Two Star Wars News Bits From D23 Expo: 'Rebels' And Disneyland

Despite every effort to not disappoint fans by a lack of news regarding Star Wars Episode VII, news in the more general world of Star Wars was – in fact – revealed at the D23 Expo. At the Crash Course in the Force event, Lucasfilm's Star Wars expert Pablo Hidalgo took Disney fans through the cultural history of Star Wars as a way to introduce them to their new $4 billion toy.

Then, at the end, fans got their hands on him. Hidalgo was very adamant that he couldn't talk about any new projects, but he did hint at two possible developments, both on TV and in theme parks.

Hidalgo suggested that, despite the well-known state of the Jedi between Episodes III and IV, we might get some kind of Jedi influence in the upcoming animated TV series Star Wars: Rebels. He also hinted that, maybe, that Imagineering project could be at Disneyland and not Walt Disney World.

A fan asked Hidalgo when Rebels takes places, and he said what we already knew – the Disney XD show will take place between Episode III and IV. The fan then followed up. Will there be Jedi in the show? Star Wars fans know that, between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, there are only two grown Jedi, Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The rest are all dead, or being hunted and eventually killed. Hidalgo pointed to that as a possible answer, then added a however. He said the Jedi always cast a long shadow on the galaxy and maybe that would effect what happens in Rebels. So, though we might not see Yoda or Obi-Wan, they might have some kind of influence.

Later, a fan asked if there would ever be Star Wars Weekend at Disneyland. (Quick backstory: Star Wars Weekends is a Lucasfilm sponsored event that takes place at Walt Disney World in Florida). Hidalgo said he didn't have an answer to that, but was pretty sure the presence of Star Wars in Disneyland would be increased in the future. What exactly does that mean? Who knows. But that Imagineering presentation on the show floor might be a hint.

So look at that. Almost Star Wars news at the D23 Expo.