Disney is finally pivoting.
After years of trying to make the Star Wars sequel era stick, Disneyland is ditching Rey and Kylo Ren in favor of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia.
The overhaul hits Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge this spring, and it couldn’t be more obvious that Disney is acknowledging fans want the classics back.
The move coincides with reports that Dave Filoni is set to take over full creative control of Star Wars, with Kathleen Kennedy expected to exit. An official announcement is reportedly coming soon.
Classic Characters Replace the Sequels
Via the LA Times, starting April 29, Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge will drop its strict sequel-era setting, opening the doors to original trilogy fan-favorites.
Darth Vader, Luke, Han, and Leia will all appear in the land, while John Williams’ classic Star Wars score will finally be broadcast throughout, including iconic tracks like “The Main Title,” “Han Solo and the Princess,” and “The Emperor.”
Kylo Ren is getting pushed out of Galaxy’s Edge and will instead be relegated to a meet-and-greet over in Tomorrowland. Rey will still appear near Rise of the Resistance, but she’s been effectively sidelined.
According to Disney, the goal is to create a more “flexible timeline” and bring in the most recognizable and popular characters across Star Wars history.
This is a full-scale reversal from when the park originally launched in 2019, focused entirely on the sequel trilogy between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
Galaxy’s Edge Becomes “Star Wars Greatest Hits”
The land will no longer try to maintain a strict continuity. Instead, Galaxy’s Edge will become a mash-up of timelines and characters, closer to what most fans probably expected from the beginning.
Vader will be “hunting” Luke through Batuu. Luke is said to be searching for Force artifacts. Leia is recruiting allies near the Cantina. And Han Solo? He’ll be hanging out near the Millennium Falcon, of course.
The Smugglers Run ride is also getting a makeover starting May 22. The new version will let riders travel to locations like Coruscant, Bespin, and the wreckage of the Death Star near Endor. Riders in the engineer seat will now be able to interact with Grogu (aka Baby Yoda), giving The Mandalorian era some presence in the ride.
“Immersive Play” Concept Abandoned
Galaxy’s Edge originally launched with an ambitious “living theater” concept where cast members tracked guests’ allegiances and reputations via a mobile app. The idea was that the land itself was a real-time Star Wars story unfolding around you.
That concept flopped.
Most of the promised interactive features were never fully implemented. Guests never saw smugglers approach them in the Cantina, and the immersive mobile app saw limited use. Fans complained about the lack of iconic characters, and many criticized the land for not playing John Williams’ score.
Now Disney is finally admitting that what fans want is straightforward: to see Darth Vader, hear the music, and feel like they’re walking into the Star Wars they grew up with.
Filoni Takes the Reins
This Galaxy’s Edge shift is clearly timed with the changing of the guard at Lucasfilm. Dave Filoni — the creator of Clone Wars, Rebels, Ahsoka, and The Mandalorian — is taking full control of the Star Wars creative direction.
Kathleen Kennedy, who’s overseen the franchise since Disney’s acquisition, is on her way out, with her departure expected to be announced soon.
Filoni’s influence has already brought fan-favorite characters like Ahsoka and Grogu into the parks. Now the originals — Luke, Leia, Han, and Vader — are following.
