Disney loves a good surprise, and fans at the D23 Expo in Anaheim got plenty of those over the weekend. One of the more subtle ones featured a brand new droid, rolling around the display for the new theme park additions called Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
The droid definitely resembles other Star Wars droids you know, kind of a R5 droid’s body with 2-1B arms. But, according to Walt Disney Imagineers in the area, it does not yet have an official Star Wars distinction. In fact, the may not even be part of Galaxy’s Edge when it opens in 2019. It’s just kind of an experiment at how droids and humans who are just mulling around can interact. And let me tell you, it’s not necessarily a smooth relationship.
The Imagineers call this guy “Jake” and he would not stand still for a photo. You’d set up to snap one, and he’d just start going the other way. Here’s what it’s like.
“Hey, Jake, wait up!”
“No, stop, I want a photo.”
“Where are you going? I just want to snap a photo.”
“Ahh, you wanted to see that port, thank you.”
It’s decidedly possible that Jake, or a version of Jake, becomes a permanent resident of Galaxy’s Edge when it opens in 2019. Check out this new video tour to see more of the new land.