You'd think that the first Star Wars movie in seven years is the riskiest sci-fi bet of the year, but you'd be ignoring another, even more risky offering that is slated for release only a few weeks after the Star Wars title. Directed by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian and Grogu also serves as the first theatrical release to be inspired by a streaming title, Favreau's own The Mandalorian, which premiered on Disney+ in 2019. That was the same year the franchise delivered its most recent theatrical film, Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker. The final installment of the Skywalker Saga divided critics and audiences and underperformed at the box-office even though it grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. Since then, the franchise has undergone massive strategic changes, including a managerial shake-up. The Rise of Skywalker was directed by J.J. Abrams, who, interestingly, has his own risky sci-fi movie slated for release this year.