Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is entering a new chapter, as Disney moves to fundamentally reframe how the land fits within the larger Star Wars universe.
Nearly seven years after its debut at Disneyland Resort, Galaxy’s Edge is no longer content to remain frozen in its original sequel-era setting. Disney has confirmed a broad set of changes that will alter everything from character appearances to music and retail offerings, marking the most ambitious update to Batuu since opening day.
From the start, Galaxy’s Edge was designed as a departure from traditional theme park lands. Rather than recreating Tatooine or Endor, Imagineers built Batuu from the ground up, establishing Black Spire Outpost as a remote trading hub on the galaxy’s edge.
Guests walking through the land encounter towering stone spires, aging spacecraft, and alien-run shops, all tied together by a narrative involving covert Resistance activity and the looming presence of the First Order. That setting exists at both Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (in Walt Disney World Resort; no changes confirmed for this location yet), making Galaxy’s Edge one of Disney’s largest and most detailed environments.
At the center of the land are two attractions. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run casts guests as crew members aboard the legendary ship, with pilots, gunners, and engineers each influencing the outcome of the mission.
Soon, that mission will look very different. In late May, the attraction will incorporate characters from The Mandalorian, bringing Mando and “Baby Yoda” into the story as part of a tie-in with Lucasfilm’s upcoming film, The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026).
Meanwhile, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance remains a marquee experience (and will close imminently), blending multiple ride systems, massive physical sets, and live performers to place guests directly inside a Resistance escape from the First Order.
Galaxy’s Edge has always extended beyond its rides. Visitors gather at Oga’s Cantina for themed beverages, explore food inspired by galactic cultures, and participate in interactive experiences like building lightsabers or assembling droids. The goal has been to make Batuu feel like an active, evolving location rather than a static backdrop.
That evolution is now accelerating.
“Beginning April 29, 2026, visitors will be invited to immerse themselves in different points of the Star Wars saga inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park as they never have before,” Disney Parks Blog announced this week, “with characters and storylines that capture the heart of what draws guests to this galaxy far, far away.”
Among those characters are pillars of the original trilogy. Disney confirmed that Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia—played by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher—will join the land beginning April 29. Their appearances will be woven into Batuu’s setting in the following ways:
Darth Vader’s search for Luke Skywalker will bring him to Batuu. This Sith Lord will be joined by Imperial Stormtroopers, and as they seek the elusive Jedi, they may find hints of the Force around the outpost.
Leia Organa and Han Solo will be reunited with Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca amid the rocky spires.
Luke Skywalker will roam the outpost seeking knowledge of the Force and artifacts related to lightsaber building, kyber crystals, and more.
Leia Organa may be spotted near the Millennium Falcon, where she’ll recruit travelers and locals to help keep Luke safe.
Han Solo will also linger around his prized ship, tempted by the local cantina.
Credit: Disney
Disney also emphasized that current Batuu regulars—such as Rey, the Mandalorian, and Ahsoka—are not going anywhere. However, Kylo Ren and First Order patrols will seemingly be phased out of the land, with Kylo now appearing exclusively on Rise of the Resistance.
The result is a Galaxy’s Edge that no longer adheres to a single era. Instead, Black Spire Outpost will serve as a storytelling crossroads, allowing Disney Experiences to feature characters from across the Star Wars timeline.
To align canon with these changes, Disney is introducing a new comic series that reframes Batuu’s place in Star Wars history.
Penned by Ethan Sacks—who also wrote the original Galaxy’s Edge comic in 2019—”Star Wars–Echoes of the Empire” is scheduled for release on April 22, just one week before the Disneyland Resort updates debut.
“Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca head to Batuu in search of important intel and stumble upon a dangerous relic – one that puts them on a collision course with the Empire!” the synopsis reads, per Comic Book Movie.
Sacks described the project as foundational to the land’s future (via Jedi News):
“We’re returning to Batuu and we’re bringing the biggest stars in the Star Wars galaxy with us […] A major new era is dawning at Galaxy’s Edge and consider ECHOES OF THE EMPIRE a Holocron that reveals the secret story behind that experience. It’s going to be epic and Jedi (drawing) Masters Roi Mercado and Jethro are making sure every page looks amazing.”
While the move represents a clear departure from the land’s original narrative constraints, it also opens the door for guests to encounter characters many associate most strongly with Star Wars.
Additional changes will be felt throughout the land. Music from the original six films will now play, including the “Main Title,” Force Theme, and selections like “Han Solo and the Princess,” “The Desert and the Robot Auction,” and “The Emperor.” Oga’s Cantina will continue to feature the classic “Cantina Band,” aligning the space with the era of the Galactic Civil War.
Merchandise locations are being updated as well. First Order Cargo will be rebranded as Black Spire Surplus, described as “a military salvage operation offering artifacts from across the history of the galaxy,” while Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities will rotate in new high-end collectibles.
Droid Depot will spotlight earlier Mubo family models centered on BB-style droids, and Savi’s Workshop will remain a key experience for guests crafting lightsabers as Luke Skywalker searches for ancient Force knowledge.
Nighttime offerings, including “Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga” and select performances of “Fire of the Rising Moons,” will continue with gradual enhancements. The complete Galaxy’s Edge update officially arrives on April 29, 2026.
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