Fans flock to premiere of finale

STUNNING Daisy Ridley lit up the galaxy this week at the world premiere of the eagerly awaited Star Wars sequel The Rise of Skywalker. The actress, wearing a red dress split to the thigh, was the centre of attention in Hollywood. She was joined by co-stars John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Scots star Ian McDiarmid at the Chinese theatre in LA, and delighted in meeting fans. The ninth movie in the saga sees the 27-year-old Londoner’s character Rey take on the dark side for the final battle of the adventure, which was launched by George Lucas in 1977. Directed by JJ Abrams, who launched the sequel trilogy in 2015 with The Force Awakens, the new film will see Rey lead the heroic band of Resistance fighters against the evil First Order, led by Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren. Carnoustieborn McDiarmid has been in the spotlight

BY BRIAN McIVER since his return to the saga as baddie Emperor Palpatine was teased in the first trailer earlier this year and he was in demand with fans.

He is joined by returning stars Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, Billy Dee Williams (Lando) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), while the late Carrie Fisher appears as Princess Leia courtesy of previously captured footage edited into the new film.

While the official verdict on the movie isn’t due until tonight, ahead of its release in cinemas tomorrow, celeb fans have been spilling the beans.

Acclaimed director Ava DuVernay wrote on Twitter: “The perfect end to an epic saga. The story is truly emotional. The performances are so damn good. Especially Daisy.” Clerks director and Star Wars super-fan Kevin Smith called it “a satisfying and gratifying finale”.