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Star Wars followers around the globe will be clamouring to see Anakin Skywalker turn to the Dark Side in Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith when the latest instalment of the history-making franchise officially premieres on May 19.
But die-hard fans, some of whom paid upwards of $2,500 for tickets, lined up for special coast-to-coast US charity showings of the flick on Thursday, getting a sneak peek of the film and catching a glimpse of stars from the six-film saga mingling with its iconic characters.
In New York, the world's most famous wookie, Chewbacca, was flanked by "Jedi Masters" Samuel L Jackson and Liam Neeson. Meanwhile, Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, was in Los Angeles rubbing elbows with pal R2D2 as well as actor Jimmy Smits, AKA Senator Bail Organa, and Billy Dee Williams, who brought Lando Calrissian to life.
The nation's capital, Washington DC, hosted Princess Leia – actress Carrie Fisher – while Jake Lloyd, who was Anakin Skywalker in Episode I, joined director George Lucas in San Francisco.
George says he's set to concentrate on experimental films now that the six Star Wars movies – the first was released in 1977 – are in the can. "I'm relieved and I'm glad that I get to go on and do other things. It's been 30 years of my life, so it's a lot of time," he said.
In the meantime, the famed filmmaker has tried his hand at acting, appearing as himself in the popular teen TV drama The OC in an episode which will air in the UK later this summer. |
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