Disney Parks “Reimaginings” for Star Wars 50th Anniversary in 2027

Star Wars will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027, and that will include “reimagined” offerings at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. In a preview of the milestone year ahead 50 days before it starts, Lucasfilm and Disney have shared what fans can expect. This features the full rundown, along with our commentary about what could be on the horizon for the parks next year and beyond.

Lucasfilm and Disney indicated that the global celebration will kick-off in January 2027. The event will honor five decades of storytelling with new project announcements, anniversary merchandise, dedicated fan events, archival releases, and reimagined Disney Parks and Cruise Line offerings. In addition, there are several streaming and theatrical titles, as well as a special 50th anniversary logo with a newly orchestrated score by John Williams.

“It is incredibly special to mark the 50th anniversary by returning the original version of Star Wars to theaters so audiences can experience this part of film history on the big screen,” says Lucasfilm Co-President Lynwen Brennan. “We look forward to celebrating with our fans all year long—from the releases of Ahsoka and Star Wars: Starfighter to exclusive merchandise, new publishing stories, unforgettable experiences and interactive games. We are so thankful for our amazing community and hope these experiences bring joy to Star Wars fans everywhere.”

On January 20, 2027, Ahsoka Tano returns to Disney+ for a second season. Ahsoka, which once again stars Rosario Dawson in the titular role, is set after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, and has Ahsoka confronting what it means to be a Jedi, while the galaxy faces a formidable opponent in Grand Admiral Thrawn.

On February 19, 2027, Lucasfilm will release a restored version of the original Star Wars that started it all in 1977 in theaters globally, including IMAX 70mm. Additional digital and film formats include 70mm, 35mm, IMAX, 4DX and D-BOX. Disney and Lucasfilm also debuted the new poster below by Matt Ferguson, which pays homage to the original created in 1977:

In addition to the theatrical release of Star Wars (1977), Cosm will debut a Shared Reality rendition of Star Wars: A New Hope (2019 version) in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit and Los Angeles. The experience will invite fans to step inside Cosm venues, which feature 12K+ immersive LED Domes, and be transported to a galaxy far, far away via themed environments starting in March 2027.

On April 2-3, 2027, the musical legacy of Star Wars comes to life with “Star Wars in Concert: The Skywalker Saga” at the Hollywood Bowl, the venue of the very first official Star Wars concert in November 1977. Hosted by Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), these special performances of John Williams’ iconic film scores will feature scenes and music from all nine Skywalker Saga films.

Also in Los Angeles the first weekend in April 2027 is Star Wars Celebration. This sold-out event will be the ultimate Star Wars fan experience, bringing the galaxy far, far away to the Los Angeles Convention Center, featuring panels, hundreds of exhibitors, merchandise, and celebrity guests.

On May the 4th, Lucasfilm will release a brand-new documentary, The Hero Awakens, from acclaimed filmmaker R.J. Cutler on Disney+. Detailing the making of Star Wars, this film will be a unique treat for fans as it exclusively features archival footage and audio captured during and around the making of the historic film in 1977.

On May 28, 2027, Star Wars: Starfighter hits theaters globally. Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, this film takes place in an entirely new era of Star Wars storytelling and features all-new characters and locations.

When a cynical rogue is confronted by his mysterious past, he is hurled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy that puts him on a crash course with destiny. Star Wars: Starfighter will be released globally in a wide variety of formats including IMAX 70mm, with more formats to be announced.

This is only the beginning of the Star Wars 50th Anniversary celebrations. Disney and Lucasfilm will reveal even more cross-generational collaborations later this year and into 2027, featuring major global brands and announcements to delight fans of all ages.

Our Commentary

For those who missed it in the rundown, the tease is “reimagined Disney Parks and Cruise Line offerings” during the Star Wars 50th Anniversary celebration in 2027. There are actually a lot of possibilities here, and we were expecting something back at D23 in August. In fact, the lack of Star Wars news made our list of the 12 Biggest Announcements Missing from D23 for Walt Disney World.

