Where was Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker filmed? Explore the real locations behind Pasaana, Ajan Kloss, and Kef Bir in this Episode IX filming guide.
If you watched Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and thought, “Wow, that planet looks like somewhere I could visit… with fewer Sith lightning storms,” you’re not alone.
From epic deserts worthy of Rey’s sand-boot collection to forests that probably hid Ewoks on vacation, the Episode IX filming locations mix real Earth beauty with galaxy-far-away magic.
Table of Contents
🚀 Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Filming Locations
Grab your blue milk latte, cue up The Rise of Skywalker trailer, and let’s hyperspace into the real-world locations behind Star Wars: Episode IX filming locations.
🏜️ Wadi Rum, Jordan – The Real Pasaana
Wadi Rum in Jordan isn’t just Pasaana – it’s basically the galaxy’s busiest desert, also showing up in Dune, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and The Martian.
When Hollywood needs an alien planet, it keeps coming back to the same stunning dunes – because nothing says “galaxy far, far away” like a desert with rocks older than the Jedi Order.
The filmmakers wanted huge natural landscapes that could look believable on camera without endless CGI. Wadi Rum’s towering sandstone cliffs, wide valleys, and dramatic lighting gave them exactly that.
It also meant the cast got real sand in their boots… which probably answered the age-old Star Wars question: yes, sand is coarse, rough, irritating, and it gets everywhere.
What was filmed here:
- Festival of the Ancestors celebration on Pasaana
- Speeder chase with the First Order
- Aki-Aki village marketplace scenes
- Wide establishing shots of Pasaana
Fan trivia:
- Filming lasted several weeks in intense heat (Daisy Ridley reportedly handled it better than most stormtroopers).
- The crew built practical sets right in the desert – market stalls, decorations, and props – so actors weren’t pretending to shop for alien fruit in front of a green wall.
- Local Bedouins served as extras and guided crews through the terrain.
- Wadi Rum Star Wars tours will take you where Rey and other characters stood, just with fewer TIE fighters and more sunscreen.
🌳 Black Park Country Park, England – The Real Ajan Kloss
For the lush jungle world of Ajan Kloss, the production stayed closer to home, filming at Black Park Country Park, a woodland area in Wexham, Buckinghamshire, that Hollywood has quietly used for decades.
Black Park delivered tall pines, open clearings, and enough mud to remind everyone that space rebellions are a messy business. Fun fact: These trees have already hosted dinosaurs, wizards, superheroes, and Cassian’s crew from Andor.
Because Carrie Fisher had passed away before filming, her scenes were carefully recreated using unused footage from earlier movies, which meant the crew had to match lighting, camera angles, and scenery perfectly.
What was filmed here:
- Resistance base exterior scenes
- Leia training Rey moments
- Planning meetings with the heroes
- Character conversations in the jungle
Fan trivia:
- Black Park has appeared in Star Wars: Andor, Harry Potter, James Bond, and Marvel films.
- The stormtroopers reportedly had trouble walking in mud – finally, nature defeats the Empire.
- The forest is open to visitors with walking trails.
🌄 Ivinghoe Beacon, England – The Real Kef Bir
The dramatic planet Kef Bir, where Rey faces Kylo Ren among Death Star wreckage, started as peaceful English countryside at Ivinghoe Beacon in the Chiltern Hills.
The crew filmed landscape shots here because the rolling hills and wide horizons gave them a natural, windswept look. Later, visual-effects teams added crashing oceans and pieces of the destroyed Death Star.
So yes, England supplied the hill, and CGI supplied the terrifying galactic history lesson. If you stand on the hill, look dramatic, and whisper, “The Force is with me.” Nobody will judge. Probably.
What was filmed here:
- Landscape plates for Kef Bir
- Rey vs. Kylo Ren duel setup shots
- Establishing shots before CGI additions
Fan trivia:
- The real site has no Death Star wreckage – sorry.
- It’s a popular hiking spot with amazing views.
- Locals reportedly watched stormtroopers walk past sheep. Britain wins again.
🛠️ Cardington Airship Hangars, England – Massive Set Builds
The enormous historic hangars at Cardington Airship Hangars were once used to house real airships. These gigantic spaces allowed the construction of sets too large for standard soundstages.
Actors often said they felt tiny inside, which is perfect when your character is facing a fleet of planet-killing ships. The hangar’s size also helped with practical effects, lighting setups, and large stunt scenes.
Basically, if a scene needed space big enough for Palpatine’s ego, it probably ended up here.
