‘Star Wars’ mania at fever pitch – It’s a very odd role: Ridley

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Actress Daisy Ridley takes part in a television interview during a promotional event for the forthcoming Star Wars film in Tokyo on Dec 10. ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ premieres in Japan on Dec 18.  (AFP)
Actress Daisy Ridley takes part in a television interview during a promotional event for the forthcoming Star Wars film in Tokyo on Dec 10. ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ premieres in Japan on Dec 18. (AFP)

LOS ANGELES, Dec 12, (Agencies): A long time ago, in movie theaters around the world, a pop culture phenomenon was born. Nearly 40 years after “Star Wars” first hit screens, excitement for next week’s release of the latest installment in the blockbuster space saga is reaching fever pitch.

Fans of Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker are counting the days, hours and minutes until they can see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the continuation of the epic created by George Lucas.

Stars will hit the red carpet for the film’s world premiere in Los Angeles on Monday. The global roll-out will begin on Wednesday in France, Belgium and more than a dozen other countries before it officially hits US theaters Friday.

“Star Wars” has attracted generations of loyal fans ever since the first film arrived in 1977, introducing the world to The Force, Jedi knights, Darth Vader, Wookiees and two clever droids, R2-D2 and C3PO.

The intergalactic tale of good versus evil, friendship, loyalty and love created a defining moment in the history of popular culture and launched one of the biggest movie franchises ever.

The hype around the movie is such that 70 US super-fans are paying up to $5,000 to fly to Paris so they can see the film on Wednesday — two days before most Americans will have a chance to do so.

Returning

Some are making the 18,000-km (11,200-mile) round trip from Los Angeles in one day, taking a bus from Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris to a nearby cinema to see the movie, before returning to the US the same evening.

“It’s so awesome to see all ages interacting with it in that enthusiastic way,” Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, who joins the franchise using motion-capture technology to play pirate Maz Kanata, told AFP.

Anticipation for “The Force Awakens” — the first film in the franchise in 10 years — has been steadily building for months, with Disney unleashing a well-orchestrated advertising campaign of trailers and interviews with cast members that left fans wanting more.

The film features the beloved characters of the first trilogy of “Star Wars” films made between 1977 and 1983, with original cast members Harrison Ford (Solo), Carrie Fisher (Leia) and Mark Hamill (Skywalker) back for more, as well as some fresh faces.

There is also no escaping The Force in grocery stores, cosmetic shops, restaurants, ice cream stands — and just about anywhere else.

Experts predict that products tied to the film could bring in up to $5 billion in revenue for Walt Disney Company, which paid $4 billion for Lucasfilm in 2012.

“We have all been holding our breath ever since we heard the movie was going to production,” said Lawrence Green, a Los Angeles government attorney and avid fan who is a member of the 501st Legion, a “Star Wars” costuming club where he dresses as Skywalker.

“Finally, we will be able to exhale,” the 40-something said.

Green said he has purchased five sets of advance tickets for “The Force Awakens” as well as seats for the “Star Wars” marathon that begins at 1:00 am on Dec 17 and ends nearly 18 hrs later — after all six previous films — with a preview showing of the new film.

He will be accompanied for the back-to-back screenings by his mother and his wife, also avid fans.

Those without advance tickets for opening night in the United States may be out of luck, with many theaters already sold out.

“The Force Awakens” has notched up $50 million in domestic pre-sales, according to US media, breaking the record set by “The Hunger Games” in 2012.

Also:

LOS ANGELES: When the much-anticipated “Star Wars” film opens next week, little-known British actress Daisy Ridley will undoubtedly become one of the most recognised faces in the world.

The 23-year-old plays scavenger Rey in “The Force Awakens”, a central character in the sci-fi movie. The reality of getting such a coveted role has not yet sunk in for the actress, whose past credits include a few television series appearances.

“It’s not ever something I pictured so it’s a very odd thing, very odd,” Ridley told Reuters in an interview.

“When I first got cast, no one could know, so it’s three months of me going ‘alright I can deal with this, this is me’”, she said. “And then everyone else knew, and it was like ‘OK, there’s a few more people to deal with now’”.

“The Force Awakens”, the first “Star Wars” film in 10 years, also stars the saga’s old hands Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill as well as newcomers John Boyega and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

“I started auditioning two years ago … and it took like seven months and five auditions and then I got cast,” Ridley said. “I think they were just seeing many, many girls because obviously, if they weren’t, then I would never have been seen.”

Details have been kept secret ahead of the film’s premiere in Los Angeles on Monday except for a few outlines about the characters.

“It’s incredibly funny but touching and the story obviously is character-led, so there’s all of the fun stuff,” Ridley said. “And then there’s just a wonderful human story at the centre of it.”

Ridley is one of the few people who has seen the film ahead of its premiere. She said her reaction after was unexpected.

“I pretended that I was fine for about an hour and then got in the car and wept the whole way to the airport,” she said. “Many, many tears.”

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