SAN DIEGO — A galaxy far, far away is getting ready to feel a lot closer, with fans soon able to step inside a sweeping new celebration of “Star Wars” history, movie memorabilia and immersive storytelling.
During San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend, the creative team behind “Star Wars: The Experience” offered an early preview of the landmark exhibition. The project brings together Lucasfilm, Disney Consumer Products, the Franklin Institute and MDSX Creative for a behind-the-scenes showcase timed to honor the 50th anniversary of the original “Star Wars,” which debuted in 1977.
“‘Star Wars’ means a lot to a lot of different people,” Lucasfilm Senior Creative Executive Matt Martin said. He explained that the team set out to capture the full scope of the franchise’s storytelling legacy across five decades.
Spanning 18,000 square feet, the exhibition will combine gallery spaces with personalized, interactive walk-through moments designed to guide visitors through the evolution of the beloved sci-fi saga. More than 70 artifacts are expected to be featured, including some never before shown publicly, such as Darth Maul’s lightsaber and Darth Vader’s costume. Fans will also encounter creatures, droids and props tied to characters and worlds across the franchise, from Grogu, R2-D2 and C-3PO to a speeder bike from “Andor.”
Portia Fontes, Lucasfilm’s Manager of Physical Assets, said the sensory nature of the exhibit is central to its appeal. “I think it’s an important part of the experience to be able to touch, listen, use all of your senses when thinking of ‘Star Wars,’” she said, noting that hearing familiar sounds echo through the galleries while viewing real production artifacts helps recreate the feeling of watching the films.
Beyond the fan-favorite costumes, droids and props, the “Star Wars” exhibition is designed to trace how the franchise changed filmmaking itself. Visitors will see how the saga’s visual language and technical breakthroughs moved from practical, analog special effects to the highly detailed digital worlds that define modern blockbuster cinema.
Dan Picard, owner and chief creative officer of MDSX Creative, said the team hopes the experience reaches both lifelong devotees and newcomers. “One of our goals is we do want to inspire the next generation,” Picard said. “We want to get the superfan and the non-fan alike to really dial into this.”
The journey will also include radio-frequency interaction points that tailor the visit for each guest. At the start, visitors will choose between the light side and the dark side, a decision that will influence how parts of the galleries respond as they move through the experience.
The panelists also hinted that attendees of this year’s D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in August will receive a sneak peek at the exhibit: a smaller version of the Han Solo carbonite gallery on the Anaheim show floor, teasing the larger experience to come next year.
“That world building that they basically invented in film, we get to help tell that story of how it evolved over the years,” Picard said. “I think it’s going to be really exciting for people to see in this different way.”
“Star Wars: The Experience” opens in February 2027 at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
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