There wasn’t a sign to be seen, at least nothing that hinted at a galaxy far, far away or anything feeling slightly like the Force. Rather, there was a lone white curtain against a large white wall, and when you approached it a guard would nod and, assuming you were on the approved list, allow you to enter through a flap in the corner. On the other side was the Star Wars: The Force Awakens press junket, and frankly, it was pretty spectacular.
The droids were all there, even the ones you weren’t looking for, and there were opportunities to experience new Star Wars: The Force Awakens video games, ice cream, art, costumes from the film and assorted merchandise—all the things that would make my kids jealous (not to mention millions and millions of other fans). There were photo ops and T-shirts made while you wait, and press from all over the world(s).
By the time we were all seated and our panel moderator Mindy Kaling appeared, yes, that Mindy Kaling, the entire press corps was primed and ready for the secrets of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
We didn’t get any.
In fact, between all of the stars we interviewed the only solid confirmation we were given was that Jar Jar Binks would not be in the film (applause), nor would there be any Ewoks (mixed reaction). Also, Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma) refused to tell us whether or not Jon Snow (from her show Game of Thrones) was still alive, and by us I mean John Boyega (Finn), who was quite persistent on the matter.
That isn’t to say that we didn’t learn a lot about Star Wars: The Force Awakens. For instance, Carrie Fisher thought her new costume resembled a high-level gas station attendant with hair like a baboon’s butt and that her dog should have been in the film, while J.J. Abrams was less enthusiastic about the casting (of the dog).
All together we interviewed the aforementioned Christie, Boyega, Fisher and Abrams, plus Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Lawrence Kasdan (writer), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Kathleen Kennedy (producer) and some new guy named Harrison Ford (Han Solo). The crowd went wild.
Some of the highlights from the day:
Harrison Ford on returning to another Star Wars film said, “It’s always nice to anticipate working in something that you know people will have an appetite for. This is not a crap shoot. This is—this is a big casino. And it’s fun to play with these toys again. It’s been a great experience. “
Gwendoline Christie, when asked about her level of “swagger” in comparison to that of Ford’s Solo, responded, “I might have just like a modicum of swagger, opposed to the Grand Canyon that’s at the end of the sofa.” That Grand Canyon was, obviously, Ford.
And perhaps the one answer that all parents can relate to—when Ford was asked what his kids though about is returning to the franchise and if it upped his cool factor in their opinion: “My kids do not think I am cool at all. And being in this movie is not gonna convince them otherwise. I—no, they’re just glad to see that Dad is still working, you know.”
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The author, pictured with BB-8
