Disney+’s ‘Lego Star Wars Holiday Special’ to Pay Homage to 1978 Cult Classic

Disney+ is planning to ring in the 2020 holiday season with a brand new Lego special. The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, set to premiere on Disney’s streaming service this November, will bring together Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron for a Life Day celebration, USA Today reports.

Life Day, a Star Wars holiday, was first introduced in 1978’s Star Wars Holiday Special. The upcoming Disney+ event will honor the infamous 70s project with a similar plot, but will use animated versions of the characters made out of Lego pieces. The special, which takes place after The Rise of Skywalker, follows Rey, Finn, Poe, and Rose as they try and help Chewbacca find his way back to Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day with his family.

“We wanted to give a wink and a nod to the original,” executive producer Josh Rimes told USA Today. The new special was inspired by classic holiday films like It’s a Wonderful Life, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Christmas Vacation. 

The Star Wars Holiday Special also features some of the franchise’s actors returning to their original Star Wars roles. Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Emperor Palpatine, Vader and Kylo Ren are all set to appear in the 45-minute special, which Rimes called “a celebration of the saga.” “A lot of characters will be interacting with different characters and perhaps even different versions of themselves at different ages,” he said.

While the 1978 special was a flop that’s since gained cult status, it’s seen a resurgence since last year’s The Mandalorian, which included a nod to Life Day. Now, its legacy continues with the new holiday special. “Life Day was an easy sell with Lego and Star Wars because it gives you the license to be a little more playful and comedic,” Rimes said.

Rimes has big plans for the upcoming series, which he hopes will become “as beloved as something like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” “It’ll bring a little joy to this world in this very, very crazy year we’re having,” he said.

The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special premieres on Disney+ Nov. 17.