This morning during a Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London, WDI Portfolio Creative Executive Scott Trowbridge, WDI Creative Development VP Ann Morrow Johnson, WDI Creative & Interactive Experiences VP Asa Kalama, and Lucasfilm Senior Creative Executive Matt Martin revealed some of the new ways Star Wars characters and stories will come to life at Disney parks, beginning, Trowbridge said, “with the attraction that started it all for us in this galaxy far, far away.”
New Star Tours Destinations
New destinations will be added to the Star Tours attractions at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris in 2024, but unfortunately, we won’t know where we’re going until those places are introduced onscreen.
“Since it debuted at Disneyland in 1987 as the first Star Wars attraction in a Disney park, Star Tours has traveled to new places as this galaxy of stories expanded,” Trowbridge explained. “We’re looking forward to continuing that tradition next year with all new adventures … but I can’t reveal just where we’re going yet – or those we may meet along the way – because … well … some surprises are best experienced as part of upcoming Star Wars content.”
Who’s New on Batuu?
Taking a page from the Avengers Campus playbook to integrate characters from new movies and series into Galaxy’s Edge, it was announced today in London that characters from “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will soon visit Batuu on the animated series. No confirmation whether or not those characters will also appear in the parks.
Trowbridge also hinted that additional new characters are coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. However, no dates were given for any of these appearances.
Initially, Imagineers painted themselves into a corner by placing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in a very specific time frame within the Star Wars universe, but with the introduction of Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, the Mandalorian, and Grogu, it seems they may be expanding the land’s timeline (at least a little).
We’ll see if that continues when we find out who’s showing up next.
Intergalactic Sounds
On Friday, DJ R-3X (the Star Tours pilot-turned-DJ at Oga’s Cantina) dropped his second playlist with nine new tracks featuring music by Star Wars artists, including the Loth-cats, Ewok Dis Way, and CU on Naboo. The album is available on most streaming services, including Amazon Music and Apple Music.
Fans of the Halcyon Starcruiser and its headlining performer, Gaya, will be happy to know that in celebration of Star Wars Day (aka May the 4th), a Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser playlist featuring Gaya’s hits will launch next month on streaming platforms. Additionally, Trowbridge noted, a special 12-inch vinyl pressing of Gaya’s music is also in the works.
What’s next for Star Wars in the parks?
For now, we’re left to wonder (and surely debate) what and who are coming to the parks, but as the video presented at the panel notes: Star Wars is an infinite galaxy full of familiar friends and possibilities.
“We work hard to create all of these experiences for you because we’re Star Wars fans too,” Trowbridge said. “We look forward to the places we’ll go and the stories we can explore together next, so hopefully I’ll see you somewhere out there on the hyperspace routes.”
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Let’s Hear From You!
Which corners of the Star Wars galaxy would you like to visit on Star Tours? And who would you like to rub shoulders with in Black Spire Outpost? Let us know in the comments.
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