What was filmed here:
- Large interior Star Destroyer sets
- Big-scale battle environment builds
- Complex practical-effects scenes
Fan trivia:
- The hangars date back to World War I airship production.
- Their echo is legendary – every line sounds dramatic.
- Sadly, they are not open for regular tours.
🎬 Pinewood Studios, England – The Galaxy’s Workshop
While deserts and forests look great, most of the movie was actually created inside Pinewood Studios, where enormous sets brought entire planets to life. It hosted interiors for Exegol, Kijimi, Star Destroyers, the Millennium Falcon, and Resistance command centers.
Massive practical builds let actors interact with real environments instead of imagining everything in front of green screens -which is helpful when your scene involves Sith cultists and lightning storms.
This studio has been home to Bond films, Marvel movies, Agatha Christie films, and several Star Wars movies, so its soundstages hold an immense amount of pop-culture history.
What was filmed here:
- Sith throne room on Exegol
- Millennium Falcon interiors
- Resistance command center
- Kijimi city street sets
Fan trivia:
- Some creatures were puppets rather than CGI.
- Huge practical sets were built at full scale.
- Pinewood tours are rare – but nearby locations (like Black Park) are easy to visit.
So yes, the galaxy far, far away was built in Buckinghamshire… probably next door to a tea break.
❓ The Rise of Skywalker FAQ
⭐ Does Chewbacca die in The Rise of Skywalker?
Nope! Chewie survives to hug Rey and melt hearts.
⭐ How did Palpatine return?
The film reveals that Emperor Palpatine survived through Sith cloning and dark-side experimentation on Exegol. His body was decaying, supported by machines and cultists – basically the galaxy’s creepiest life-support system.
⭐ Who are the Sith Eternal?
They’re a secret cult that worships Palpatine and the Sith legacy. Hidden on Exegol for generations, they built fleets, cloned bodies, and probably chanted a lot in very spooky lighting.
⭐ Why is Rey called “Rey Skywalker”?
After defeating Palpatine, Rey chooses the Skywalker name to honor Luke and Leia. It’s about identity being chosen, not inherited – classic Jedi philosophy with extra emotional damage.
⭐ What is a Force dyad?
A Force dyad is a rare bond between two beings – Rey and Kylo Ren – who share immense power across space. Think cosmic Wi-Fi with feelings.
⭐ Why did Ben Solo turn back to the light?
A memory of Han Solo and Leia’s sacrifice pushes Ben to reject the dark side. Redemption has always been a major Star Wars theme, going back to Darth Vader.
⭐ What was the Final Order fleet?
Thousands of hidden Star Destroyers were built on Exegol, each with planet-destroying cannons. Basically, Palpatine’s “backup plan folder,” except galaxy-ending.
⭐ Why was Luke’s X-wing underwater?
Luke Skywalker sank it on Ahch-To after his exile. Rey later raises it with the Force, mirroring Luke lifting Yoda’s X-wing in The Empire Strikes Back.
⭐ Why does Leia disappear when Ben dies?
Leia used her remaining Force energy to reach Ben, guiding him back. When he dies saving Rey, their Force connection resolves together.
⭐ What are the voices Rey hears at the end?
She hears Jedi spirits like Obi-Wan, Yoda, Anakin, and others encouraging her. It’s the Jedi Order backing her up like the ultimate Force group chat.
⭐ Was Exegol always planned in canon?
Not exactly. Exegol expands on Sith lore introduced in the Star Wars books and comics, tying into ideas about ancient Sith worlds and hidden cults.
🎬 Where to Watch The Rise of Skywalker
Want to revisit the final chapter of the Skywalker saga? Here are the easiest ways to watch it today.
- Disney+: Stream with a subscription.
- Amazon Prime Video: Rent or purchase in HD or 4K.
- Physical copy: Buy Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and DVD versions with bonus features, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with the cast.
- Buy Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga 9-Movie Collection + Bonus: Perfect for a Star Wars movie marathon.
- Other options: Apple TV & YouTube Movies.
✨ Tip: Watch after Star Wars: The Force Awakens & Star Wars: The Last Jedi for the best story flow.
Disclaimer: This is a fan-created article made for commentary and informational purposes only. Star Wars, its characters, names, images, and related trademarks are the property of Lucasfilm Ltd. and The Walt Disney Company, and no copyright infringement is intended.
- Where Was The Rise of Skywalker Filmed? - February 19, 2026
- Where Was The Last Jedi Filmed? Explore Every Epic Spot - February 18, 2026
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens Filming Locations Guide - February 17, 2026
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