Disney Plots Yearlong 'Star Wars' 50th: IMAX Reissue, Lego, Gosling

By Daniel Okafor

The original "Star Wars" returns to theaters on Feb. 19, 2027, in a newly restored version of its 1977 theatrical cut. It will screen in IMAX 70mm, digital IMAX, 70mm, 35mm and 4DX. Disney says this marks the first time the film — later retitled "Star Wars: A New Hope" — has been presented in IMAX.

That reissue anchors a yearlong 50th-anniversary program announced by Disney, spanning merchandise, immersive experiences and theatrical releases throughout 2027. The company has enlisted its longtime licensing partners: Lego, Hasbro, Adidas and Mars.

When does the merchandise arrive?

Sooner than you'd think for an anniversary two years out. Hasbro opens preorders on Nov. 12 for anniversary figures across its Black Series, Vintage Collection and Retro Collection lines. The rollout draws on a partnership that began with the original Kenner action figures, the toys that turned "Star Wars" into a merchandising powerhouse.

Lego is marking 30 years of its own Lucasfilm deal. Seven commemorative sets arrive globally on Jan. 1, 2027, featuring reimagined poster tiles and exclusive minifigures inspired by Ralph McQuarrie's original concept art.

Adidas will add a streetwear and footwear collection drawn from the characters and aesthetics of the 1977 film. Mars, for its part, will plaster "Star Wars" branding across its snack portfolio — M&M's included — through exclusive products launching throughout 2027.

What can fans actually walk through?

Two things, both sizable. Cosm (a full-dome entertainment venue operator) begins hosting dome screenings of "A New Hope" at select U.S. locations in late March, with themed food and beverage offerings.

Philadelphia's Franklin Institute hosts the bigger draw: "Star Wars: The Experience – A Journey Through the Galaxy," an 18,000-square-foot exhibition developed with MDSX, Lucasfilm and Disney Consumer Products. Disney bills it as the franchise's largest behind-the-scenes exhibition to date. It runs Feb. 13 through Sept. 6, 2027, with general-public tickets on sale Nov. 12.

Is there a new film in all this?

Yes. "Star Wars: Starfighter" opens May 28, 2027 — nearly 50 years to the day after the original film's debut on May 25, 1977. Shawn Levy directs, Ryan Gosling stars, and the standalone adventure will screen in multiple formats, including IMAX 70mm at select theaters. It's the franchise's latest big-screen installment.

The plan is coherent, at least. Disney has aligned a restored reissue, a new film, a giant exhibition and four retail partners around a single date with genuine cultural weight. Whether the anniversary converts nostalgia into 2027 box office is a question the calendar will answer — on Feb. 19, and again on May 28.