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SDCC '15: Lucasfilm From Hall H With J.J. Abrams, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher

Published Sat, 11 Jul 2015 08:15:34 -0500

That scent in Hall H? It's dedication, and it's palpable.

Among the most anticipated panels in Comic-Con history, the Lucasfilm presentation began in earnest. Fans erupted into a cacophonous chorus of applause and roars. Finally, the moment arrived.

Fan's chanting for the production house's prized franchise began to break out. "Let's go, Star Wars. Let's go, Star Wars."

Moderator Chris Hardwick took the stage. You could tell the gravity of the event was starting to weigh on him. "A lot of you guys waited a long time to be here. Decades, really!" Hardwick said this is a special and emotional time for him, and mentioned that he saw the original Star Wars as a child in theaters when it was released.

"I want you to really think about this and experience it and enjoy it as it's happening."

He then introduced Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams, and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan.

Kennedy talked about the fandom throughout the years. "Star Wars is 100 percent dependent on the fans in this room and around the world, since 1976. It was the fans that built the momentum around A New Hope. "

Abrams said they have a cut of the movie finished and they're editing it now. "For Disney to give us the time to do it right is no small thing."

Hardwick welcomed Kasdan to his first Comic-Con, "Technically, you're our dad in a weird way."

Kasdan said George Lucas is the reason everyone is there, and he spoke about when J.J. Abrams came on the project, he "went berserk."

Hardwick asked how Abrams can push the fandom away to get to work.

"It's so important to so many people," Abrams said. He mentioned he made his own halloween costume when he was 13, a Jawa costume he made with his mom.

"I sat down to show John Williams scenes of Star Wars that he hadn't seen yet, that I directed. That's not normal!"

Hardwick mentioned the use of social media to show the practical effects they are making for Star Wars, restoring hope to fans who weren't huge fans of the CG-dominated prequels.

To demonstrate the practical effects, Abrams introduced Baba Jo—the alien from the UNICEF video—to the Hall H stage. Baba Jo casually strolled across the stage as the producers went into detail of the robotic effects they've created for the film.

"It reminds us of the first time we saw Star Wars," Hardwick said.

Batman cosplayer gave his best Christian Bale impression, asking what influences went into the new film.

"We tried to sit down and ask ourselves, 'what feels right?' The only mandate we had was 'what delights us?'"

Abrams again geeked out over working with Kasdan, who actually wrote two great Star Wars films.

"One month we were walking around figuring out the story, and a few months later we're in a Super Star Destroy surrounded by Stormtroopers. And it was all real."

Question for Abrams, asked "when you have to pay homage to us and the fans, and you have a new generation that you're building, how do you approach that?"

"I think I honestly feel more pressure answering your question," Abrams joked. "It means so much to me, the only answer I can say is because we love it and care about it so much, our job is to not be blinded by that. It's not enough to be a fan."

He mentioned filming a scene filmed on the Millennium Falcon, saying that just because it's set there doesn't make it automatically good.

"It has to be fun, it has to be scary."

Kennedy mentioned that Gareth Edwards' Anthology film Rogue One begins production in three weeks.

Despite no new trailer to show off, the lights dimmed and a brand new behind-the-scenes video was shown. It showed a few cameos, including Simon Pegg dressed as an alien.

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaacs were introduced. Boyega walked the convention floor dressed as a clone trooper, taking pictures with unsuspecting fans.

Ridley was asked about the intensive training for this role. She thanked the stunt coordinators. Boyega thanked Abrams for making him wear a Stormtrooper outfit and run through the desert in 120 degree heat.

Isaacs was asked about learning to be a pilot. He went to Harrison Ford for advice, asking how to be a better pilot. Ford responded, "Well, it's fake. And it's in space." Fair enough!

Two fans asked about more diversity in the Star Wars films, and Abrams said that they didn't specifically write races for the characters and that they cast the best actors.

"This is a story, and these are characters that we love. None of us are thinking about it from the outside in," Abrams said. "We're just working really hard to make a movie and tell a story."

Boyega said his favorite set memory was taking Harrison Ford to a Nigerian restaurant, where everyone was shocked to see him. They asked, "Are you Harrison Ford?" and he answered, "I used to be."

Hardwick said we're getting a taste of the Dark Side and introduced Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleason, and Gwendoline Christie.

Driver said they never discussed 'good and evil' on the set, but evil and rightness. He mentioned that his character believes what he's doing is right.

A new fan asked the new panelists about their reactions to being cast. Gleason said he met with Abrams and Kasdan who told him the story and what the characters were about.

The First Order's base is called Starkiller Base, spoiled by Gleason when he was talking about his character's station. A nod to the old series.

"I didn't think it could possibly happen," Christie said. "Every day was the most surreal, bizarre experience. It's such a part of the fabric of your being, and then you're a part of it."

They were asked about Darth Plagius in the new movie, Kasdan seemed to not even know of the character. Abrams said Kasdan was messing around and flatly said no, no mention of Plagius in the new film.

Asked which side of the Force they'd choose, Boyega said he'd be Han Solo and wouldn't choose.

Hardwick suddenly introduced Carrie Fisher (!!!) to thunderous applause. He asked what it was like to return to this world. "It was like a flashback," she said. "I didn't think it was going to happen again. It was a little bit like before only we look more melted this time."

Then, Mark Hamill hit the stage to huge cheers. Hardwick showed a picture of him when the film was released in 1976. He was asked how did he describe the original film back then. "It wasn't really easy to describe what it was, but my enthusiasm for it was just off the charts."

He mentioned that he's been a fan since the original King Kong and he knows how great the fans are. "Without you guys, we're nothing."

Hamill said he took a Star Wars trilogy quiz, and flunked. He can't remember what Han Solo smuggled. "Was it jewels? No, it was spices!"

Hardwick asked Abrams, "Is Harrison OK?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

HARRISON F'N FORD. IN THE BUILDING.

Hardwick chided Ford about his foot. "I'm good. I walked here!"

Ford answered how it felt to go back on set, "Well, it should have felt ridiculous. It's been 30 years, I sort of grew up. But I will tell you that it felt great."

He talked about the original series, "It really was the beginning of my working life and I'm very very grateful of the opportunity I've had since then."

Asked about the difference in theme between the two trilogies, Ford said there's no difference but it's developed. It's thorough. Hamill said, "I'm just happy I didn't have to go to the Tosche Station to pick up power converters."

Asked about where they thought the characters might go if this movie wasn't made, in their minds, Hamill said he thinks Luke would be a little broken to find out the only woman he's had a thing for is his sister. "That's got to be a traumatic experience."

Ford said "I never expected that it would come back to bless me rather than haunt me." Ford mentioned that when he read the script he thought it was remarkable. "I was delighted to be involved. I'm very happy to be a part of the story and the cast again."

Then J.J. dropped the bomb. "Who wants to go see a live Star Wars concert right now?"

EVERYONE in Hall H is walking from the con to a location to watch a brand new Star Wars concert. Gotta go!

[youtube]https://youtu.be/CTNJ51ghzdY[/youtube]

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