Star Wars: The Last Jedi premieres with tribute to late Carrie Fisher - Guardian

Star Wars: The Last Jedi premieres with tribute to late Carrie Fisher

Writer-director Rian Johnson introduces screening remembering actor who died last year after finishing work on the film

Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles

Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles. Photograph: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Reuters in Los Angeles

Sunday 10 December 2017 21.02 AEDT

The galaxy far, far away was brought to life in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday for the world premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi where the anticipated first screening was dedicated to the franchise’s late star, Carrie Fisher.

“I want to dedicate tonight to Carrie, who is up there right now flipping me the bird, saying ‘Damn it Rian, don’t you dare make this night a solemn tribute,” the film’s writer-director, Rian Johnson, said as he introduced the screening.

“So let’s all have a blast tonight for Carrie,” he added.

Rian Johnson arrives at the premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi n Los Angeles. Photograph: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The film ends with a dedication to Fisher, who plays Princess Leia and died last December aged 60 after completing her work on The Last Jedi. Her character, now known as General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance, plays a key role in the film.

Walt Disney’s The Last Jedi, follows 2015’s The Force Awakens and picks up with the Resistance fighting off Supreme Leader Snoke’s First Order, which is trying to take control of the galaxy.

The film explores themes of the battle to find a balance in the Force, the supernatural energy that runs through the Star Wars galaxy. Reviews of the film are embargoed until 12 December.

The cast, including Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis and Hamill, walked the red carpet at the premiere, surrounded by droids and stormtroopers.

Guests walked into the entrance of the premiere flanked by larger-than-life AT-AT Walker transport vehicles.

Johnson paid tribute to Fisher on the red carpet. “Once the audience sees her performance in this movie, she’s going to be there in all our hearts,” he said. “It’s bizarre not having her here tonight. She would be the life of the party,” he said.