Disney Dumps Rey and Kylo Ren for Darth Vader and Luke in Star Wars Land Overhaul

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Disney is finally pivoting.

Disneyland is moving away from the newer Star Wars characters like Rey and Kylo Ren and returning to the classic heroes and villains – Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia – after several years of featuring the sequel trilogy’s story.

This spring, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is getting a big update, and it’s clear Disney is responding to fans’ desire for more of the original Star Wars experience.

This news comes as rumors suggest Dave Filoni will be leading the creative direction of Star Wars, and Kathleen Kennedy is likely to step down. An official statement is expected shortly.

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Classic Characters Replace the Sequels

Starting April 29th, Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge will expand its story options, allowing characters and experiences from the original Star Wars trilogy to appear alongside its current sequel-era focus. Essentially, fans of the classic films will have more to enjoy in the land.

The iconic characters Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia will all be featured, and the beloved Star Wars music by John Williams – including famous pieces like “The Main Title,” “Han Solo and the Princess,” and “The Emperor” – will be played.

Kylo Ren will no longer be featured prominently in Galaxy’s Edge. Instead, he’ll be available for meet-and-greets in Tomorrowland. While Rey will still make appearances near the Rise of the Resistance ride, her role has been significantly reduced.

Disney wants to create a more adaptable story schedule and include the most famous characters from throughout the entire Star Wars saga.

This is a complete change of direction from the park’s original opening in 2019, which was dedicated to the story of the sequel trilogy – specifically, the films The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.

Galaxy’s Edge Becomes “Star Wars Greatest Hits”

The land will move away from a rigid, single timeline. Instead, Galaxy’s Edge will blend different eras and characters together, creating the experience many fans originally hoped for.

Guests visiting Batuu might encounter Darth Vader actively searching for Luke Skywalker, who is seeking out ancient Force relics. Meanwhile, Princess Leia will be gathering companions around the Cantina, and Han Solo will be predictably found near his ship, the Millennium Falcon.

Starting May 22nd, the Smugglers Run ride is being updated with new destinations, including Coruscant, Bespin, and the remains of the Death Star near Endor. A fun addition for fans of The Mandalorian: riders acting as the engineer will now be able to interact with Grogu (Baby Yoda) during the experience.

“Immersive Play” Concept Abandoned

When Galaxy’s Edge first opened, it featured a unique and immersive experience. Cast members used a mobile app to follow guests’ choices and actions, essentially tracking their reputation within the Star Wars story unfolding in the land. The goal was to make it feel like a living, breathing world where your decisions mattered.

That concept flopped.

Despite initial plans for a highly interactive experience, many of those features weren’t fully realized. Guests didn’t get to experience things like smugglers interacting with them in the Cantina, and the accompanying mobile app wasn’t used much. Fans also expressed disappointment that some beloved characters were missing, and many wished the area had played music from the iconic John Williams scores.

Disney is now recognizing that fans simply want a classic Star Wars experience – iconic characters like Darth Vader, the familiar music, and that nostalgic feeling of returning to the universe they loved as kids.

Filoni Takes the Reins

The recent changes at Galaxy’s Edge seem to coincide with a shift in leadership at Lucasfilm. Dave Filoni, known for creating popular Star Wars series like Clone Wars, Rebels, Ahsoka, and The Mandalorian, is now in charge of all creative decisions for the franchise.

Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm who has led the Star Wars franchise since Disney bought it, is expected to leave her position soon.

Dave Filoni’s work has already led to popular characters like Ahsoka and Grogu appearing in the parks. Now, the original Star Wars heroes – Luke, Leia, Han, and Darth Vader – are being added too.

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2026-01-15 02:02