations. And for Sigourney Weaver, it’s a full-circle moment—one that proves, in this galaxy and beyond, dreams really can come true.