“Ignite the Fire. Light the Spark.”
”We will be challenged. Our trust. Our faith. Our friendships. But we must persevere. And in time, a new hope will emerge.”
These words, sent by Obi-Wan Kenobi to any remaining members of the Jedi, have resonated throughout Star Wars. In addition to providing a practical warning to anyone seeking help from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, they also (in my opinion) form the thesis statement for any Star Wars story. George Lucas famously built his Star Wars vision around Joseph Cambell’s seminal work, The Hero’s Journey. The initial step in that journey is the Call to Adventure. But in order for that call to be issued, in order for a hero to answer that call, the world as he knows it must be challenged. It is only from that state that a hero can truly emerge. And thus, Obi-Wan’s words are a reminder that, no matter how much the darkness may threaten to envelop, a light will shine through.
I think that mythic storytelling is why Galaxy’s Edge still holds a strong appeal to me. I will admit, the land has some inherent issues. One miss is that it only has two attractions in the entire land, especially for such a large footprint. The land both in Disneyland and Hollywood Studios is over 14 acres, larger than any other land in Anaheim. By comparison, Fantasyland is roughly 12-13 acres and has 13 attractions. (I realize that the scale of the attractions is vastly different, but I think the case is definitely there that the land should have had the originally planned third ride.) However, I believe that the attractions issue could have been overcome had Galaxy’s Edge not had one additional strike against it: limited characters.
Batuu initially was opened with a strict adherence to its spot in the Star Wars timeline. Per the Imagineers who created it, the entire land existed between Episodes 8 and 9 of the Skywalker Saga. Any characters who could appear in the land must fit within those parameters. Unfortunately that limitation only allows for Rey, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and a couple of First Order Stormtroopers to exist in the land. (Along with an original character, Vi Moradi, and a nameless First Order Officer.) R2-D2 was added in Disneyland’s version shortly after the opening of Rise of the Resistance but for the longest time, the land, while beautifully designed, felt sterile and empty. And it became more apparent once Avengers Campus opened in 2021.
At only 6 acres, the Campus is much smaller than Galaxy’s Edge. They also share the “open with only 2 rides” distinction. But if Batuu opened with a strict adherence to canon, Avengers Campus threw the idea out the window. Yes, the characters of the Marvel Universe would interact with guests in character. However, everyone is welcome. Are you a villain like Loki or Agatha Harkness? No worries! Are you only referenced in a seasonal special like Werewolf by Night? Come say hi! Are you deceased like Tony Stark or Natasha Romanov? (Um, spoilers.) It doesn’t matter. Despite being half Batuu’s size, the Campus is filled with life because you can interact with your favorite and, as a bonus, see them interact with each other. In short, Avengers Campus feels alive and growing.
However, slowly, a new hope has been emerging for Galaxy Edge.
Over the past few years, new characters from recent Star Wars projects have been appearing in Batuu. Boba Fett and Fennec Shand initially began roaming the marketplace in Black Spire Outpost. They were later joined by the Mandolorian and Grogu. And the crew keeps growing, including adding more roaming droids to interact with. There is a new vibrancy in the land, which became very apparent during Star Wars Nite and May the 4th.
I spent quite a bit of time in the land for both events and let me tell you, if you ever want to reignite your appreciation for something, experience it with uber fans. As I was walking through the different zones, the enthusiasm from people was infectious. I can’t tell you how much joy it gave me to hear teens yell, “C-3P0?! That’s amazing,” as they saw him in the garage area. It warmed my heart to see children enraptured by the walking BD droids. I had a good laugh watching families try to escape the wrathful glare of Kylo Ren. And someone mysteriously started cutting onions when an older gentleman teared up while giving Chewie a big hug.
Which brings me to the photo above. I do admit, what drew me to it initially was the inherent comedy of holding a popcorn bucket up with a lightsaber. However, as I edited the photo, I realized that it was a visual representation of the reinvigoration of a love that was waning. There is no greater power than a community coming together, no greater energy than joint celebration. That night,as we all came together, raising our lightsabers to the sky, the sky became awash in that glow. “Ignite the Spark. Light the Fire.”