The Walt Disney Co. and Lucasfilm officially detailed their global slate for the 50th anniversary of the Star Wars franchise on Thursday, outlining a yearlong 2027 campaign anchored by a restored theatrical re-release of the 1977 original film, an archival Disney+ documentary, and a multiyear agreement to screen movies inside Cosm's immersive LED domes. Beginning January 1, 2027, the celebration will span theatrical exhibitions, live orchestral concerts, an expansive museum showcase, and major retail launches across the United States and international markets.

The milestone campaign commemorates five decades since writer-director George Lucas debuted the original space opera in 1977. For moviegoers and longtime followers of the franchise, the rollout combines traditional cinema restoration with modern experiential formats, culminating in the theatrical release of the next standalone feature film in May 2027.

Inside the Cosm 'Shared Reality' Deal

A centerpiece of the anniversary strategy is a multiyear, multifilm partnership between Disney and experiential entertainment company Cosm, according to Variety. The deal kicks off with Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope at Cosm's four existing U.S.

venues in Los Angeles (Inglewood), Atlanta, Dallas, and Detroit, with another location currently in development for Cleveland. While the official StarWars.com announcement states the engagement begins in March 2027, specialist outlet Edit USA reports a late March launch, and the studios have not yet established a specific opening day or ticket-sale date. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, according to CNBC.

Rather than altering the core movie frame, Cosm's "Shared Reality" presentation places the 2019 Disney+ remastered edition of the film in its standard 16:9 widescreen format at the center of an 87-foot-diameter, 12K+ resolution wraparound LED dome, as reported by the Los Angeles Times and Deadline.

Surrounding the main frame, custom computer-generated visuals created by Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and creative studio MakeMake will expand the environment to depict locations such as the desert planet Tatooine, the Rebel base on Yavin 4, the interior of the Death Star, the trash compactor sequence, and hyperspace lightspeed jumps.

"We look for those moments where sound, music ... listening to Darth Vader's breath for the first time ... you feel those moments differently in an 87-foot diameter dome and 12k resolution with the sound system we have," Alexis Scalice, vice president and head of Cosm Studios, told CNBC. Scalice added in comments to Variety that the creative team focused on "decoding the fan" by keeping the film as the hero while highlighting iconic sequences "like the greatest hits of an album."

The screenings will also include a custom food and beverage menu inspired by the galaxy, alongside an event poster designed by artist Shepard Fairey.

Disney joins Warner Bros. Pictures and Universal Pictures as the third major Hollywood studio to partner with Cosm, which secured a $100 million investment from Sony Pictures Entertainment last June.

Theatrical Re-Release and New Film Slate

Before the Cosm dome screenings begin, Disney will return a restored version of the original 1977 Star Wars to conventional movie theaters globally on February 19, 2027. The theatrical engagement will play across thousands of screens in digital and film formats, including 70mm, 35mm, Digital IMAX, 4DX, D-BOX, and IMAX 70mm—marking the original film's first presentation in IMAX. While the Cosm venues will utilize the 2019 Disney+ edition, studio announcements describe the February theatrical run as a newly restored version of the 1977 release, accompanied by a celebratory opening logo featuring a newly orchestrated score by composer John Williams and a commemorative poster by artist Matt Ferguson.

On May 4, 2027—widely observed by fans as Star Wars Day—Lucasfilm will debut an original documentary titled The Hero Awakens exclusively on Disney+.

Directed by filmmaker R.J. Cutler and produced by Lucasfilm, Kennedy Marshall, and Sony Pictures Television's This Machine, the documentary chronicles the production of the 1977 feature using archival footage and audio recorded during the original shoot.

Later that month, the franchise will pivot to its theatrical future. On May 28, 2027, Lucasfilm will release Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon. Shot with IMAX-certified cameras and slated for IMAX 70mm in select markets, the feature is set in an entirely new era of the timeline with standalone characters and locations.

Live Events, Museum Exhibitions, and Retail Launches

The spring 2027 calendar will concentrate heavily on live events in Southern California. Running April 1–4, 2027, the sold-out Star Wars Celebration convention will take over the Los Angeles Convention Center. Coinciding with the convention during the first weekend of April, Disney Concerts will stage Star Wars in Concert: The Skywalker Saga at the Hollywood Bowl—the venue that hosted the first official Star Wars concert in November 1977.

Hosted by C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels, the live orchestral performances will feature John Williams' musical arrangements paired with footage from all nine Skywalker Saga films.

On the East Coast, Philadelphia's Franklin Institute will host Star Wars: The Experience – A Journey Through the Galaxy. According to Variety, the 18,000-square-foot exhibition was developed in collaboration with MDSX, Lucasfilm, and Disney Consumer Products.

On the retail front, Good Morning America and Variety report that an expansive wave of anniversary merchandise will roll out alongside exclusive Spring 2027 offerings at Target. Key retail partnerships include:

  • Hasbro: Preorders opened on November 12, 2026, for anniversary action figures featuring Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and R2-D2 across the Black Series, Vintage Collection, and Retro Collection lines.
  • LEGO: Seven exclusive building sets will launch in 2027, highlighted by the LEGO Star Wars Up-Scaled Luke Skywalker and the LEGO Star Wars A New Hope Movie Poster set.
  • Apparel and Confections: Adidas is introducing a themed collection of footwear and apparel, while Mars snack brands will release commemorative treats.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do tickets go on sale for the Cosm dome screenings and museum exhibition?

Tickets for Star Wars: A New Hope at Cosm's venues in Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and Detroit are scheduled to go on sale in 2027, though exact on-sale dates and ticket pricing have not yet been disclosed. Similarly, specific admission prices and opening dates for the 18,000-square-foot exhibition at Philadelphia's Franklin Institute have yet to be announced by the organizers.

How does the Cosm screening format differ from a standard theater?

At Cosm, the movie itself is not cropped or stretched to fit the dome. The 2019 Disney+ edition of the film plays in its standard 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio in the center of the screen, while custom CGI extensions engineered with Industrial Light & Magic wrap around the 87-foot dome to immerse the audience in the surrounding scenery.

Which other Disney movies will play at Cosm?

While Disney and Cosm confirmed their agreement is a multiyear, multifilm partnership, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is the only specific title announced so far.

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