I’m conflicted. You see, when I ventured to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World in the spring of 2024 – weeping at the sight of the Millennium Falcon like everyone else in the park – I loved the immersion. When you walk into Galaxy’s Edge, you’re inside Star Wars. When you eat a Ronto Wrap at Docking Bay 7, you’re eating Star Wars. When you board the Falcon for Smuggler’s Run, you’re riding Star Wars. When you use one of Black Spire Outpost’s spacious bathrooms, you’re, well, you get the idea.
Nestled in the Star Wars timeline between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, everything in Galaxy’s Edge – save for a few meet-and-greet characters like Din Djarin and Ahsoka Tano – fits together and makes you feel like you’re living out your own, totally canon Star Wars adventure in that galaxy far, far away … at least, for now.
Disneyland Resorts announced today that Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Han Solo, Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker are among the Original Trilogy flourishes that will grace Galaxy’s Edge beginning April 29. The new timeline will now span the events of Return of the Jedi and The Mandalorian.
Smuggler’s Run will be getting an update in May to feature The Mandalorian and Grogu, coinciding with the release of their feature film, and John Williams’ scores from the first six films will be heard in the park. There will be new OT-themed props, items to purchase and other small updates to reset Batuu. But then it gets a little weird.
You see, Rise of the Resistance will remain tied to the Sequel Trilogy, with Rey hanging out in that area for photo ops. Yes, you’re rising against a First Order that, if we’re going by other areas of the park, won’t exist for decades.
For me, it’s strange for Rey to be just a short walk away from Darth Vader, who died more than a decade after she was born, but I suppose Mando has been wandering around the Black Spire marketplace for a while now, and he would be an old man by the time the events of The Last Jedi took place. If the Original Trilogy revamp brings more people into the parks to experience Star Wars, I’m all for it … even if it spoils some of that in-universe magic.
There’s no word yet as to whether these changes will impact other parks, but with the 50th anniversary of A New Hope taking place next year, it’s safe to say that Darth Vader will be making frequent visits to Batuu in the coming months … wherever Batuu might be.
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