‘Star Wars’ Fans Slam Disney’s Decision to Officially Change Princess Leia
Disneyland is making another adjustment inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and it has reopened a familiar debate among fans.
When Galaxy’s Edge first debuted, Disney tied the land tightly to the sequel trilogy. Characters, story beats, and even background details aligned with a section of the timeline that hasn’t exactly sparked fandom-wide praise.
That all changed this week when Disney confirmed plans for Disneyland Park to shift Galaxy’s Edge away from its sequel-era focus in April. Characters and story elements from the original films will be folded into the land, broadening its appeal and softening its once-rigid timeline.
A Strategic Shift Inside Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Under the updated approach, guests visiting Galaxy’s Edge in Anaheim will now encounter characters such as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo, and Leia Organa as part of regular daily interactions. The move effectively acknowledges that Star Wars means different things to different generations.
The response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. But enthusiasm has dimmed for some fans thanks to one detail.
Disney and Lucasfilm have revealed what Leia Organa will look like when she appears in the land.
Instead of her iconic white gown from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), she will wear a battle-ready white outfit with a crown braid hairstyle.
The design closely resembles Leia’s appearance in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (198) and, more specifically, her “Adventure” look from Star Wars Battlefront II.
NEWS:
Lucasfilm have revealed Leia will wear her Star Wars Battlefront II “Adventure” appearance in Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland from April 29th.
“It’s the look that she had in Star Wars Battlefront II with a crown braid. This is the first time we get to see it physically.”
NEWS:
Lucasfilm have revealed Leia will wear her Star Wars Battlefront II "Adventure" appearance in Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland from April 29th.
“It's the look that she had in Star Wars Battlefront II with a crown braid. This is the first time we get to see it physically.” pic.twitter.com/SsKdixaMPT
— Daily Star Wars Games (@Daily_SWGames) January 14, 2026
“This is Leia’s adventure look,” Lucasfilm senior creative executive Matt Martin explained (via StarWars.com). “It’s inspired by some comic book appearances from this era, as well as the look that she had in Star Wars Battlefront II, the video game. But this is really the first time we get to see it physically created on a person.”
Fans Blast Disney’s Choice For Leia Organa
Not everyone is convinced that this is the right move.
While dedicated fans recognized the costume instantly, critics argued that Disney missed an obvious opportunity. For casual parkgoers, Leia’s most famous image remains her flowing white dress and distinctive double-bun hairstyle.
“Your average park attendee will not know that’s Princess Leia,” one critic wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Good news to the 7 people who played this campaign,” another said. “Just give her the normal dress god damn.”
Others echoed the sentiment more bluntly. “Why can’t they just do the thing? Just dress them up in the most recognizable way lol.”
The criticism taps into a broader issue that has followed Disney’s Star Wars park strategy for years. Galaxy’s Edge often prioritizes deep-cut authenticity over immediate visual recognition, sometimes at the expense of accessibility.
That tension has surfaced before. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser leaned heavily into immersive role-play and lore-driven storytelling, relying on devoted fans willing to commit fully. The hotel closed permanently in September 2023.
Galaxy’s Edge itself faced early backlash for centering on Batuu, a brand-new planet, rather than iconic locations like Tatooine or Endor. The environment was richly imagined, but unfamiliar.
In that context, Leia’s costume feels less like an isolated choice and more like a pattern.
There are also practical considerations. Carrie Fisher famously disliked wearing Leia’s original white dress during filming. “I wore that damn white thing for the whole first movie,” she once recalled, noting George Lucas’ insistence that there was “no underwear” in space.
Functionality matters, too. In Galaxy’s Edge, Leia will roam near the Millennium Falcon, actively interacting with guests and “recruiting travelers and locals to help keep Luke safe.” A long, shapeless gown may not suit California heat or constant movement.
There’s also character evolution. Leia begins Star Wars as a princess aligned with the Rebel Alliance. By the time of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), she has become a general. This look sits deliberately between those identities.
Still, for many fans, symbolism outweighs nuance.
Disney’s recalibration of Galaxy’s Edge marks a significant philosophical shift. The company is loosening its grip on strict timelines in favor of broader recognition. Whether Leia’s costume choice undermines that goal remains an open question.
