'The Mandalorian and Grogu' was a box-office disappointment. Disney's TV strategy is to blame.

• “The Mandalorian and Grogu” had the worst opening ever for a “Star Wars” release.
• Disney played it too safe, and the movie felt like an elevated episode of “The Mandalorian.”
• “Star Wars” fans don’t want TV when they go to the movies. They want big, original stories.

‘Star Wars’ fans are craving originality on the big screen

The lackluster opening for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” at the box office — by “Star Wars” standards, anyway — is disappointing, but the naysayers will get even louder if the movie underperforms in its second weekend in theaters.

This puts even more pressure on Disney to make sure its next “Star Wars” theatrical release, “Starfighter,” is done right.

Directed by Shawn Levy (“Free Guy”) and starring Ryan Gosling, the movie is a completely original story set five years after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker.” That’s all we know, and that’s all we need to know!

Dangling a carrot of originality in front of “Star Wars” fans is essential right now, because they want to be challenged. If the success of “The Mandalorian” and “Andor” proved anything, it’s that “Star Wars” fans will always show up — but they will show up and be loyal if the story being told expands on what they thought a “Star Wars” tale could be.

By iterating on an existing story, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” played it too safe. Fans want more daring, original stories; that should have been the biggest takeaway from the franchise’s self-imposed hiatus. For “Star Wars” to get back to its theatrical glory, this is the way.