Tonight the cast and crew of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" were welcomed to London to celebrate the opening of the highly anticipated "Episode VII." This premiere featured a stage, live Q&A from the Star Wars UK Twitter account, some special celebrity guests, and a beautiful lightsaber tribute display right in the center of London.
Here are the 10 best moments from the "Star Wars" London Premiere:
1. George Lucas gives JJ Abrams bunny ears on the red carpet:
The torch truly has passed from one great "Star Wars" director to another. While George Lucas is owed all the credit in the world for creating the fantastic universe of "Star Wars," JJ Abrams has the privilege of bringing it into a modern era. The great thing about JJ Abrams is that he is such a fan himself, he knows just how to blend the new and old. It's wonderful to see Abrams and Lucas getting along so well -- it couldn't have been easy for Lucas to pass his legacy on after almost three decades of hard work.
2. Trafalgar Square lights up like a lightsaber:
Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square... transformed into a lightsaber. May the Force be with you! #TheForceAwakens https://t.co/E9DvQu4Foc- Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) December 16, 2015
London has been the home of many great premieres, and they always go all out for the occasion. Tonight they lit up the Nelson Column in the Trafalgar Square. The cast got to push the button and the city square lit up with both Jedi and Sith lightsabers. It's wonderful to see the arts celebrated in such a big way in London like this.
3. Mark Hamill calls "The Force Awakens" gargantuan:
What's the big difference between filming the original trilogy and #TheForceAwakens? Let's ask Mark @HamillHimself https://t.co/5RLw5AOS3r- Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) December 16, 2015
"What are the differences between working on the original films and the new ones?" Of course Hamill would say budget! The budget for "A New Hope" was roughly $13 million, while the budget for "The Force Awakens" was around $200 million. The difference is a starling $187 million, and really lends credit to just how much Lucas and his team were able to create on such a low budget back then.
4. John Boyega recalls holding a lightsaber for the first time:
Mr @JohnBoyega explaining what it was like to use a lightsaber (spoiler: he loved it) #FinnAwakens #TheForceAwakens https://t.co/hRKYtV2ABk- Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) December 16, 2015
A lightsaber is the weapon of Jedi, or as Obi-Wan calls it, "An elegant weapon for a more civilized age." John Boyega fondly recalls working with the lightsaber in the video, and just how surreal it was to hold it for the first time. Apparently everyone wanted to hold it and Boyega was very selfish with it.
5. JJ Abrams calls working with the legacy cast "thrilling":
What was it like for J.J. Abrams directing Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford? #TheForceAwakens https://t.co/a5JEmicJ4E- Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) December 16, 2015
JJ Abrams grew up watching "Star Wars." He was a huge fan of the entire legacy cast -- Mark Hamill, Harisson Ford, Carrie Fisher. Now he gets to direct them, and he recalls the experience as being "absolutely thrilling." Abrams truly is living out his dreams right now.
READ: Best Moments from the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" World Premiere
6. Marvel's Doctor Strange makes a special premiere appearance:
Benedict Cumberbatch is no stranger to London premieres or to Disney movie openings, now that he is officially a part of the Marvel/Disney family. It's great seeing him on the red carpet because he is currently in the middle of filming "Doctor Strange." His hair is so dark in these photos and it's great knowing that even with a vigorous filming schedule, he can get away for a few hours and watch an incredibly historical premiere like "Star Wars."
7. Kathleen Kennedy honors historical value of filming in the UK:
Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy on the UK's crucial role in bringing #TheForceAwakens to life https://t.co/XrUirq6lhZ- Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) December 16, 2015
Ever wondered why so many of the Imperial leaders in the original "Star Wars" trilogy have British accents? That's because the majority of the films were made in England! Pinewood Studios in the UK has been the home of some of the best films of all time, including "Star Wars." Kathleen Kennedy honored the UK tonight by celebrating their immense contribution to the legacy of "Star Wars."
8. Gwendoline Christie is the most excited person on the red carpet:
.@LoveGwendoline Christie AKA Captain Phasma minus the armour, interviewed on the red carpet #TheForceAwakens https://t.co/5mkyHiYuko- Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) December 16, 2015
As an Englander, it must feel amazing to experience the opening of the biggest movie of all time in your own home country. Gwendoline Christie is clearly thrilled and beyond excited for this opening in her home country. While Christie is best known for her role as Brienne on "Game of Thrones," she may have just found herself in the middle of the biggest franchise in history, and she knows it!
9. Wickett and BB-8 take a selfie:
Wicket, the loveable Ewok from "Return of the Jedi," was played by 11-year-old Warwick Davis. Davis was invited to the premiere tonight not only to celebrate the sequel to "Jedi," which he made almost 30 years ago, but to celebrate the film that he is in! Davis, like many other notable actors, is playing an unknown character in "The Force Awakens." Davis stopping to take a selfie with BB-8 might just be the cutest thing we've ever seen.
10. "Star Trek's" Simon Pegg makes a special appearance:
Simon Pegg is also no stranger to London premieres, especially when they are celebrating friend and fellow writer/director JJ Abrams. Both Cumberbatch and Pegg worked with Abrams in "Star Trek Into Darkness" in 2013/2014. Pegg also had another reason to celebrate the European premiere of "The Force Awakens" -- because he is in the film! That's right, if you weren't already aware, Simon Pegg is playing an alien in "Episode VII." You can check out a clip of Pegg's character on SpinoffOnline.
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" opens in theaters December 18, 2015.