When Disneyland announced the “Star Wars land” called Galaxy’s Edge in 2015, one word was repeatedly emphasized: . This was a place where Star Wars not only seemed real but also felt real on a particular planet, Batuu, at a specific moment in history: between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Every aspect, from the ride featuring Rey Skywalker and Kylo Ren to the , had an in – universe story behind it.
However, over the past decade, variety has taken precedence over continuity. The setting of Galaxy’s Edge has gradually become less focused, from the inclusion of The Mandalorian characters (even though the show is set decades earlier) to the rebranding of food and drinks away from their often confusing Star Wars names. Now, this change has become official.
Disney Parks plans to broaden the timeline of Galaxy’s Edge, which means it will no longer be centered on a specific moment in Star Wars history. Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa will now be available for character interactions, along with the already – established Rey, Chewbacca, R2 – D2, Din Djarin, and Ahsoka Tano. The rides will remain unchanged, but some shops will be rebranded to an earlier part of the Star Wars story.
Moreover, one of the most immersive elements of Galaxy’s Edge will be removed. Unlike many other Disney Parks, Galaxy’s Edge doesn’t use music played through speakers. Instead, there is an in – universe soundscape filled with voices, droid noises, and other things you’d expect to hear on Batuu. But this will be replaced by John Williams’ iconic score, so from now on, you’ll have to create your own droid noises.
This move might make Galaxy’s Edge less “immersive,” but after a certain point, the benefits of immersion start to decline. When fans visit a park, they likely don’t want to see a mundane portrayal of an Outer Rim planet; they want to see all their favorite characters and take a photo in front of the Millennium Falcon. The in – universe details of how the ship got there in the first place aren’t that crucial. This could be a sign that Disney is moving away from the sequel trilogy, but perhaps it just shows that Luke and Leia are timeless.