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 Walt Disney Co <DIS.N> closed off an entire city block in the
center of Hollywood to host the celebrity-studded debut
screening of the highly-anticipated film, which opens for the
general public in theaters around the world on Thursday.
Staff waving glowing light sabers guided premiere
attendees,among them "Star Wars" royalty Daisy Ridley and Mark
Hamill, toa ceremonial blue carpet under a large tent, outfitted
to resemble a spaceship hangar beneath a star-lit sky. Replicas
of three X-wing Starfighters dangled overhead.
Actor Harrison Ford, whose Hans Solo character died in the2015
installment "The Force Awakens," joined the celebration, as did
Adam Driver who plays Solo's progeny turned knight of the Dark
Side, Kylo Ren. Other A-listers invited as guests included
directors Steven Spielberg and Spike Lee, and actress Frances
McDormand.
"Well, this is terrifying," director J.J. Abrams said as he
introduced the movie inside the packed Dolby Theatre.
"Nothing brings people together quite like Star Wars."
"Rise of Skywalker" caps a blockbuster film series thatranks as
the second highest-grossing movie franchise of alltime, with
more than $9.2 billion in ticket sales.
It concludes a story that began 42 years ago in 1977, when
filmmaker George Lucas introduced a young hero named
LukeSkywalker (Hamill) and delighted audiences with a galaxy of
metallic robots called droids, a race of tall, furry warriors
known as Wookiees and a host of other eclectic characters.
BOUNTY HUNTER
At Monday's premiere, superfans dressed as favorites from the
heroine scavenger Rey to bounty hunter Boba Fett and villain
Darth Vader. Hamill received a standing ovation when he was
introduced, as did composer John Williams.
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Initial reactions were largely positive. Throughout the film, the
audience applauded, gasped and cheered at major plot twists.
“Yeah, J.J.!,” one person yelled after a surprising moment.
Fan Katie Wilson said the movie "completely blew my mind".
"They did such a good job being able to mix this new 'Star Wars'
world that they created," she said. "With the nostalgia that the
fans that grew up with Star Wars for years and years love."
Princess Leia returned in the movie - despite the 2016death of
Carrie Fisher, the actress who played her - by way of unused footage
from "The Force Awakens".
While the latest film brings the Skywalker family's saga to an end,
Disney plans future "Star Wars" movies with new characters starting
in December 2022, though the company has not released details.
"We’re going to make sure we take our time until we know that it's
right," Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by
Rollo Ross; Editing by Steve Gorman, Richard Chang and Ed Osmond)
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