ANAHEIM, CA — Iconic characters from one of the world’s most well-loved franchises are returning to Disneyland, multiple outlets reported.
In a shift from its original vision, Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy Edge will no longer be primarily set in the time period of the recent “Star Wars” sequels.
Members of both the resistance and the republic who once did walk-arounds the land, including Kylo Ren, will be swapped out with characters such as Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, according to Walt Disney World News Today.
This marks a significant redirection in the land, which was originally tailored to be an immersive, play-focused area that differed greatly from classic lands in the theme park — no character meet and greets, passive rides or Mickey-shaped balloon vendors.
The change will go into effect on April 29, but visiting guests will likely see visible work and some props arrive before then. According to WDW News Today, the changes only impact the Disneyland version of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and not other theme parks.
“Since the very inception of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, we really always imagined it as a platform for storytelling,” Imagineer Asa Kalama told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s part of the reason we designed this neutral Wild West space town because it allowed it to be a framework in which we could project different stories.”