LucasfilmHan Solo is in the building!
Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega joined director J.J. Abrams onstage to debut the exclusive D23 poster for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but it was the captain of the Millennium Falcon himself that brought the house down
Harrison Ford was all smiles as he appeared onstage to a very long standing ovation from the fans.
"My goodness, thank you so much," Ford told the crowd as they roared for him. "You guys have made my life."
"I'm very happy, yesterday following in the footsteps of George Lucas, the author of the early chapters of my story," said Ford. "It's a great thrill to be with you, who made this whole thing happen."
This will be a day long remembered.. The official Star Wars #TheForceAwakens poster is out! #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/DTb39QIeTC
? The Force Awakens (@StarWars_VII) August 15, 2015Unfortunately, they didn't bring any footage with them, but we did get a new Star Wars: The Force Awakens poster, which features Ridley and Boyega's characters, as well as Han Solo with his trusty blaster.
Disney's Alan Horn confirmed the rumor that Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) will direct Star Wars: Episode IX, coming in 2019.
"This is not a job or an assignment. It is a seat at a campfire, surrounded by an extraordinary group of storytellers, filmmakers, artists and craftspeople," Colin said in a statement. "We've been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had—a mythology to call their own. We will do this by channeling something George Lucas instilled in all of us: boundless creativity, pure invention and hope."
The mission is underway. #StarWars: #RogueOne has begun principle photography! pic.twitter.com/62pJaMOHHP
? Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) August 15, 2015More Rogue One casting was announced at the presentation, with fans getting the news that Ben Mendelsohn, Mads Mikkelsen, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker and Alan Tudyk will join Felicity Jones and Diego Luna in the Star Wars spinoff that will premiere on Dec. 16, 2016.
"Rogue One takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and will be a departure from the saga films but have elements that are familiar to the Star Wars universe," says Kathleen Kennedy. "It goes into new territory, exploring the galactic struggle from a ground-war perspective while maintaining that essential Star Wars feel that fans have come to know. Gareth is such an innovative director and I'm so excited to be working with him and the extraordinary ensemble cast he's selected for Rogue One."
Not much longer to wait, Star Wars fans! The Force Awakens hits theaters on Dec. 18.