Disney Parks and Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro has given SXSW attendees their best look yet at the "real" Star Wars lightsaber. At D23 in November 2021, Disney unveiled a "real" lightsaber – or, at least, the most real lightsaber yet. Pressing the trigger activates a motor that extends a tube, which lights up as it rises; it's a spectacular effect, and Disney has since made it a core part of the Galactic Starcruiser themed hotel. It's not perfect – the lightsabers appear quite fragile, meaning the actors who use them have to be very careful. But it's as close to perfection as it is currently possible to get.
Speaking at a presentation at SXSW, Disney Parks and Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro gave attendees a close look at the "real" lightsaber. The lightsaber is the most iconic Star Wars symbol, and it's truly exciting to get a proper look at this new design.
D’Amaro then invited Leslie Evans, head of R&D for Disney Imagineering, on-stage. "This was a hard project," she noted. "This was not easy."
