"Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge" is the long-awaited and heavily-anticipated new expansion area for the two Disney theme parks in the US. While the one in Disney’s Hollywood Studios over at Walt Disney World in Florida will not open until later this August, the one in Anaheim’s Disneyland Park is set to welcome guests starting Friday.

But this Wednesday, May 29, Galaxy’s Edge already had a formal dedication ceremony ahead of the regular crowds. The 14-acre themed area was dedicated not just by Disney CEO Bob Iger, but an ensemble of the biggest acting names in the entire "Star Wars" franchise.

'Star Wars' stars and creator join in dedication

Bob Iger had some major help in cutting the ceremonial opening ribbon for "Galaxy’s Edge" in Disneyland Park Wednesday evening. Daily Mail UK notes that he was accompanied by the original creator of the "Star Wars" franchise, George Lucas, as well as two major stars of the original trilogy of films. There were Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill, Harrison “Han Solo” Ford, and Billy Dee "Lando Calrissian" Williams. All three also figured in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy that started in 2015. Ford was in “The Force Awakens;” so was Hamill who returned in “The Last Jedi.” Williams will then appear in the final installment of the saga, “The Rise of Skywalker,” which will premiere December.

The joyously momentous occasion was also a brief moment for some reminiscing, as Harrison Ford took his turn on the dedication stage by paying a touching tribute to British actor Peter Mayhew, the original portrayer of Han Solo’s Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca. As the stage was in front of the Galaxy’s Edge Millennium Falcon ride, Ford accepted Iger’s offer to give the ship some percussive maintenance which set off a grand fireworks display.

He dedicated it to Mayhew who died only last month at age 77.

Rehabilitating the sequel trilogy with Galaxy's Edge

More critical fans of "Star Wars" are often of the opinion that the acquisition of the franchise and its Lucasfilm studio by Disney led to inferior movies and shows compared to the original and prequel trilogies, and the old “Expanded Universe” of printed media.

Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Disney World looks to revitalize fan' interest in the sequel era, which had the divisive Episode VIII of “The Last Jedi” and the box office anthology flop of “Solo.” Set in the Black Spire smuggler’s outpost of the planet Batuu, the Galaxy’s Edge area will thrill park guests with their ongoing scripted conflict between the Resistance and the First Order.

With the celebrity jazz done, everything is set for Disneyland guests to finally get inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when the park opens this Friday.
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