About 6000 hardcore fans could be forgiven for thinking they died and gone to Star Wars heaven as they witnessed a Comic-Con extravaganza orchestrated by J.J. Abrams. How strong was the force in Hall H? The Ruben Nepales reports.
As if the excitement at the Star Wars panel inside the Convention Center’s cavernous Hall H wasn’t enough, as it wound down director J.J. Abrams asked the crowd of 6,000: “Who wants to go see a live Star Wars concert right now?” The audience at the San Diego Convention Center erupted into even more vigorous cheers and applause. “We are literally all going to walk to a location together and experience a Star Wars concert tonight,” Abrams added. “We only have room for all of you!”
And with those words, an unusual scene unfolded as thousands of spectators, led by a phalanx of stormtroopers, marched from Hall H to a nearby park where the concert was held.
Audience members were given lightsabers in green, red or blue, which they immediately swayed and held high. Abrams and producer Kathleen Kennedy joined a full orchestra in an outdoors stage and welcomed the crowd and the film’s cast. John Williams also welcomed the audience in a video greeting, then the orchestra launched into the Star Wars majestic theme songs and scores over the years. As the orchestra closed the program with the Star Wars (Main Theme) for its finale, spectacular fireworks began lighting up the bay.
It was an extravagant cherry on an already spectacular night. The Star Wars fans were in nirvana even before Abrams announced the surprise musical treat. Assembled in the panel were cast members, who were called in groups making up a dream team of original and new cast members: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Domhnall Gleeson.
Han Solo’s appearance was another surprise. It was Ford’s first major public appearance since sustaining injuries in a plane crash in March. Ford, called last, traded jokes with Hamill and Fisher. The actor said he did not entertain notions about how his iconic character might have changed or grown several decades later. He did not expect to be back in a Star Wars movie. “It should’ve felt ridiculous,” he said. “(The first movie) was 30 years ago, and I sort of grew up. And yet here I was doing something I did so long ago and I will tell you that it felt great. I wasn’t so sure it would. The company was the right company”.
“The director was the right director. Larry (screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan) wrote us a wonderful story and I was proud and grateful to once again be involved. The original Star Wars was part of the beginning of my work life. I’m very grateful for the opportunity I had in that film and for the success of that film.” Fisher said she enjoyed working with the new cast members, quipping that “they do it fast.”
Hamill pointed out that he was moved by people telling him over the years that they named their sons Luke after his character or that couples met at Star Wars movie premieres and eventually married. He also shared that he usually flunks Star Wars trivia quizzes.
First to be called by moderator Chris Hardwick were Abrams, Kennedy and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan. Kasdan, who co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back, praised George Lucas, the franchise’s creator, as a “genius.” He said that Abrams was the “perfect choice” to direct The Force Awakens.” “I went berserk,” Kasdan quipped when he recalled his reaction on Abrams being tapped to direct.
Abrams complimented his collaborators by saying that there was “nothing normal” about working with Hollywood icons, composer John Williams, Kasdan and Kennedy. The filmmaker, who co-wrote the screenplay, recalled that one time he wondered, “What would Han Solo say?”
Abrams laughed as he recounted Kasdan, the original films’ co-screenwriter, remarking, “Han would say…” The director also explained that the best way to pay homage to the original films was not to be “blinded” by those films’ lasting legacy but to keep the characters fun and fresh.
Applause greeted the entrance of a new animatronic character, Bobbabjo, who resembles a camel with a shack attached to its back. Abrams explained Bobbajo represented his aim for more practical, traditional effects. Abrams also presented a behind-the-scenes featurette about the making of The Force Awakens which elicited cheers from the crowd.
Ruben V. Nepales

Stormtroopers leading the way to the concert
Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA

Star Wars concert
Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA

Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie and Adam Driver with their lightsabers
Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA

J.J. Abrams with his lightsaber
Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA