🎬 Bionic Buzz® covered D23 Expo 2026, the ultimate Disney fan event celebrating the latest from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more! Inside the Lucasfilm Pavilion, we visited the Star Wars™: The Experience booth and interviewed:

⭐ Abby Bysshe — Chief Experience and Strategy Officer at The Franklin Institute
⭐ Dan Picard — Creative Officer and Owner of MDSX

They discussed the making of Star Wars: The Experience, an immersive exhibition coming to The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in February 2027.

About The Franklin Institute

Founded in 1824 by Samuel Vaughan Merrick and William H. Keating, The Franklin Institute was established to honor the legacy of Benjamin Franklin and to promote the “mechanic arts” through education and research. Originally located in Old City, the institution moved to its current Neoclassical home on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 1934, specifically designed to be a “Wonderland of Science” where visitors could interact directly with exhibits. As one of the oldest science centers in the United States, it has played a pivotal role in the professionalization of American science, hosting landmark events such as the first public demonstration of an all-electronic television system in 1934.

Today, the museum serves as a premier destination for STEM learning, housing more than 400,000 square feet of exhibit space and the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. Its mission to inspire a passion for learning is realized through a combination of permanent galleries, such as the high-tech Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion, and world-class traveling exhibitions that cover everything from archaeology to the physics of modern entertainment.

About The Star Wars Experience

The all-new exhibition traces the legacy of Star Wars from its handcrafted beginnings to today’s groundbreaking digital frontiers, exploring everything from sound design and creature creation to fan art and collectibles. It charts the evolution from analog ingenuity to digital reinvention and highlights the voices of early makers and the current global fandom, uncovering the creativity, craftsmanship, and community that make Star Wars a timeless treasure.

Step Inside the Star Wars Galaxy: Spanning 18,000 square feet of visually rich, interconnected galleries with immersive interactive elements, the exhibition reveals how the galaxy was imagined, built, expanded, and shared with the world through iconic moments, characters, and settings from across the saga.

See a Rare Collection of Iconic Artifacts: Explore extraordinary artifacts, many of them screen-used and on public display for the first time from Lucasfilm, including legendary pieces such as Darth Maul’s lightsaber and Darth Vader’s costume. Get up close to a selection of fan-favorite creatures, droids, and other alien species, including Grogu, R2-D2, and C-3PO, along with a speeder bike and original props from Andor.

Carbonite Freeze Capture

In this dramatic, photo-ready moment, guests encounter a full-scale Han Solo in carbonite prop surrounded by two interactive stations. Here, guests can experience their own “carbonite freeze” sequence— an unforgettable fusion of storytelling and technology that allows fans to “step” directly into one of cinema’s most iconic scenes.

Queen Amidala’s Throne Room

Guests walk through a room of suspended fabric and projection, surrounded by voices and imagery of Star Wars makers. Along the way, they encounter key costumes and design stories that culminate at Queen Amidala’s throne and regal gown.

Wireframe Worlds

Anchored by a wireframe TIE fighter, this gallery immerses guests in the blueprint stage of Star Wars design. Edge-lit acrylic panels and displayed artifacts showcase early vehicle sketches and design notes that evolved into cinematic icons, while surrounding graphics display diagrams of the many ships that have brought the different sagas to life.

Learn more: https://fi.edu/en/exhibits-and-experiences/star-wars-experience

🎥 Interview and video by Steve Sievers of Bionic Buzz®.