A galaxy far, far away came to Hollywood for the 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' premiere
LOS ANGELES — Hollywood has a funny way of turning into something else entirely at a moment's notice.
On Monday night, for example, several blocks of Hollywood Boulevard transformed into a galaxy far, far away, with blue carpet lining the streets and walkways and a light-up archway that looked straight out of a First Order ship — down to the red and white stormtroopers roaming the halls.
But the mood on the ground wasn't one of abject terror, as it might be if these had been real stormtroopers charging past.
Instead, it was one of anticipation and excitement, as celebrities, super-fans, and ordinary citizens alike wondered just what the world premiere Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker would have in store.
Obviously the whole cast turned out: new faces and old-timers, heroes and villains, droids, and aliens, plus some of the people who helped them come to life, including director J.J. Abrams, composer John Williams, and producer Kathleen Kennedy.
And, unsurprisingly, so did some of the characters from other corners of the Star Wars universe, including Mandalorian himself, Pedro Pascal. (Baby Yoda, we're assuming, was left behind to nap in the Razor Crest.)
But so, too, did countless Star Wars fans, famous and not, just there to have a good time.
Eventually, as everyone settled into their seats, the filmmakers and cast took the stage for some final remarks.
Producer Kathleen Kennedy described the evening as a "bittersweet goodbye to Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker, whose characters live on in The Rise of Skywalker," drawing applause from the crowd.
On a lighter note, Abrams looked out at the crowd and shared his feelings about the event. "Well, this is... terrifying," he declared, to appreciative laughs.
One very long list of thank-yous later, the screening finally got underway. You could practically feel the electric charge running through the audience at the fanfare. And while we wouldn't dare spoil anything for you about the rest of the movie, suffice it to say there were gasps, laughs, and cheers aplenty.
Once the show was up and we'd collected our phones, the crowd was ushered back onto Hollywood Boulevard for the afterparty — essentially one long corridor lined with costumes and photos from the film.
Technically, the evening marked the end of an era: Rise of Skywalker is intended to be the final chapter of the "Skywalker saga," at least until the inevitable revival.
But far from mourning the end, partygoers seemed in high spirits as they mingled, snapping photos, downing beers, and trading notes about the movie we'd just seen. Star Wars was always going to go out with a bang — and the festive Rise of Skywalker premiere certainly fit that bill.
Topics Star Wars
