Yes, the Star Wars: The Force Awakens world premiere was held last night in Los Angeles, and Hollywood turned out for the passing of the light saber. Let’s go to the photos.
Biker convention? No, it’s Star Wars fans gathered outside the theater to watch the celebs arrive. Some things never change.
The requisite parade of stormtroopers led off the proceedings. Question to ponder: Are there extras in Hollywood who make a living just out of appearing as stormtroopers at public events?
New director J.J. Abrams gives the Quincy Jones treatment to old director George Lucas.
The torch is passed! George Lucas gives the thumbs-up to Abrams (and presumably the film).
By the way, George Lucas’s kids are all grown up. That’s his wife, Mellody Hobson, at left, and his daughters Amanda Lucas and Katie Lucas at right. (Lucas and Hobson also have a young daughter, Everest, born in 2013.)
Also on hand: director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Charlie Chaplin.
Here come the stars! That’s newcomer Daisy Ridley in a pretty groovy gown.
…and giving a movie star smile for the camera.
Ridley’s counterpart, John Boyega, also flashed the groovy threads and movie-star smile. Then he…
…used The Force on the gathered paparazzi.
Also using The Force: Mark Hamill, the former Luke Skywalker. Another torch being passed: The gray beard he’s been sporting lately makes you wonder if Hamill isn’t going to go all Obi-Wan in the new film. Alec Guinness was age 62 when the original Star Wars was filmed; Mark Hamill is age 64 now.
Speaking of Obi-Wan, let’s go to the old people!
Distinguished actor Max von Sydow peers into the lights. He’s 86 years old and plays someone called Lor San Tekka in The Force Awakens. He is still cool enough to wear a great suit and necktie.
Harrison Ford and his wife Calista Flockhart. Good old Harrison, still with the crazy hair. We must just accept it.
Cuba Gooding, Jr.? Cuba Gooding, Jr.! He’s 47 years old.
And speaking of Old Hollywood, Geena Davis! She’s 59. The photographers thought it was worth getting…
…an additional shot of her shoes alone. Because, Hollywood glamour.
These events always include a smattering of unknown ingenues, male and female, hoping to get noticed. Here’s Emeraude Toubia, whom Wikipedia says is a former Miss Teen Brownsville. She “first became widely known in 2008, when she was selected to participate in the second season of the Univision reality show/beauty pageant Nuestra Belleza Latina.” Uh-huh.
But enough of the sub-stars. Let’s wrap up with a robotic torch-pass:
Cute newcomer android star BB-8. And…
…good old R2-D2 and C-3PO. You can’t beat the classics.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens to the public on December 18th. While you wait, check out our list of Star Wars heroes, villains and curiosities »