Star Wars Celebration Kicks Off With a 40th Anniversary Tribute

Drew Dietsch
Movies Star Wars
Movies Star Wars

Star Wars Celebration is in full swing. The first big panel was dedicated to paying respects to forty years of a galaxy far, far away. The number of guests was jaw-dropping as George Lucas himself took to the stage to introduce the various attendees. There were appearances from Hayden Christensen, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Warwick Davis, and a plethora of others.

The Big Moments

But there were two big moments from the panel that floored fans. The first was a touching tribute to the late Carrie Fisher. Check out the video and make sure to have some tissues handy.

The other huge surprise was an appearance from composer John Williams. George Lucas called him “the secret sauce” of the franchise, and it’s clear to see why. Williams led the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra with rousing renditions of some classic Star Wars tunes. He kicked things off with Leia’s theme and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. After that, he started up the main theme and the audience went nuts. Williams couldn’t help but crack a smile.

While we did get a sneak peek at a new animated series, today wasn’t about reveals. Today was about taking in the immense legacy of this series and preparing for the future.

We’ll continue to bring you the big updates from Star Wars Celebration as they roll in!

Drew Dietsch
Drew Dietsch has been professionally writing about entertainment for over a decade. His bylines include FANDOM - where he was a founding contributor and Entertainment Editor - Bloody Disgusting, SYFY WIRE, and more. He created and hosts GenreVision, a weekly film discussion show at genrevision.com.