Acclaimed Filmmaker and Director of Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” Will be Joined in Conversation by Moderator Matt Belloni of “The Town”
Event to Be Held April 16 at Caesars Palace’s Octavius Ballroom in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (April 1, 2026) – Award-winning filmmaker Jon Favreau, director and producer of Lucasfilm’s highly-anticipated Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, starring Pedro Pascal, will headline the annual CinemaCon® Creative Community Luncheon to be held in the afternoon on Thursday, April 16 at Caesars Palace’s Octavius Ballroom in Las Vegas. The host for this year’s Creative Community Luncheon discussion will be Matt Belloni, editor and founding partner of Puck News and host of “The Town with Matt Belloni.”
“Anticipation for a new Star Wars movie on the big screen is sky high, making this an incredible way to kick off the summer movie season,” says Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “This event presents a great opportunity to hear from Jon Favreau, one of the most talented filmmakers working today. I want to thank Jon, Matt Belloni for hosting, as well as the entire teams at Disney and Lucasfilm for helping ensure this luncheon will be the talk of CinemaCon.”
The annual luncheon, which is traditionally held on the final day of CinemaCon, will take place just ahead of The Walt Disney Studios’ presentation at 2:30pm PT, bringing the week to an epic close.
A cornerstone of the show, the luncheon is an opportunity for the global exhibition industry to hear directly from the extraordinary and innovative creators behind some of the year’s biggest theatrical releases. Past participants at the annual CinemaCon luncheon have included Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Edgar Wright, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Elizabeth Banks, Jerry Bruckheimer, Patty Jenkins, and Jon M. Chu. This year’s Creative Community Luncheon is sponsored by Fathom Entertainment and by D-BOX Technologies.
The Mandalorian and Grogu, opening exclusively in theatres worldwide on May 22, marks a welcome return for the Star Wars franchise to CinemaCon being the first theatrical release in the Star Wars canon to be represented there since 2019’s Rise of the Skywalker. The Mandalorian and Grogu also stars Sigourney Weaver and is produced by Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, with music composed by Ludwig Göransson.
Hosted by Cinema United, CinemaCon is the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition, taking place April 13-16 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. CinemaCon’s 2026 official presenting sponsors are The Coca-Cola Company and Barco.
About Cinema United
Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and X/Twitter.
About CinemaCon CinemaCon® attracts upwards of six thousand motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry – from exhibition and distribution to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. The Coca-Cola Company and Barco are the official co-presenting sponsors of CinemaCon® 2026. For more information, visit cinemacon.com. Follow CinemaCon on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.