THE APEX TIMES
A restored 1977 film, a second season of Ahsoka, new immersive experiences and a museum exhibition are among the announced milestones spanning 2027.
Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company have outlined a year-long global program to mark the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, starting with streaming and culminating in a theatrical run that brings the original 1977 film back to cinemas in multiple formats. The campaign, previewed Thursday by the companies, is designed to extend the anniversary beyond traditional releases into concerts, fan conventions, immersive attractions and a broad set of limited-edition merchandise partnerships throughout 2027.
The companies said the anniversary campaign is timed to the 50th anniversary in 2027, with Lucasfilm and Disney beginning disclosures and experiences in the months leading into that date. They also previewed a special 50th-anniversary logo featuring a newly orchestrated score by John Williams, underscoring the effort to lean on both legacy branding and premium audio-visual experiences.
On Disney+, Ahsoka Tano returns in January with a second season of Ahsoka, starring Rosario Dawson as the title character. The show is set after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, and the announcement frames the storyline around Ahsoka confronting what it means to be a Jedi as Grand Admiral Thrawn emerges as a major threat.
In theaters, Lucasfilm and Disney announced a February 19 restored version of Star Wars (1977) on thousands of screens worldwide. The release will be available in IMAX 70mm, along with additional digital and film formats including 70mm, 35mm, IMAX, 4DX and D-BOX, aiming to reach viewers across premium large-format and motion-enhanced viewing options. A new poster by Matt Ferguson, which the companies say pays homage to the original 1977 poster, was also unveiled as part of the preview.
Outside conventional film windows, the rollout includes immersive entertainment. Cosm will debut a Shared Reality rendition of Star Wars: A New Hope (the 2019 version) in immersive entertainment venues located in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit and Los Angeles. The experience is described as letting fans step into the Cosm venues, featuring 12K+ immersive LED domes, before being transported into a themed environment built around the Star Wars universe.
The companies also detailed a music and live-event sequence tied to Star Wars’ film legacy. On April 2 to 3, Star Wars in Concert: The Skywalker Saga is scheduled for the Hollywood Bowl, described as performances hosted by Anthony Daniels (known for playing C-3PO) featuring scenes and music from all nine Skywalker Saga films, alongside John Williams’ iconic scores. The announced weekend also includes Star Wars Celebration in Los Angeles, characterized as a sold-out event at the Los Angeles Convention Center with panels, exhibitors, exclusive merchandise and guest appearances.
As part of the streaming slate, Disney+ will debut The Hero Awakens, a documentary on May 4 directed by R.J. Cutler. The companies say the film is produced by Lucasfilm, Cutler and This Machine, along with Kennedy/Marshall, and that it will feature archival footage and audio recorded during and around the making of the original Star Wars in 1977. The programming also includes a new theatrical entry planned for May 28, Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, positioned as an “entirely new era” story with new characters and locations and with an announced release in a variety of formats including IMAX 70mm in select locations.
The announcement additionally points to a merchandising-and-licensing strategy meant to keep the anniversary visible year-round. Lucasfilm and Disney said they will pursue new and legacy collaborations across collectibles, toys, apparel, automotive, food and beverage, electronics and more, with licensees including Hasbro, the LEGO Group, adidas, Mars, Aston Martin, Steinway and Hajime Sorayama presented by Complex, among others. It also includes Star Wars: The Experience, an interactive exhibition coming in February to The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, with tickets on sale.
What is not disclosed in the announcement is likely to be as important as what is. Disney and Lucasfilm did not provide dates for every announced item beyond the major January, February, April, May and May 28 anchors, and they did not include details on whether additional theatrical formats or markets beyond the “thousands of screens” phrasing will expand further. Financial terms for merchandising licensing, the scope of parks and cruise-line reimagining, and any expected viewership or box-office targets were also not addressed.
Still, the structure of the rollout suggests a coordinated attempt to monetize the 50th anniversary at multiple points in the fan journey: premium cinema viewing for major film titles, subscription engagement for Disney+ projects, and retail and experiential revenue through licensed products and branded attractions. For the industry, the approach illustrates how franchise anniversaries are becoming multi-platform operating plans rather than single-release events, blending IP, live experiences and consumer goods under one calendar.
Next, investors and industry watchers will likely look for additional details on the remaining announced categories, such as the parks and cruise-line changes, the full list of publishing and interactive game plans, and any further cross-brand announcements later in 2026 and into 2027. They will also watch how the restored 1977 film performs in the newly specified format mix and whether the early streaming slate, particularly Ahsoka season two, sustains audience momentum going into the theatrical push.
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