‘Star Wars’ universe set to invade Legoland California

A new ““Star Wars” href=”https://www.starwars.com/”>Star Wars” themed area at California rides and attractions” href=”https://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-top-10-legoland-california-20101105,0,2439627.story”>Legoland California with 2,000 Lego models will take visitors chronologically through scenes from the epic film saga.

Photo gallery: View “Star Wars” Lego models at Legoland California

Scheduled to make its debut March 31, the new “Star Wars” area will be part of the Carlsbad kiddie park’s Miniland, park officials said Thursday. It will feature animated scenes from the six movies in the series and the “Clone Wars” television cartoon -- complete with special effects and sound effects.

Eight model makers and two animators based at Legoland Germany have been working for a year with Lucasfilm to create 1:20 scale versions of iconic “Star Wars” characters, spacecraft and landscapes using 1.5 million Lego bricks.

In addition to posing for photos with life-size Lego models of Chewbacca, R2-D2 and Darth Vader, visitors will be able to wander through seven Lego-fied “Star Wars” scenes, including:

Episode I: Naboo
Battle scenes at the royal palace and a flight hangar feature a duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul.

Episode II: Geonosis
Obi-Wan, Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker battle creatures in the Geonosis arena while nearby a battle unfolds between a droid army and Republic fighters.

Episode III: Kashyyyk and Mustafar
A battle rages on the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk while Obi-Wan and Anakin engage in a fateful duel on the volcanic planet of Mustafar.

Episode IV: Tatooine
Obi-Wan, C-3PO and R2-D2 appear at Luke Skywalker’s childhood home in addition to scenes featuring the Mos Eisley Cantina band and Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon.

Episode V: Hoth
Imperial AT-ATs as well as Rebel snow speeders and X-wing fighters can be found on the icy planet of Hoth along with Luke, Han, Darth Vader and Princess Leia.

Episode VI: Endor
The Rebel Alliance defeats the evil Empire on the Ewok’s forest moon of Endor.

Clone Wars: Christophis
In a scene that chronologically takes place between Episodes II and III, Jedi Knights Anakin and Obi-Wan appear amid an 8-foot-tall Crystal City building.

It promises to be a busy year for Legoland California, with four other new attractions planned for 2011:

* In February, the Imagination Zone will add heroes and villains to the Lego brick building area.

* In April, the kiddie park will add police cars and “robbers” to the fire fighting-themed Fun Town Fire Academy, relaunching the interactive ride as the Police and Fire Academy.

* And then in May, Legoland will add both the Splash Zoo toddler play area to the separate-admission Lego Water Park and the Octopus Garden exhibit to the separate-admission Sea Life Aquarium.

Similar “Star Wars” areas are expected to open at Legoland Denmark and Legoland Germany later in the year.