Star Wars Celebration is always an event that Star Wars fans mark down on their calendar. Every year, Celebration often gives us the biggest of announcements and our first look at what is coming up in the near future. This year Star Wars Celebration will be held in Orlando. Many of the main panels will be streamed live online, however Australian fans will have to pull a late one to watch the panels. These are the biggest panels we have to look forward to this weekend at Star Wars Celebration.
40 Years of Star Wars – Thursday April 13, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm (Friday April 14, 1:00 am – 2:30 am AEST)
A tribute panel to the past 40 years of one of the greatest sagas ever told. This panel brings back some of our favourite cast members from over the past 40 years and lets them share stories of what it is like to be a part of Star Wars.
There are two things that are expected from this panel: the first, of course, is a tribute to Carrie Fisher. Many of the panel members have worked closely with her in Star Wars, therefore it is expected that many stories will be shared.
The second however, we are still very much in the dark about. During a video uploaded to the official Star Wars YouTube channel, the hosts made it very clear that this panel is a must watch. It is still unclear whether there will be a major announcement or they are just plugging the panel for viewers, but either way, the panel is still set to be a good one.
The panel will include Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), Ian McDiarmid (Sheev Palpatine), Anthony Daniels (C3PO), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Carissian) and Warwick Davis (various roles).
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Friday April 14, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm (Saturday April 14, 1:00 am – 2:30 am AEST)
The Last Jedi panel will revolve around Episode VIII. Featuring director, Rian Johnson and President of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, we are promised that this panel will give as plenty of surprises and special guests. This is where we are expecting the first trailer for the film to be shown for the very first time. If you are unable to watch the panel live, it is expected that the trailer will be uploaded online shortly after. This is by far the most anticipated panel of the weekend and will most likely be the one everyone is talking about for the rest of the year.
Star Wars Rebels Season Four Sneak Peek – Saturday April 15, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm (Sunday April 16, 1:00 am – 2:30 am AEST)
Fans of the animated show will know that season four of Star Wars Rebels was announced only a last month. This panel will give fans a look at
to what we can expect from the fourth season. In previous years, people attending the panel have been shown the first two episodes of the new season ahead of it’s air date later this year. Many are predicting that we will get news on the future of the show and news on any other future animated programs. However, Executive Producer Dave Filoni has his own private panel on the first day so there is a chance that he will reveal news on future programs during that panel rather than saving it for this panel.
The Galaxywide Premiere of Star Wars Battlefront II – Saturday April 15, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm (Sunday April 16, 4:30 am – 5:30 am AEST) [Panel is not expected to stream]
Despite an overall reception for the first Battlefront hanging towards the disappointing end of the scale, anticipation is high for the second installment to the game franchise. This panel will be the first look we get at the new game with many gameplay videos expected. Any Star Wars fan who happens to be a gamer will be keeping a close eye on what this panel shows off.
These are just four of the 212 panels that will take place over this weekend. Hardcore Star Wars fans will be keeping updated on all the news that will be dropping throughout the event such as books, comics, toys and merchandise.
Full panel schedule can be viewed here.