Star Wars Celebration is coming back to Orlando next week and they are pulling out all the stops. Like other great conventions, it’s all about the people you meet and the panels you attend. We’re also expecting there to be some big news made, of course, and a lot of great new merchandise. Here are the five things we’re looking forward to seeing/hearing about during the convention.
1) The Star Wars 40th Anniversary Celebration panel – Did you know it’s been forty years since we were first introduced to a galaxy far, far away? Star Wars Celebration isn’t letting this anniversary go unnoticed. They’ve put together a panel hosted by Warwick Davis featuring Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni and a host of Star Wars stars including Mark Hamil (Luke Skywalker), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), Ian McDiarmid (the Emperor/Darth Sidious), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and Billy Dee Williams.
2) Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi panel – It wouldn’t be a Star Wars Celebration without getting a sneak peek at what’s coming. Kathleen Kennedy and director Rian Johnson will appear together and you can expect plenty of surprises (which hopefully includes some movie footage).
3) Star Wars Rebels Season Four Sneak Peak – Dave Filoni will bring along special guests as they talk about the next season of Star Wars Rebels. You can expect the shows stars, teasing videos and an audience Q&A.
4) The Stars of Star Wars – As if the list of stars from the Star Wars saga mentioned above was impressive enough, they aren’t the only ones coming. Felicity Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Alan Tudyk (K-2SO), Vanessa Marshall (Hera Syndulla, Star Wars Rebels), Matthew Wood (supervising sound editor at Skywalker Sound and voice of General Grievous), Riz Ahmed (Bodhi Rook in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus, Star Wars Rebels), Sarah Michelle Gellar (the Seventh Sister, Star Wars Rebels), Ray Park (Darth Maul), Daniel Logan (Boba Fett, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger, Star Wars Rebels), Brian Herring (BB-8 puppeteer, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Angus MacInnes (Dutch “Gold Leader” Vander, Star Wars: A New Hope and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Clive Revill (Emperor Palpatine in the original version of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), Tim Rose (animatronic designer and puppeteer of Admiral Ackbar in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Paul Blake (Greedo, Star Wars: A New Hope), and Jimmy Vee (R2-D2, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) will all be around that weekend in panels and signing autographs.
5) The live stream – For those of us who can’t make it to Star Wars Celebration, there is still hope. StarWars.com is live streaming over 30 hours of the event on their website (and probably on YouTube as well). The live stream will feature celebrity guests, interviews with creators as well as give access to various panels throughout the weekend. The show will be hosted by Andi Gutierrez and Anthony Carboni who host The Star Wars Show every week on YouTube.
Are you going to Star Wars Celebration? What (or who) are you most excited about seeing? And most importantly, can we stow away in your luggage?