Question: Which desert was 'Star Wars' filmed in? Answer: Several scenes of the films in the 'Star Wars' franchise have been filmed in desert regions. This includes the Tatooine desert planet shot in Tunisia, North Africa and the desert planet Pasaana shot in Wadi Rum, Jordan.

Yes, parts of the Star Wars sequel trilogy were filmed in Wadi Rum, Jordan.

Wadi Rum’s stunning, otherworldly desert landscape has made it a popular filming location for several Star Wars films, specifically:

• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) - Wadi Rum prominently stood in for the desert planet Pasaana, where the Festival of the Ancestors and the speeder chase sequence were filmed.
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - It was used for scenes set on the planet Jedha, the holy desert moon and a source of kyber crystals.
• The Martian (2015) - While not a Star Wars film, it’s worth noting that Wadi Rum also played the role of Mars in this movie, further cementing its reputation as a “Martian” or alien landscape.

Earlier Star Wars films used different locations: The original trilogy’s desert planet Tatooine was famously filmed in Tunisia. The prequel trilogy also used Tunisian locations for Tatooine scenes.

Why Wadi Rum? Directors and production designers are drawn to Wadi Rum for its vast, dramatic scenery featuring towering sandstone mountains (jebels), wide red sandy valleys, and a sense of ancient, untouched grandeur. It perfectly evokes the feel of an alien world.

So, while the iconic Tatooine is from Tunisia, if you visit Wadi Rum, you are walking on the ground that became Pasaana and Jedha in the Star Wars universe. Many tour operators in Jordan even offer specific “Star Wars filming location” tours.