After two years of owning Lucasfilm and Star Wars, The Walt Disney Company is finally preparing plans for the franchise’s presence at Disney World and Disneylands around the world. However, the rides won’t feature the familiar characters we all grew up loving.
In a Q&A with Variety on Wednesday, Disney chief Bob Iger said that the major attractions won’t feature Han, Luke and Leia, but instead the new characters created under the Disney umbrella.
“There will be a much larger Star Wars presence in our parks globally,” Iger said at the magazine’s Dealmakers Breakfast. “But we want to do this big, which takes time, and to do it right.”
In other words, it sounds like Star Tours could be the only Star Wars ride in Disney theme parks for awhile longer than expected. Iger told Variety that he actually stepped in to stop Disney Imagineers from developing new rights based on the beloved Original Trilogy.
“I slowed it all down so what we come forward with will have a blend of the past, present and maybe the future,” Iger explained. “Now we have a sense of what’s in Star Wars 8, and what some of the standalone films will have in them.”
Iger also praised director J.J. Abrams for using more physical props and effects for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“That will give the film a look that will be extremely respectful of the look George (Lucas) created in the ’70s and will play well with ardent Star Wars fans and play well with audiences today,” Iger said.
Iger’s comments come after the release of the teaser for Abrams’ The Force Awakens, which hits theaters on Dec. 18, 2015.
image courtesy of Tina Kaawaloa/INFevents.com