Midnight showing of New Star Wars
ANGLESEY will be among the first places in the world to witness the new Star Wars movie, released next month.
On the evening of Wednesday, December 14, Holyhead’s Empire Cinema will stay open well into the early hours for a midnight screening of the new Rogue One film.
This follows the success of a similar event last year for the release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, which saw the 130-seat cinema packed out despite the unsociable timing.
According to the Empire’s manager, Robert Henderson, its hoped the force will return this time around.
“There’s a lot of excitement following the success of our midnight screening last year,” he said.
“Star Wars fans tend to be very loyal, and we’ve almost sold out with over a month to go.”
Set in between the years of “Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith” and “Star Wars IV: A New Hope,” Rogue One is a prequel to the original Star Wars film, in which a group of Rebel spies tries to steal the plans to the Death Star.
Featuring Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, and Ben Mendelsohn, the film is said to be a darker, gritter and war-obsessed version of the traditionally fun-loving Star Wars film franchise.
Holyhead’s Empire, which was reopened in November 2013 after a £460,000 face-lift, is currently run by the town council under a 25 year lease.
But due to its success, it could soon see the addition of a second screen.
During last Monday’s meeting of Holyhead Town Council, members heard that a joint £500,000 application for National Lottery funding to build a second screen at the cinema and to develop facilities at the public park on South Stack Road, had passed a major hurdle.
Town Clerk, Cliff Everett, confirmed that the application will now proceed to the second phase to be submitted in the new year.
If the bid for extra cash is successful, a flat on the eastern side of the cinema would be purchased to create an extension for a second screen, capable of sitting around 25 people.
The public will be given the chance to have their say on what they’d like to see at both the cinema and Holyhead Park, during a drop-in day later this month. The event will be held at Hol- yhead Town Hall on Friday November 25 between 10am and 8pm.
Meanwhile, tickets for the midnight screening of Star Wars: Rogue One can be booked online at holyheadcinema.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01407 762414.