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Opened in 2019 at both the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge–or the Black Spire Outpost of Batuu as it is known in-universe–is one of the most popular lands at the domestic Disney theme parks.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is anchored by its two marquee attractions—Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance—alongside immersive shops, dining, and encounters, like Oga’s Cantina and Savi’s Workshop.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Changes in 2026
For those who have not yet taken flight on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the attraction places visitors right in the cockpit of the galaxy’s most famous freighter. After seeing the ship up close and moving through a workshop filled with details, guests meet the animatronic Hondo Ohnaka, who briefs them on their smuggling mission.
Once aboard, riders are assigned as pilots, gunners, or engineers, working as a team to complete their objective. The outcome of each journey depends on the crew’s performance, ensuring no two missions are quite the same.
Looking ahead, fresh adventures are on the horizon for Smugglers Run. Beginning May 22, 2026, the ride will feature an updated storyline to coincide with the release of Jon Favreau’s upcoming film The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026). This new mission will bring Mando and Grogu into the cockpit alongside guests, expanding the galaxy with destinations such as Coruscant and Endor.
“In this new thrilling storyline, Hondo Ohnaka has gotten wind of a deal going down on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and a band of pirates,” Disney Parks Blog revealed. “There’s a generous bounty for their capture, so you’ll borrow the iconic ship and team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and explore the galaxy.”
But this could just be the beginning.
Disney and Star Wars Make Huge Announcement for 2027
One of the big parts of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge experience is the fact the timeline is set within Disney’s Star Wars sequel trilogy. However, over the last few years, Disney Experiences has continually played with that notion by introducing characters from other parts of the timeline, notably, the New Republic era–or the “Mando-Verse” as it is also known.
Characters like Din Djarin, Grogu, Ahsoka Tano, Boba Fett, and Fennec Shand have all made appearances in Batuu, bringing the canon continuity into question. However, while these non-sequel trilogy characters appeared inside the land, the ill-fated Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser–which closed not even two years after it opened–was formulated using the sequel trilogy storyline of Resistance versus First Order.
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Now, looking ahead, 2027 looks like it will be another year of change for the beloved Galaxy’s Edge location. Star Wars will officially welcome audiences into a post-sequel trilogy chapter with Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), and it will likely see Batuu change once again.
Lucasfilm has officially set its sights on a brand-new chapter in the galaxy far, far away, as Star Wars: Starfighter is slated to hit theaters on May 28, 2027. Announced during Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo, the project is shaping up to be one of the biggest events on the Star Wars calendar, following directly after Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, which arrives the year prior.
Leading the cast is Ryan Gosling, taking on the central Starfighter role, alongside rising talent Flynn Gray, who is said to play a young character under Gosling’s wing. The ensemble expands further with Amy Adams, rumored to portray Gray’s mother, while Matt Smith and Mia Goth step into villainous roles. Also joining the galaxy are Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, and Daniel Ings, rounding out an eclectic mix of new heroes and foes.
This plethora of new characters will likely mean that they will be present for meet and greets in Galaxy’s Edge. Not only that, but if the movie is successful–and if the name suggests a high-flying adventure–then Disney Experiences will possibly pull another update to Smuggler’s Run as they will do next year to mark the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu.
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As Star Wars makes its grand return to the big screen, it will be remiss if the parks don’t capitalize on the range of new locations and characters that audiences will encounter while heading out to the movie theater.
More on Star Wars: Starfighter
Behind the camera, Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy will direct, bringing his blockbuster pedigree to the Star Wars saga. Levy is working from a script by his frequent collaborator Jonathan Tropper, who previously penned The Adam Project (2022).
Together, they’re crafting a standalone story that exists apart from the Skywalker saga, set roughly five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019). The movie is expected to introduce audiences to an entirely new corner of the galaxy, focusing on fresh characters rather than legacy figures.
On the producing side, Levy is joined by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, with Ryan Gosling, Dan Levine, and Mary and Josh McLaglen serving as executive producers. The project comes from Lucasfilm and 21 Laps Entertainment, with Claudio Miranda attached as cinematographer, ensuring a distinct visual scope for the film.
Development on Starfighter has been years in the making, with early talks around Levy’s involvement starting back in 2022. Tropper began writing in 2024, and by summer 2025, casting announcements rolled out, culminating with filming officially beginning in the United Kingdom this August.
While plot specifics are being tightly guarded, fans already know that Starfighter is aiming to carve out new space in the Star Wars universe. With its powerhouse cast, high-profile creative team, and release set firmly on Disney’s calendar, the next theatrical step for Star Wars looks primed to deliver a fresh saga for longtime fans and new audiences alike.
How do you think Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will evolve with the release of Star Wars: Starfighter and any other future adventures in the galaxy far, far away?
