We had high hopes of new reveals and content going into Celebration Chicago and Lucasfilm did not disappoint. Lucky attendees were greeted with footage from Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, the exciting new TV series The Mandalorian, The Clone Wars, Resistance, Jedi: Fallen Order and so much more.
Fantha Tracks was well represented at Celebration Chicago with 20 Fantha Trackers on the ground at the show and we met thousands at our booth discussing Star Wars from daily news content and fashion right through to collecting and podcasting. We often discussed the teasers, so in this first of a new series of team articles, here are the teasers that did the most for us and why.
Richard Hutchinson
Sadly I missed The Mandalorian panel but my friends came out of the screening with such positive feedback that I had to check it out. After several viewings of the teaser I have to say that Jon Favreau and team have nailed it.
Firstly, for those unaware, I am a huge original trilogy fan and I love nods to the time periods. I wouldn’t like to see remakes or copies of OT scenes, but I get a buzz out of seeing aliens from the cantina, or early droids, making reappearances. The IG series droid blasting and swivelling on his central pivot is just fantastic. Although some have briefly appeared in other materials we know little about the bounty hunters from The Empire Strikes Back other than Boba Fett. These hunters were chosen specifically by the Empire for their skills in hunting down fugitives, and it’s great to see the IG droid’s worth.
The footage I saw looked very time period accurate. If I didn’t know better I’d say it was shot with the same crew and equipment from 1976. With Jawas, Devaronians and more these guys have done their homework with nods even to The Holiday Special. I for one can’t wait until the Disney streaming service comes to the UK to check out this awesome show.
Mark Newbold
Well, where do you begin with an event like Celebration Chicago? I’m not long home but already I’m pining for McCormick Place and the galaxy of fun that Lucasfilm and Reed brought to Chicago. So much to see and do (I only managed a fraction of it, there’s enough content to do a five day show for six weeks in a row) and then there’s those teasers.
The Mandalorian was a big surprise, I absolutely didn’t expect to see as much of the show as we did. Behind the scenes shots, pre-production artwork, a teaser and a full scene with a menacing Werner Kerzog and a tonally perfect washed-out weariness to how life on the rim is presented. To say I’m excited to delve deep into the underworld is an understatement (and here’s hoping they make it out as far north above the galactic plane as the Setnin sector someday).
The Clone Wars panel was every bit the homecoming that it is, and anyone who has attended Celebration over the last decade plus can’t help but have the warm and fuzzies for these returning heroes, but for me, the teaser that got me the most excited was The Rise of Skywalker.
I adore The Force Awakens. It was a fillet steak that left me completely satiated, then came The Last Jedi, so after over four decades of the saga and a returning J.J. Abrams my hopes are high for the conclusion of the Skywalker saga to be a three-course meal with all the trimmings. That teaser – while giving very little away – has eased any concerns I had. It looks delicious, the visuals are on point, the cast appear to have their TFA swagger back and the cherry on the cake is the return of Lando Calrissian in his Solo: A Star Wars Story threads. Seeing him on the Falcon with Chewie again, knowing what we know after the loss of Han in TFA and L-337 in Solo. I cannot wait.
So, if you’re asking me which teaser impressed me the most it’s The Mandalorian, but the one that excited me above all others was The Rise of Skywalker.
Clair Henry
I am only back in the country 24 hours and still trying to catch up on all the teasers from this years Celebration, so I’m going to make a confession – the only trailers I have watched are The Clone Wars and The Rise Of Skywalker.
The Rise of Skywalker is bittersweet for me, as this is farewell not only to the Skywalker saga but also farewell to Carrie Fisher.
This teaser was the one I was most looking forward to seeing. Setting Carrie aside for a minute, this trailer was incredible! The glimpse of the Death Star? Seeing the new trilogy characters together on an adventure ( I hope!) all of this is what I wanted to see. Rey with the now modified and repaired lightsaber taking on a TIE fighter. I don’t care if it was a dream or not, that was an amazing sequence and I hope it stays in the film!
That laugh at the end has cemented a theory I’ve had for a while! Rey; she’s not a Skywalker, she’s Sheev Palpatine’s long lost daughter! Hidden from her father? I’m not sure of timelines but hey, it’s Star Wars and they seem to have a tendency to hide children from their parents!
For many of us OT fans this is as much a farewell to Carrie Fisher as it is to the Skywalker trilogy. This was meant to be Leia’s film, and when the music changed to Leia’s theme I was in pieces. It was poignant, sad, but also uplifting and for me closure. I’m looking forward to this film and to see what it has in store for Leia and to say my final farewell.
Patty Hammond
The two previews that I was most excited for before Star Wars Celebration was the Episode IX teaser trailer and The Clone Wars Season 7 trailer. I saw both of these and neither of these disappointed me.
Matt Booker
The Mandalorian for me. So hyped for this series as being a Fett focus collector. Plus they gave us plenty of info and exclusive footage in the panel.
Paul McQue
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Clone Wars trailer during its panel.