As explained there, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World needs to break the sacred timeline and use the setting of the land as a jumping off point for new adventures. This already started to happen at Disneyland with the introduction of Darth Vader, Han Solo, Leia Organa, and Luke Skywalker back in Spring 2026. Hopefully that’s been a success, and Disney is ready to double-down on this for the 50th Anniversary of Star Wars in 2027 at Walt Disney World. It seems like an obvious move.

A soft reboot of the Star Wars land would be an opportunity to introduce legacy characters, add entertainment originally planned for the land, and make Batuu more lived-in. Down the road, they could also finally build out the restaurant and add the dinner show, but that’s definitely not among what’s in the cards for a 2027 opening during the Star Wars 50th Anniversary celebration.

In terms of what existing offerings could be reimagined and debut this year, the most obvious candidate is Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. That has already had new scenes added on multiple occasions, and with a new season of Ahsoka and the release of Star Wars: Starfighter, an update to Star Tours feels like a sure thing.

I’m not sure new scenes in Star Tours rise to a “reimagining,” but perhaps someone from Lucasfilm or corporate Disney wrote the press release and chose the more expansive language. We would consider this year’s changes to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run to be a reimagining, but since that just received an update, another is unlikely in 2027.

Keep in mind that this year’s Smugglers Run changes were first revealed at the 2024 D23 Expo, and took almost two years after that to debut. As for the marquee attraction, I’d put the odds of a Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance reimagining in 2027 at around 0.01%. That’s probably too high. But I do think it could receive a refresh at some point in the next decade.

Reimaginings of existing offerings could include options beyond that trio of attractions. The Hyperspace Mountain overlay of Space Mountain at Disneyland seems tailor-made for a Star Wars: Starfighter integration. Then there’s Oga’s Cantina, Droid Depot, and Savi’s Workshop. These have started to receive minor updates in the last couple of years as their popularity has waned, and it could make sense for Imagineering to do something more transformative.

Another possibility is finally bringing back Jedi Training Academy in reimagined form. This has been absent from both coasts since 2020, and it’s still baffling that Walt Disney World and Disneyland haven’t brought it back. We assume that revolves around not wanting to cannibalize business from Savi’s Workshop, but that fear feels silly. They’re two fundamentally different experiences, at dramatically different price points, aimed at divergent audiences. They can easily coexist.

Then there’s Disney Cruise Line, which features Star Wars areas in kids clubs and the Hyperspace Lounge. From my perspective, this lounge feels like the most obvious candidate for a reimagining. The space itself punches well below its weight, but the problem is finding a time to implement even quick fixes since it’s aboard a cruise ship. The video views out into space would be easier to change, though.

Beyond the new scene(s) in Star Tours, it seems like “reimagining” is most likely to mean “new entertainment and activations.” The lack of any Star Wars news during D23 was curious, especially after Neil Patrick Harris teased an announcement during a media preview we attended.

That’s doubly true once you consider that a large section of the show floor was dedicated to the (awesome) Hugo’s Sweets & Fizz food pod. Multiple media reports have suggested that’s coming to the parks, as well as other characters in Droid Depot.

Our best guess is that an announcement was pulled, as Disney wanted something to hold back for later. This strikes me as the kind of news that will be bundled into the 2027 Disneyland calendar release, which is likely to once again include a Season of the Force event, plus everything showcased in the Imagineering booth at D23.

Season of the Force at Disneyland seems like another sure thing, and given that it’s the 50th Anniversary of Star Wars, we wouldn’t be surprised if Walt Disney World also held the event in Spring 2027. Better yet, bring back Star Wars Weekends–what better way to “honor” the franchise than with the return of Hyperspace Hoopla?!?!

This would definitely breathe needed life into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Our hope is that Disney takes things a step further, and more live action entertainment is on the way, perhaps tied to Star Wars: Starfighter.

The biggest missed opportunity with Galaxy’s Edge continues to be the seldom-used catwalks in the land that were intended to come alive for mini-shows. For those who are unaware, the original idea for these catwalks was brief action sequences, such as rooftop battles or shootouts involving opposing characters like Vi Moradi and Stormtroopers.

