Fisher’s return to the screen
Director Rian Johnson shared the stage with his Star Wars: The Last Jedi cast - including Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Mark Hamill - at the D23 Expo fan convention in California on Saturday.
But the real fireworks started with the release of a behind-thescenes sizzle reel which Johnson showed the packed main convention hall, even if there was no new completed footage from the film, which is still in postproduction.
The reel reveals the first stages for some serious Last Jedi action including Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren and Ridley’s Rey using wooden sticks to train for their lightsaber scenes.
There are also interesting moments such the Millennium Falcon parked in the woods next to a camp fire, a purple-haired Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern) and Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) in her stunning metallic silver uniform.
But the most poignant moment was the final shot featuring Carrie Fisher in her Princess Leia attire. Fisher died on December 27 after filming her final role.
‘‘It’s about family, and that’s what’s so powerful about it,’’ Fisher said in the reel about shooting what turned out to be her final Star Wars appearance. The actress then gave a salute to the camera.
Hamill, who received a standing ovation when he stepped on the stage, said it was fitting Fisher was featured in such a manner. ‘‘It’s accurate because she always got the last word in real life,’’ said Hamill. ‘‘And that’s the way it should be.’’
Both Hamill and Fisher were honoured as Disney Legends at a ceremony on Friday.
Onstage, Hamill called the script, written by Johnson, a ‘‘real game-changer’’ for the Star Wars franchise.
While Christie was mum about the reasons for her new uniform, she cracked about what it was like to wear it. Hot.
‘‘What I can say is that it is an exquisitely made suit,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s like bathing in warm milk.’’
Dern said that she has long admired the Star Wars characters so it was a dream to join the cast.
But she added that she couldn’t stop pretending to make gun sounds when she fired her weapon onset with cameras shooting.
‘‘I didn’t remember you don’t have to go ‘pew, pew, pew’ like when you fire when you’re 8 years old,’’ Dern said. ‘‘So get ready for that.’’
The Last Jedi is the eighth film in the Star Wars saga and will be released on December 15.
In other Lucasfilm news, new director Ron Howard and cast from the still-untitled Han Solo movie did not attend the D23 Expo.
The event was the first public meeting since directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were released from the film last month.
Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn said from the stage that he’s ‘‘looking forward to sharing more details’’ soon.