‘The Force Awakens’ fans and shatters SA record
AFTER a decade-long wait, Star Wars fans have finally had an opportunity to again read the words “a long time ago in a galaxy far away” – the iconic opening title sequence of the franchise.
Fans gathered in their droves, dressed in their respective Sith and Jedi garments on the second day of the seventh episode’s run.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens broke the record for the biggest opening on Wednesday in South African box office history, replacing the 2013 release of Iron Man 3.
Walt Disney Company Africa said the film grossed more than R4.7 million on Wednesday on its first day of release with over 70 000 fans “flocking to cinemas”.
Devoted Star Wars fan and president of the Star Wars fan club in Cape Town, Paul Wener, said he had “goosebumps everywhere” because he was so excited.
He was getting ready to watch the movie last night in full Darth Maul costume and make-up. “Darth Maul is just so relatable to me. He was called in Episode One and he just looks the coolest. There are so many Star Wars characters that any fan would find one that relates to them. Darth Maul is both cute and a bad guy. He is a bad a** teddy bear.”
The 42-year-old from Cape Town’s CBD was dressed in a black hooded cloak with his face painted red and black. To complete his costume, Wener used red contact lenses for the “Dark Lord” effect.
He said while his favourite character was a Sith lord, his heart was “pure Jedi. The Sith are in love with themselves and they lust for power. I am a Jedi in Sith disguise,” he said.
Christine Service, country manager of the Walt Disney Company Africa said they were “thrilled” with the reception South African fans gave the film. “As the next instalment in the Star Wars saga, the release of this film means that every generation will have their own Star Wars experience.”