VIDEO - George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams appear at the grand opening of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland

May 30, 2019 in "Star Wars Galaxy's Edge"

Forum Forums Tweet Share Tweet Share

Gallery / 4 Photos
Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Disneyland Grand Opening Ceremony

Posted: Thursday May 30, 2019 8:06am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

In a Star Wars legend-packed event last night at Disneyland, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger unveiled Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, which is set to open to the general public at Disneyland Park on May 31, and also at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on Aug. 29.

Star Wars creator George Lucas and actors Billy Dee Williams and Mark Hamill, Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger and actor Harrison Ford celebrate the opening of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge

“Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is absolutely amazing and we are thrilled to finally share it with the world,” said Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “Now, for the first time, fans will be able to immerse themselves in the iconic stories that have captured audiences’ imaginations for decades and live their own Star Wars adventures in the most creative, innovative and ambitious land we’ve ever built.”

Bob Iger, Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO (left), and George Lucas, Star Wars creator, pose inside Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

To dedicate Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Iger was joined in front of the Millennium Falcon by Star Wars icons including George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams. In a ceremony set to the soaring John Williams score composed especially for the land, global media and invited guests were the very first to see the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy roar to life.

“With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disney is redefining the theme park experience and setting a new bar for experiential storytelling,” said Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “From each authentic detail to the land’s jaw-dropping scale, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge exceeds every expectation.”

Actor Billy Dee Williams, Star Wars creator George Lucas, actors Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill pose in front of the Millennium Falcon at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

lifeisgoodboyJun 01, 2019

In memory of Carrie Fisher and Peter Mayhew.

Disney AnalystMay 31, 2019

I think the lesson is... OG fans just likely won't ever be pleased with newer films based around the same story arc/time period/tied to the OT... I on the other hand love it all. So yay non-OG fans? We get to be happy and fulfilled while the rest remain miserable. Just the way I like it.

SirwalterraleighMay 31, 2019

It can be in a bubblegum forest for all we know...because it was built squarely on a fence post after a 64 yard punt. I hope it looks cool though...even when the deserr. 😉

Bleed0rangeMay 31, 2019

Batuu is not on a desert planet. The architecture is just similar to that of Tatooine in the city.

SirwalterraleighMay 31, 2019

I got a pretty big problem with the last statement. George did TERRIBLY in his second go around...but Disney is equally lost. Probably moreso because they didn’t learn from a simple mistake. Star Wars worked with the feel of the OT. That is a pretty easy thing to recognize. At least George went off the reservation with his...Disney knew better and yet went away from what works anyway. He sold...he has 10x more money than he could shred in 5 lifetimes...this is true. But he’s also made no bones about his displeasure with all the backlash he’s gotten and that he was fet up...even calling Disney the best of the worst (actually much worse...I’m paraphrasing) Complicated - this tale is

Old MouseketeerMay 31, 2019

OK. Point taken. But my first three words weren't ignorant. They were rude and ill advised. But there was nothing ignorant about them. I strongly disagree with your assessment of George Lucas' appearance. I think your analogy was inappropriate, as I made clear. While I completely disagree with your previous post, I do agree with you on one thing. Because I was given a great opportunity to see Galaxy's Edge with a friend and post an early review here which the WDWMagic publisher promoted to the front page, I was given a Premium Membership as a contributor. And even though there were no caveats as to how I should conduct myself, you are correct that I should be expected to behave with a certain amount of decorum. I know this from other blogs where I have earned a degree of respect over many years. So I was careless and dismissed your post as "stupid", rather than rebutting what you said. But I still think your argument was weak and your divorce analogy not applicable.

PhroobarMay 31, 2019

I miss Rizo.

George Lucas on a BenchMay 31, 2019

Hi there. Welcome to my park.

THE 1HAPPY HAUNTMay 31, 2019

THANK YOU!!! Been saying this all along!

Old MouseketeerMay 31, 2019

That's just stupid. Lucas chose to cash out and it was his choice to pass his child along to Disney. He sold it without retaining hard creative control--he left them with an outline for the sequel trilogy, but reserved no legal control. He collected the billions and entrusted Disney to care for his legacy. I don't know what contractual obligations (if any) he has that require him to show up. But he was in the driver's seat. This time he wasn't under the pressure of a divorce settlement like he was when he sold Pixar to Steve Jobs. George Lucas is not a victim here. He's sitting in the catbird seat--his stories are continuing and Disney isn't doing any worse than he did, himself.

NunuMay 31, 2019

I don't remember that, but I noticed Iger was left with his hand extended for a bit too long either by Hamill or Ford (?) I don't know if it was intentional, who knows!?, but I thought, "poor guy, how awkward" 😣🤭

SirwalterraleighMay 31, 2019

I noticed he absolutely flamed the Disney lucasfilm people...if you caught it and paid attention to what he has said in interviews

SJN1279May 31, 2019

Anyone else notice Mark Hamill snub Billy Dee Williams?

SuddenStormMay 31, 2019

His appearance definitely sounded more like a professional courtesy towards Disney, vs something he genuinely seemed interested in. Someone should dig up the Star Tours dedication and do a comparison.