Bright Suns from Star Wars Celebration Japan! We just wrapped our Walt Disney Imagineering panel where I was joined by Imagineers Anisha Deshmane and Michael Serna as well as Matt Martin from Lucasfilm to talk about the creative development behind current and future Star Wars projects at Disney parks and resorts around the world.
In the panel, we shared some exciting news that expands on some of the updates discussed at SXSW, and I can’t wait to share what we talked about!
Take Control with New Powers for the Crew
Starting May 22, 2026 at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will allow guests to control the iconic ship like never before. For the first time ever, the crew will be in control of their own destination, leading to potential adventures on Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star around Endor, or the just-announced bustling city-planet, Coruscant. Another new gameplay addition allows the engineer positions to communicate with Grogu during the mission.
Mando and Grogu Join the Adventure
We’re so excited that these updates debut on the same day as Lucasfilm’s upcoming title, The Mandalorian and Grogu, however, the attraction’s storyline will follow a different path.
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. 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.
None of this would be possible without our partnership with Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). With their help, you are in control of your own destiny on the attraction. This technology is all built on Unreal Engine 5 by Epic Games which are the same tools ILM uses on the Disney+ show, The Mandalorian.
To finish off our panel, the ever-popular BDX Droids made a pit stop! They’re now at Tokyo Disney Resort but will also make appearances at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris for a limited time very soon.