The goal was to make the land feel like a living world with real conflict and stakes, and action that could arise at any point. These battles would be scripted, of course, but they’d be varied and part of an evolving storyline throughout the day, which would immerse guests in the action and reinforce the notion that they were “living their own Star Wars story.” Star Wars: Starfighter would be the perfect opportunity for finally putting these to use.

If you’ve ever felt that Galaxy’s Edge is lacking in kinetic energy, or has a lived-in quality but still doesn’t quite feel alive, this is more or less the reason. The atmospheric acts and brief battle sequences that were supposed to occur throughout the day would’ve offered exactly that energy and intensity, raising the stakes and truly immersing guests in the action.

Even if you missed all of that, it’s possible you’ve still gotten a taste of it. There have been times when the catwalks have been utilized for more straightforward ‘smile and wave’ purposes, or even the Stormtroopers heckling guests. Even this adds a lot to the land!

When Galaxy’s Edge really hums is when there’s activity along the catwalks that happens to overlap with action on the ground. This is just a small sliver of what was originally planned, but it’s in these brief moments when you can see the full potential of the land. If you squint, it’s almost like being part of something special. Galaxy’s Edge no longer feels lifeless, it feels fully alive–like stepping onto the set of a new production and being amidst the action.

The best reference point for interactivity is Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which is once again in the “news” thanks to this weekend’s episode of The Simpsons that spoofed the failed interactive hotel. While I doubt the land itself would’ve ever reached those same stratospheric heights, it’s a similar idea.

Speaking of Starcruiser, this is another sore subject for myself and other fans. Shortly after closing, Josh D’Amaro teased that “something will happen” when asked about the future Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. In the three years since, nothing has happened.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser had one of the highest guest satisfaction scores at Walt Disney World of all-time. Countless average guests called it one of their best-ever Disney experiences. Starcruiser had instances of great technology, storytelling, and more. Thus far, only a scattering of those ideas have been ported to the parks (oddly enough, it’s mostly been food).

Suffice to say, there were aspects of the failed experience that could have been salvaged and lived on. Between that and D’Amaro’s teases, we honestly had expected and hoped that Walt Disney Imagineering would “recycle” some of the assets and ideas from Starcruiser by now. From the specific shows to the technology, there is so much that could–and should–live on.

It’s also worth noting that Disney and Lucasfilm teased more announcements in 2027. While I’d love a lot of the Starcruiser stuff to come to fruition in 2027, there’s always the possibility that it’s simply announced next year. For years, the dinner show coming to the land in a purpose-built venue (as originally intended) has been rumored. We first heard about this credibly a few years ago, but it’s been crickets since.

My best guess is that Disney has pushed pause on anything major in the parks until they find success with Star Wars again. So while I’d normally expect announcements during Star Wars Celebration (where Imagineering is sure to have a panel), I would bet against anything major then. Some of the smaller stuff above, sure. But nothing that requires construction.

If we’re going to get a major Star Wars announcement for Walt Disney World or Disneyland in 2027, it’s probably coming sometime after May 28, 2027. That’s when Star Wars: Starfighter hits theaters, and whether or not it’s a hit likely dictates whether future parks projects get funded. If so, that news could come at one of the off-year D23 events later in the summer.

Ultimately, this is a mix of my predictions for “reimaginings” in 2027 for the Star Wars 50th Anniversary, and longer-term wishlist for fixing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The land has so much unrealized potential, and a soft reboot of Galaxy’s Edge could be exactly the shot in the arm that’s needed.

The big impediment from Disney’s perspective is seemingly throwing good money after bad with expensive additions, but there’s plenty that could be done without major investments or construction. Here’s hoping that Starfighter and the Star Wars 50th Anniversary celebration are such successes that they revitalize the franchise and help the company finally justify bringing Imagineering’s best ideas for the land to fruition. The land is only 7 years old, but enhancements are already long overdue.

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YOUR THOUGHTS

What offerings do you hope are “reimagined” in Walt Disney World and Disneyland for the Star Wars 50th Anniversary celebration? Would you like to see the timeline “unlocked” in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at DHS, via legacy characters, John Williams music, etc? Hope to see other entertainment additions, like atmospheric action on the catwalks, Starcruiser stuff, etc? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments