Star Wars to mark 50 years with new exhibit debuting in Philly

The big picture: Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the original "Star Wars" film, released in 1977, and the franchise is celebrating by touring its behind-the-scenes exhibit across North America.

• It'll debut at the Franklin Institute on Feb. 13.
• "Philadelphia is the only place on Earth to see it first," the museum says.

State of play: The exhibit will include 70 props from the Lucasfilm archives, including Darth Maul's double-bladed lightsaber and Darth Vader's costume, per a news release.

• It'll be like dropping into one of George Lucas' futuristic sets: Expect to see droids and some of the franchise's most beloved characters, including R2-D2, C-3PO and Grogu.
• Plus: A speeder bike and original props from the television series "Andor."

What they're saying: The exhibit was four years in the making, a creative collab of the Institute, Lucasfilm, Disney Consumer Products and design firm MDSX that required "an extraordinary amount of dedication and expertise," museum chief experience and strategy officer Abby Bysshe said in a statement.

What we're watching: More exhibit details and renderings will be unveiled during a July 24 "The Making of Star Wars: The Experience" panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

What's ahead: Tickets go on sale in November. The exhibit runs in Philly through Sept. 6, 2027, before heading to its next destination.