Disney Announces First-Ever Cable TV Release of The Mandalorian

The first episode of the critically acclaimed show will debut on television later in February.

By Russ Milheim Updated:
Mandalorian, Star Wars

The Mandalorian's first episode is getting a surprise historic screening on broadcast television later this month.

The Pedro Pascal project all but saved the Star Wars franchise when it launched back in 2019. The streaming series quickly captivated audiences and simply never let go.

With Season 3 just around the corner, fans are getting anxious for more adventures with the leading hero and his adorable cargo.

Just ahead of airing new episodes on Disney+, Lucasfilm revealed that it has special broadcast plans for Din Dijarin in order to help garner even more for his upcoming return. 

The Mandalorian Airing on Television

Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal
Star Wars

Gizmodo reported that the first Star Wars Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, is set to debut off the streaming service for one night only. 

The show will make its broadcast debut with "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian" on ABC, Freeform, and FX on February 24 at 8 p.m. EST.

The special event is occurring just ahead of the series' third season premiere on March 1, with Lucasfilm using this event to stir up hype for the new batch of episodes.

Previously, Andor was the only other Disney+ original to get a special broadcast presentation, with it having aired its first two episodes.

Are Special Broadcast Debuts the New Normal?

One has to wonder just how successful these broadcast debuts are for the Disney+ projects. How much additional viewership is being gained? Either way, the series will be seeing big viewership numbers, especially since The Mandalorian’s latest trailer smashed records for the franchise.

With this special broadcast debut having happened with both Andor and The Mandalorian, is it safe to assume future Star Wars shows will get the same privilege?

Next up in the pipeline is Ahsoka, and given all the rumors about what’ll go down within its runtime, Lucasfilm should be doing everything in its power to make sure people know it exists.

The Mandalorian’s third season debuts on March 1, while Rosario Dawson’s series is set to land at some point later this year, both on Disney+.

- About The Author: Russ Milheim
Russ Milheim is the Industry Relations Coordinator at The Direct. On top of utilizing his expertise on the many corners of today’s entertainment to cover the latest news and theories, he establishes and maintains communication and relations between the outlet and the many studio and talent representatives.