The First Order Assembles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Image courtesy Disney

ART NEWS: Celebrities and fans came out to celebrate Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Los Angeles 

BY KAZAD

C-3PO ( with new red arm) and R2-D2. Image courtesy Disney

LOS ANGELES- The high expectation for the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens reached a near crescendo Monday with the world premier of the highly anticipate movie in Los Angeles. Filled with security, fans and stars, the event was one of a kind. Some of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens stars at the event include Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill.

By all standards, this was the event to attend as no expense was spared  by the Walter Disney Company for the premier of the Star Wars film. There was huge tent covering more than four blocks of Hollywood  Boulevard. Security was tight and people had to go through multiple metal detectors.

In addition to the Star Wars: The Force Awakens stars, there were also plenty of celebrities in attendance. Joseph Gordan-Levitt of the The Dark Knight Rises came dressed as DIY Yoda. Rainn Wilson came dressed as Obi-Wan Kanobi, while Sofia Vergara sported Leia-esque ‘buns’.

With all the expectations generated by the release of the Star Wars: The Force Awaken trailer, and the rewards offered by movie theaters and companies, it is not surprising that fans throng the Los Angeles venue of the premier.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens cost roughly $350 million to make and market. Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens focuses on Rey, a young woman who  combines with  General Leia, to locate  vanished Luke Skywalker with the main objective of saving the galaxy from evil combatants called the First order.

With a PG 13 rating, it is expected that Star Wars: The Force Awakens film will surpass all other record grossing movies like Avatar ($2.7bn), Titanic and Jurassic Park. In 2012, Disney got into the Star Wars business by paying $4bilion dollars for Lucasfilm. Expectations are high that the Star Wars: The Force Awakens will make 2.5 billion in global ticket sales alone. There are also high hopes that more than 5 billion  will be generated from merchandise over the next year.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened today internationally in France, Italy and nine other countries. The movie has been slated for Thursday release in Britain,  Hong Kong, Germany, Russia, Brazil and 14 other territories. Star Wars: The Force Awakens will also play in major markets across the globe except China  where the movie will open on January 9.

In the United States and Canada, preview viewing begins on  Thursday night. More than 4, 100 will be showing the Star Wars film over the weekend. For those who love 3-D, almost 4, 000 theaters will be showing the movie in 3-D.

Star Wars/ YouTube

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