Epcot's Spaceship Earth to Turn Into Death Star

CBR

By Marykate Jasper

Published Dec 3, 2016

To celebrate "Star Wars," and the release of "Rogue One," Disney World will transform Epcot's iconic sphere into the Death Star during a special event.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Death Star Ph: Film Frame ©Lucasfilm LFL

Spaceship Earth, the iconic sphere that's long been a symbol of Disney World's Epcot theme park, will turn to the Dark Side on Dec. 5 to celebrate the upcoming release of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

The structure will be transformed into the Death Star through digital projections during an invitation-only, after-hours event that filled up shortly after the announcement was made Friday on the Disney Parks blog. Don't worry if you didn't make the list, though. The event will be streamed live on the blog for fans to enjoy around the world.

Some "Star Wars" announcements may also come out of the event, as Disney teased that it will "be sharing updates on current and upcoming 'Star Wars' experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios." "Star Wars"-themed lands are under construction at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. No opening dates have been revealed.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" follows a group of freedom fighters who undertake a dangerous mission to steal the design plans for the Galactic Empire's new planet-destroying superweapon, the Death Star.

Opening Dec. 15 in the United Kingdom and Dec. 16 in the United States, the film stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Jiang Wen, Riz Ahmed and Forest Whitaker.