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It’s official! “Batuu” is the name of the planet on which Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set. In case you need the refresher, Galaxy’s Edge is the new Star Wars land coming to Disney Parks in 2019. And not only was the name revealed, a new glimpse of it was revealed, too. This past weekend, an update to Star Tours launched in the parks, and Batuu is the planet where you land at the end of the ride in this new update.
Speaking of which, the new update to Star Tours also takes you to the Graveyard of Giants on Jakku, AND to the showdown between the Resistance and the First Order on the surface of Crait! (The image with this post is kind of a giveaway on that one, and it comes from the Disney Parks blog.)
Here’s what we now know about Batuu, from the StarWars.com databank:
A remote outpost on the galaxy’s edge, Batuu was once a busy crossroads in the days prior to lightspeed. With the rise of hyperspace travel, however, the world — notable for the lush trees and mountain spikes that decorate its surface — was left behind, its prominence lost to planets on more popular trade routes. Today, Batuu is home to those who prefer to stay out of the mainstream, and a thriving port for smugglers, rogue traders, and adventurers traveling between the frontier and uncharted space. Significantly, it has also become a safe haven for those looking to avoid the attention of the First Order.
Let the wagering begin as to whether we’ll see this planet appear in The Last Jedi…
Also, if you want to see the updated Star Tours ride in its entirety, the embedded video below takes you through it, twice. Before you watch it, though, fair warning: Even though it’s not “technically” a spoiler, since it’s released in an official capacity, you’re going to learn something about the First Order’s deployment at the Battle of Crait that you wouldn’t know from any other source. I think it explains at least one other scene we’ve already seen in previously released footage. I talk about it in the podcast, but only after the sponsor break, and with lots of notice beforehand.