Bold Prediction – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Will Shift Timelines to the New Republic Era Before Summer 2026
Ever since the announcement at D23 2024 that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run would be getting a makeover themed to The Mandalorian & Grogu next summer, I’ve been suspecting it might be possible that the entirety of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge may soon shift its position in the Star Wars timeline to the New Republic era. And today’s reveal that Luke Skywalker will be making his way to Batuu has only solidified that theory for me.
Back in 2019 when Galaxy’s Edge first opened, I attended a media event at Disneyland Resort and personally asked Lucasfilm Art Director Doug Chiang and Walt Disney Imagineer Scott Trowbridge how the decision was made to set the immersive land in the Star Wars sequel trilogy era. What follows is a transcript of their response
- Doug Chiang: “A lot of that was trying to create some place that could bridge all the different films, all the different stories, whether in books or in new media. Our goal was to really set it forward-thinking so that we can actually tap into all of that. There's seeds of elements that you'll see from past films, past stories, as well as future-thinking. It's really important, because obviously if we set this, for instance, back in the prequel era, then you can't have experiences with Kylo [Ren] or anybody else in the future. So that was very deliberate, but the other goal was to make this really timeless, so that it can fit within any of the Star Wars stories, because this is all going to be your story."
- Scott Trowbridge: “Yeah, I think Black Spire Outpost, although we may be discovering it for the first time, it's well known to many Star Wars characters. It's been there for a thousand years; it's probably gonna be there for another thousand years in our Star Wars storytelling. It is a place that we can continue to update and refresh as our relationship with Star Wars and the characters progresses. Right now we're all very invested in a certain set of characters and a certain storyline-- the Skywalker Saga that's been part of our lives for so long. But we may make other choices down the road about other destinations, other characters to have relationships with, other stories to tell."
It’s that last part of Trowbridge’s quote that made my ears perk up nearly six years ago, and it continues to be the foundation on which this theory is built. With the sequel trilogy of films behind us and the New Republic era far more prevalent in recent (and immediate future) Star Wars storytelling, I can definitely see Disney Parks deciding that now is the time to “update and refresh" the land to conform to that point in the timeline.
We already know that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is getting a new mission starring the title characters from The Mandalorian & Grogu in time for the upcoming film’s theatrical release in May of 2026. I don’t think it would take a tremendous amount of work to convert the remainder of Galaxy’s Edge to the New Republic era (the period following the original trilogy of Star Wars films, during which the live-action Star Wars series The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew all take place), with the only major potential difficulties being the First Order TIE Echelon ship parked in Black Spire Outpost and the Resistance X-wing and A-wing starfighters near the Resistance base. There’s also the sizable sticking point of the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction that would require a major overhaul to bring it about two-and-a-half decades earlier in the timeline along with the rest of the land. You’d also have to change the rectenna on the physical Millennium Falcon, but that would rank among the least of the challenges. Are these things possible? I believe so. Is Disney Parks willing to invest the amount of money it would cost to follow through on such an overhaul of Galaxy’s Edge? That’s another question entirely.
One of the most desirable benefits of such a shift in the timeline would be opening up Galaxy’s Edge to a bevy of characters who aren’t around between Episodes VIII and IX, the period during which the land is now set. Not only would Luke Skywalker (who appears to be making his debut appearance in this land for Season of the Force this year) be able to roam free on Batuu, but Disney Parks would also theoretically be welcome to use Han Solo, (an appropriately aged) Princess Leia Organa, Lando Calrissian, Admiral Ackbar, Imperial stormtroopers, and the existing costumes of Din Djarin (along with Grogu), Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Ahsoka Tano, Hera Syndulla, and Sabine Wren, the seven of which have been restricted to their “narrative bubble" near Black Spire’s Marketplace. Unfortunately Darth Vader’s presence would present an issue, as you’ll remember him dying at the end of Return of the Jedi. While I have no problem with the current lineup of Rey, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and First Order stormtroopers / officers, it’s possible that the forthcoming release of The Mandalorian & Grogu has presented Disney Parks with the perfect excuse to shake things up a bit in Galaxy’s Edge.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is open daily at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in Florida.