Star Wars Celebration got underway in Orlando today, kicking things off in style with a special 40th-anniversary panel that paid homage to one of the biggest franchise’s Hollywood has ever produced. Thousands of fans camped out all night for a chance to be in the same room as their Star Wars heroes, and it proved to be time well spent when a ‘who’s who’ of the Star Wars universe took to the stage to share their stories. Mark Hamill, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams, and Hayden Christensen, were just some of the famous names on show, and there were even surprise appearances from Harrison Ford and John Williams to ensure every corner of Star Wars lore was covered. Heck, even George Lucas made a return.
But, no Star Wars reunion would be complete without the fiery Princess who inspired generations of fans since first appeared back in 1977. Carrie Fisher’s death last year was always going to leave a painful hole in proceedings at an event like Celebration, but the host of Star Wars legends ensured her legacy would be recognized with a touching tribute that left the many fans in the room, myself included, struggling to keep their eyes dry.
The presentation was concluded with a live performance of ‘Princess Leia’s Theme’ by John Williams, followed by tribute artwork being handed out to all those in attendance. The tributes will continue throughout the weekend with Mark Hamill hosting a special event in Fisher’s honor on Friday.
Stay tuned for more news from Star Wars Celebration over the course of the weekend.
