In a conversation on X (formerly Twitter), former Imagineers Frank Mezzatesta and Jim Shull confirmed that Elee, a canceled Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge creature, could still be added to the land.

Could Elee Still Wander Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?

Many pieces of Elee concept art have popped up over the years. She would have been a giant mechanical creature that could carry as many as six guests around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Elee was designed to be a relative of the Bantha, a Tatooine creature that has been featured in “Star Wars” since “A New Hope.” Mezzatesta previously confirmed she was scrapped due to budget and Jerry Rees expressed hope she could still be incorporated into the land.

In response to a post about Elee by Parkeology on February 18, Mezzatesta wrote, “Yes we worked on this for over a year and was pretty far along but it got cut as a cost saving move. It would have been awesome.”

Shull replied and confirmed the infrastructure is still in place to bring Elee to life.

Introducing the giant creature’s to Galaxy’s Edge is possible. The land is built to accommodate the ride vehicle beasts, the station location is set and the technology is understood. A relatively cheap way to plus the existing land.

Jim Shull

Mezzatesta agreed in a reply.

Good point. Could always be introduced in the future. If it is, I will be first in line.

Frank Mezzatesta

Elee sketches appear in “The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge,” a coffee-table book by Nerdist managing editor Amy Ratcliffe, who spoke to several people involved in the creation of the land.

Walt Disney Imagineering Managing Story Editor and Story Lead for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge said of Elee, “We liked the idea of a big beast lumbering through the land and having a very personal connection with you. So you would go up and pat her muzzle, and she would react to you. We really wanted to make you believe that Elee was a real creature. So you would go on rides. We actually had a path that went around the land. Mostly to the Resistance area and back in front of the garage; it was a circle.”

Imagineer Scott Trowbridge said, “Elee was a creature that we designed and did a fair amount of work to figure out how we would bring her to life. lain McCaig did some designs for her. We just fell in love with those designs. We did some models and figured out how we could bring her to life technically, and then ultimately what we realized is, with the kind of population we expect in the land, we won’t really be able to have her feel authentic.”

A plush of Elee was actually released last year.

Do you hope Elee is added to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Let us know in the comments.

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