I wasn’t really a fan of the show when it originally aired as I couldn’t get into it due to the timeline jumping around all over the place from week to week. When it was announced that it was coming back on Disney+ I thought I’d give it another go and watch it chronologically, and I’m glad I did. That last minute or so of footage when Ahsoka ignites her sabres looks fantastic and has me excited to see her face Darth Maul, mo-capped by Ray Park this time around.
The panel and trailer that caught me most off guard was the other Disney+ show, The Mandalorian.
I was really surprised by just how much behind the scenes info we got. Learning that 501st members were invited to be background supporting artists by Dave Filoni shows how much he cares and respects the charity organisation to not only include them on set but to keep their mouths shut and not tell anyone.
After saying all that, the stand out trailer that I was fortunate enough to witness in the Celebration Stage arena, with around 7,000 other fans going crazy, that I will never forget has to be The Rise Of Skywalker.
I’m so glad LFL didn’t release the teaser earlier (looking at you, Super Bowl). The title reveal was spectacular. To be in the room where it happened made my hairs stand on end and fans around me wept with joy. Tears was one thing I was expecting but didn’t happen for me. Even although the use of Leia’s theme was touching, the quick glimpse of Carrie happened so quickly, my brain didn’t have time to react before it was thinking about the next shot. For me, there wasn’t a “Chewie, we’re home” stand out emotional moment that made me shed tears like in Anaheim. The memory that will live with me was Ian McDiarmid’s familiar cackle, the title reveal, followed by Ian appearing on stage to say “roll it again.”
THAT was a moment. A crazy WTF!?! moment.
Paul Naylor
The Force was certainly with me during my visit to SWCC. Having entered the panel lotteries for Episode IX, Galaxy’s Edge, The Mandalorian and 20th Anniversary of The Phantom Menace, I won a place at all four. Three of those would be at the Celebration stage – right in the thick of it – with TPM on the secondary Galaxy stage.
I had eagerly anticipated the panel for the ninth film in the series, now entitled The Rise of Skywalker. It was great being in the room as J.J. and Kathleen introduced cast members to the stage. Seeing Billy Dee lap up his return was a joyful experience, as he mocked the crowd for interpreting Lando’s actions in The Empire Strikes Back as an act of treachery to Han and co. “no one died did they?” he quipped.
Seeing Lando alongside Chewie in the Falcon cockpit was bittersweet. I really wish the classic characters – legacy characters – had enjoyed a moment on screen together in this third trilogy. Who knows, perhaps through a flashback Luke, Leia, Han and Lando could magically reunite.
The trailer was stunning, with that unexpected and instantly recognisable cackle of Palpatine being a goosebump moment. When Ian McDairmid instructed from the room “Roll it again” his involvement in The Rise of Skywalker seemed cemented. Wow, just wow.
As much as I enjoyed the Episode IX panel, it was The Mandalorian that stole Celebration for me. The sheer joy etched on the faces of its lead actors and the attention to detail crafted by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni has whet my appetite.
Pedro, Gina and Carl all look thrilled to be on board, most notably Pedro. He apparently thought he was going to be a background character, not its eponymous star. He could hardly contain himself.
We were treated to behind the scenes content, revealing a roster of directors for the forthcoming first season set to appear on Disney+, each being a fan of the sprawling saga.
Unexpectedly there was an extensive clip of the show. It looks amazing. A-MA-ZING. Nods to the past are subtle and well placed. I will never look at Salacious Crumb the same way again.
Yes, Episode IX looks fabulous and I can’t wait to see it on the big screen. But if the future of Star Wars is on TV, early indications are that it is going to be a thrilling ride.
Greig Robertson
We really were spoiled at Celebration Chicago with the new footage from upcoming TV shows and movies and I was not at all disappointed with what was shown. Kicking things off in style with The Rise of Skywalker trailer on Friday morning was a great way to get the Celebration started! The reaction from the audience to the panel members and the trailer itself was the much needed shot in the arm that the fandom needed and went to show that Star Wars fans are the greatest in the galaxy.
However, for me it was The Mandalorian footage that had me screaming for more. Favreau has been a hero of mine since the first time I watched his film Swingers, one of my top 3 films of all time. When I heard he was writing and executive producing the first live action Star Wars TV show and it was to feature a Mandalorian, I yelped with joy. From the panel and the footage shown, it truly comes across as a passion project from a group of people who love the franchise and want to give the fans something really special. The western/samurai vibe was oozing off the screen and I just hope we don’t have to wait long in the UK for Disney +.
Martin Keeler
I think The Mandalorian stole the show for me. I had zero expectations for this and I have only seen the panel and footage on YouTube and yet what I saw felt more like Star Wars than I have seen in a long time. Really looking forward to this and it looks like we are getting some gritty bounty hunting Star Wars that I have been wanting to see for a long long time.
In contrast the episode IX teaser had zero impact on me. I am cool with that, as it was merely a teaser. It had some cool imagery and a nice surprise at the end but overall it left me feeling a bit cold about the whole thing. I am sure I will get more into it as time ticks on though.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on all of the teasers/trailers released at Celebration.
