Disney has formally given “Star Wars” and theme park followers one thing new to argue about.
IGN is reporting that Disneyland’s model of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park land (or Star Wars Land, as everybody really calls it) will shift its timeline on April 29, 2026, by bringing in characters from the unique trilogy. (The Disney World model will stay as-is, for now.) Which means Kylo Run will not menace the land’s avenue, with Darth Vader set to take his place. And whereas Rey will nonetheless be on the middle of the Rise of the Resistance attraction, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo would be the marquee meet-and-greets.
Most followers will suppose that is cool. And that is okay! It is cool. Attending to “meet” your favourite sci-fi heroes in a theme park land this immersive is a singular and highly effective expertise when achieved proper, as I not too long ago realized on the Epic Universe theme park at Common Orlando Resort. Disney Parks likes to placed on a terrific present, and it is arduous to think about something lower than stellar expertise will likely be employed to painting these characters and provides friends one thing to recollect. It should be neat. Once I go to, I’ll fortunately pester Han for a selfie.
However different followers will possible have two conflicting ideas of their head on the similar time. That is cool, however is not this additionally … the Disney Parks’ head honchos basically admitting that the unique mission of Galaxy’s Edge was a whole and complete failure and throwing up their fingers and giving up any try and make the world the really immersive, in-canon, important chapter of the saga they initially pitched it as?
Sure. Does it matter? Form of. Possibly. Probably not. But additionally sure.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been controversial since day one
To know this noble failure, one wants somewhat little bit of historical past.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been controversial amongst theme park followers since day one. The detailed, immersive theme park lands, with one model at California’s Disneyland and the opposite at Florida’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, are staggering to discover and constructed round among the finest theme park rides ever designed (and in addition Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run). They additionally didn’t stay up the early guarantees introduced by Disney, like ongoing storylines, fixed stay character interactions, and roving autonomous droids. Some followers have additionally decried the setting, a settlement generally known as Blackspire Outpost on the planet Batuu, a location distinctive to the parks and by no means earlier than seen in any of the “Star Wars” movies. Some noticed it as a canvas on which to inform a brand new story. Others noticed it as an unfamiliar world that evoked no nostalgia in any way.
Personally, I beloved (and love) the thought of Batuu. I like that it was intentionally designed to happen throughout a selected second on the “Star Wars” timeline and that each rides had been extensions of the land surrounding them. You entered a “actual” place in a beloved universe and actively participated in canonical occasions that mattered to characters you liked. In an age of theme park immersion, one the place Common Studios has really dropped the gauntlet with Epic Universe, Galaxy’s Edge was next-level stuff. The agency setting of the rides and land ensured that Disney was, for lack of a greater time period, absolutely dedicated to the bit and needed you to hitch in.
This was a brand new “Star Wars” journey, one baked within the embers of the sequel trilogy.
The unique imaginative and prescient for Galaxy’s Edge is really lifeless, however does it matter?
Regardless of Rian Johnson’s “The Final Jedi” being nothing in need of a masterpiece (combat me, and many others.), the divisive response to the sequel trilogy instantly solid a pall over Galaxy’s Edge and its concentrate on Kylo Ren, Rey, and Finn. The cracks began to point out. When “The Mandalorian” blew up, Din Djarin and Grogu began showing within the land regardless of showing many years earlier than the Resistance and the First Order clashed. Individuals needed Child Yoda in Star Wars Land, darn it, and who was Disney to say no?
The introduction of authentic trilogy characters is the ultimate collapse of Galaxy’s Edge preliminary mission. Though Millennium Falcon: Smugger’s Run is a screen-based experience that may be simply re-themed (and the “Mandalorian and Grogu” overlay will open quickly), the way more sweeping and spectacular “Rise of the Resistance” is endlessly set within the sequel trilogy. Which means waking from the streets of Blackspire Outpost and into the queue for the land’s marquee attraction is actually an act of time journey. And whereas time journey is not completely unknown in “Star Wars,” it is not anticipated.
I do know what lots of you might be pondering: does this matter? Within the grand scheme, no. However contemplating the “loss of life by a thousand cuts” Galaxy’s Edge has undergone over time as the unique, sweeping imaginative and prescient was undone as a result of tech and funds points, this appears like the ultimate blow to a as soon as promising imaginative and prescient. Star Wars Land was as soon as about making a story in an entirely realized, cohesive world and asking the viewers to hitch in. Now, it is a canvas for no matter “Star Wars” characters are at the moment widespread. It should be superior. It is also the ultimate nail within the coffin for these lands’ authentic imaginative and prescient.
